It was interesting to see a new kind of vampire in Thirst. A priest turning into a vampire, this idea is fresh and new.
This movie reminds me of the literature The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Both works have the same links in terms of religion, gender, sin, redemption, etc. As Hester and Dimmesdale were suppressed by the society and religion, Tae-ju and Sang-hyeon were under oppression. In Thirst, the oppression suffocating them revived and became tremendous desires when the couple turned into vampires. The desires gulf almost every people including Tae-ju and Sang-hyeon. A little bit unlike The Scarlet Letter, Thirst shows throughout the process how they sinned and its reason and result.
In The Scarlet Letter, Hester should live along with redemption due to the love with Dimmesdale, a minister. She put a letter A on her clothes as a mark of her sin. However, she made the A with fabulous scarlet color, which stands for her desire. In Thirst Tae-ju displayed her desire by sucking red blood. She lived with the desire pretty much excessively. The reason why Sang-hyeon and Tae-ju became to live like this is, i think, not because of their innate endless desire, but because of the irresistible oppression put on them. Just like human would fly without landing forever if he is released from the physical fetter.
However, the reasons of oppression are different for them. As a priest, Sang-hyeon chose the oppression of his own will in order to be faithful to God. In contrary, Tae-ju had lived under suppression, and she could not had resisted against it. It was not her own will. Furthermore, it is very interesting that it is a priest and a vampire Sang-hyeon who revived, killed, and incriminated Tae-ju. Even after Tae-ju got to get rid of oppression, she had to face another tragedy that she actually has nothing to choose on her own. What is more, she couldn't help but wait for her death sitting next to Sang-hyeon who wait for redemption. Tae-ju couldn't be redeemed, not like Sang-hyeon. In short, she had to live only with another's will from start to end. The situation is repeated in Thirst that Dimmesdale made his destiny by himself with much relief although Hester got ignored and sacrificed in The Scarlet Letter. It might be the reason the death of Taejoo is reliving and pitiful at the same time.
Horrible desires are punished in the film. But the punishment is not applied to Sang-hyeon, because he was redeemed. The one who got it is Tae-ju, and her desire is still in her boot which didn't turn into ashes.
All the actors did great job. Especially, Kim Hae Suk and Shin Ha kyun worked nicely. In the film, Shin didn't take a big part, but his character Kang-woo is very important and he played well. (maybe he is Chillingworth from The Scarlet Letter? they have pretty many similarities) If you like this movie and Shin, i would like to recommend the korean film called "Guns and Talks."
This movie reminds me of the literature The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Both works have the same links in terms of religion, gender, sin, redemption, etc. As Hester and Dimmesdale were suppressed by the society and religion, Tae-ju and Sang-hyeon were under oppression. In Thirst, the oppression suffocating them revived and became tremendous desires when the couple turned into vampires. The desires gulf almost every people including Tae-ju and Sang-hyeon. A little bit unlike The Scarlet Letter, Thirst shows throughout the process how they sinned and its reason and result.
In The Scarlet Letter, Hester should live along with redemption due to the love with Dimmesdale, a minister. She put a letter A on her clothes as a mark of her sin. However, she made the A with fabulous scarlet color, which stands for her desire. In Thirst Tae-ju displayed her desire by sucking red blood. She lived with the desire pretty much excessively. The reason why Sang-hyeon and Tae-ju became to live like this is, i think, not because of their innate endless desire, but because of the irresistible oppression put on them. Just like human would fly without landing forever if he is released from the physical fetter.
However, the reasons of oppression are different for them. As a priest, Sang-hyeon chose the oppression of his own will in order to be faithful to God. In contrary, Tae-ju had lived under suppression, and she could not had resisted against it. It was not her own will. Furthermore, it is very interesting that it is a priest and a vampire Sang-hyeon who revived, killed, and incriminated Tae-ju. Even after Tae-ju got to get rid of oppression, she had to face another tragedy that she actually has nothing to choose on her own. What is more, she couldn't help but wait for her death sitting next to Sang-hyeon who wait for redemption. Tae-ju couldn't be redeemed, not like Sang-hyeon. In short, she had to live only with another's will from start to end. The situation is repeated in Thirst that Dimmesdale made his destiny by himself with much relief although Hester got ignored and sacrificed in The Scarlet Letter. It might be the reason the death of Taejoo is reliving and pitiful at the same time.
Horrible desires are punished in the film. But the punishment is not applied to Sang-hyeon, because he was redeemed. The one who got it is Tae-ju, and her desire is still in her boot which didn't turn into ashes.
All the actors did great job. Especially, Kim Hae Suk and Shin Ha kyun worked nicely. In the film, Shin didn't take a big part, but his character Kang-woo is very important and he played well. (maybe he is Chillingworth from The Scarlet Letter? they have pretty many similarities) If you like this movie and Shin, i would like to recommend the korean film called "Guns and Talks."