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Eol Lee, Gwak Ji-min, Min-jung Seo, Gweon Hyeon-min, Oh Yong ... see more see more... , Im Gyun-Ho , Jung Yun-su , Lee Jeong-gil , Shin Taek-gi , Park Jun-gyu , Kim Gwi-seon , Seo Seung-weon , Yu Jae-ik , In-gi Jung , Jeon Jin-bae , Yuk Sae-jin , Hong Hye-ryung , Seol Han-sol , Gul-seon Kim , Ji-min Kwak , Jung-gi Park , Kwon Hyun-Min , Lee Jong-Gil , Min-jeong Seo , Oh Young , Shin Taek-Ki

South Korean filmmaker Kim Ki-duk writes, directs, and edits Samaria (Samaritan Girl), an abstract drama told in three parts. In part one, "Vasumitra," best friends Yeo-jin (Gwak Ji-min) and Jae-yeong... read more read more... (Seo Min-jung) work together in a prostitution scam in order to save money for a trip. Jae-young is fatally injured and Yeo-jin carries out her final dying wishes. In part two, "Samaria," Yeo-jin finds all of her friend's old johns, sleeps with them, and returns their money. Then her police officer father, Yeong-gi (Lee Eol), finds out what she's doing. In part three, "Sonata," Yeong-gi attempts to confront his daughter about her actions. Kim Ki-duk won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin Film Festival in 2004. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Flixster Users

75% liked it

5,761 ratings

Critics

50% liked it

8 critics

R, 1 hr. 36 min.

Directed by: Ki-duk Kim

Release Date: February 10, 2004

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DVD Release Date: May 10, 2005

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Stats: 269 reviews

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Kwak Ji Min Samaritan Girl
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Flixster Reviews (269)

  • 76Majikat
    August 27, 2009
    76Majikat
    Quite an unusual and interesting storyline, one that starts in a direction and ends up in a completely opposite direction.

    A very watchable film, but also quite easily forgettable.
  • arashxak
    December 15, 2008
    arashxak
    Ki-duk Kim's movies are magical, Impressive & filled with symbols & metaphors & this one is no exception
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    January 14, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Kim Ki Duk film's are such mixed bags, they have some very good moments, then some very retarded and stupid moments that almost makes you forget about the good ones. It seems as if the guy can't decide what to do, a "shock" flick, or some spiritual-esque thing about the human con... read moredition and growing up and such. He's a bit like Michael Haneke in the way that his stories and characters stop acting like normal humans would do in the same situations and start behaving in a certain way just fo fill the mechanics of the plot.

    This one is a bit more focused than other films KKD has made, but i still just can't get it into it. Maybe if he wasn't so worried about shocking and using pointless "symbolism" and was rather focused in writing a story the guy could improve. The directs well his actors, and that's mostly why i'm giving the ammount of stars.
  • kiriyamakazou
    September 7, 2006
    kiriyamakazou
    A film of such amazing power that I watched it three times in a row from 2 in the morning til 6:30. Most all other films I would have fallen asleep. The performances are incredible, but it is really Duk's handling of the films issues as well as the fathers emotional journey that ... read moremake this film a must see for all.
  • mvieaddict
    July 17, 2009
    mvieaddict
    Director Kim Ki-Duk gave us an insight about teenage prostitution in Korea with Samaria,but for me this was not a film about prostitution, I found that the film was more about emotionally relationships, between friends and family. The film was basically set into two parts. Part o... read morene was about Jae-Young, a teenage prostitute and her best friend Yeo-Jin. The second part was about Yeo-Jin and her father. Each part had its tense moments, and the director, pretty much did a good job telling the story and showing the audience: tragedy and closeness. There was not sex or violence like other typical prostitution movies, it was more used as a medium to get the point.
    The ending was kind of confusing.
  • KLFilmmaker
    February 5, 2008
    KLFilmmaker
    Another moody character study by Kim. Runs out of steam halfway thru.
  • Hellshocked
    June 7, 2007
    Hellshocked
    The more I've seen of his work there more I've, unfortunitely, come to believe that Kim-Ki Duk is a misogynist. It is not so much that he hates women but that he sees very few roles for which they are suited, chief ammong them as prostitutes. In many of his films it is the role o... read moref women to redeem men through sex, often through debasing themselves sexually. Women, as Kim-Ki Duk shows them in his films, are not characters but objects.

    I will be purposefully vague from now on so as to avoid spoilers.

    The first chapter of "Samaritan Girl" takes place in a universe where child prostitution is a beautiful, safe act. The myth of the happy hooker prevails: the prostitute loves her job, meets nice men, makes good money and gets them to feel better about themselves. The way this chapter ends is so arbitrary that I felt no impact. None of what had happened had made much sense, so the final sequence *(however beautfiful the image) was empty, devoid of emotional investment.

    The second chapter begins on an equally arbitrary note, but has two scenes which are very strong, much stronger than anything in the first chapter, and it was at this point my severe disappointment began to dissuade.

    The third and final chapter is absolutely beautiful, poetic, right up there with Kim Ki-Duk's best.

    I understand what he was trying to do with the film (a tale of childhood innocence lost and a sense of purity regained with adulthood looming near) but there is no reason for the first chapter to have used the lazy plot devices it did. Even much of the second chapter is lazy, despite the above mentioned strong scenes. There are many, many other ways the paradise lost and social commentary of the early chapters could have been handled and used to set up the last one. Kim-Ki Duk specifically chose these out of all of them, and unless I start seeing some strong female roles in some of his films my mind will be made up forever.

    This is a good film, mostly on the strength of its last chapter, but a troubling one in the early going. I do recommend it, but with trepidation. I almost feel guilty for liking it, all things considered.
  • LickTheABCs
    August 9, 2009
    LickTheABCs
    Seriously, dude. Get a frickin' puppy already. Ok, now that I've got that out of the way, here we have my personal favorite Ki-duk flick.. a truly depressing story, well, about the special bond between father and daughter.. er, no it's not sorry. A story about a girl, her pimp an... read mored.. ya know, trying to sum up this flick in a sentence is harder than me after an episode of Hannah Montana (wow, that joke wasn't funny, in fact I think I just threw up in my mouth, lil' bit).. This review has definitely run its course. Rent this, it is a terrific film. End.
  • Jungian
    September 9, 2008
    Jungian
    I have mixed feelings on this film from Kim Ki-Duk that comes off as just poorly plotted and muddled. overall enjoyable film on the oddities and ignorance of childhood and the helplessness of parenthood.
  • sitenoise
    May 29, 2008
    sitenoise
    About a girl whose father discovers she is prostituting herself ... OR ... a movie about a guy who discovers his daughter is prostituting herself. Either way, this is a very touching film ... from Kim Ki-Duk. There are two different worlds going on trying to find bridge through p... read moreain or kindness. For those who think it starts off like an after school special, yep, that's the point. I think this is KKD in top form. Sex, Violence, Misunderstanding, Love comingling in bizarro-land.

View All Samaria (Samaritan Girl) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
June 24, 2005
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

The preceding parts are so literal minded, as both puritanical and pornographic illustrations of an obnoxious male fantasy, that they strike me as alternately absurd and hypocritical. Full Review

Kirk Honeycutt
May 3, 2005
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter

It's hard to say what Kim is driving at here.

Jean-François Vandeuren
January 15, 2006
Jean-François Vandeuren, Panorama

Samaritan Girl demeure l'un des films les plus accessibles de la filmographie de Kim Ki-duk grâce à sa mise en scène volontairement simplifiée qui fonctionne à merveille. Full Review

MaryAnn Johanson
July 3, 2005
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher

[A]rcane and provocative film... cements [Ki-duk Kim's] reputation as one of the most astonishing artists working in cinema today... Full Review

Christopher Null
June 2, 2005
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

just doesn't jibe with any version of reality that I'm aware of Full Review

Ed Gonzalez
June 26, 2004
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine

An under-thought formula linking sex, youth, and violence. Full Review

Gabriel Shanks
June 2, 2004
Gabriel Shanks, Mixed Reviews

A wholly unique tale that gives expressive voice to the pains of childhood and the parents forced to bear witness. Full Review

Derek Elley
September 18, 2009
Derek Elley, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Keith H. Brown
December 7, 2007
Keith H. Brown, Eye for Film

Click to read the article Full Review

Derek Adams
February 9, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

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