be this the same kim ki duk who direct the poignant and life span testimonial of spring and summer and fall and winter and spring . the same kim ki duk who direct the exquisite and nearly silent and heartbreaking longing of 3 iron . the same kim ki duk who dazzle u with the staggering tragedy of the coast guard and make u squirm about the ugliness of nonchalant teenage prostitution before return to his almost patented nature motif to allow u all ( character and viewer alike ) to experience redemption in samaritan girl . i just can not seem to find him in this film . oh and sure and kim nature motif be still present . the film take place entirely on a lake surround by mountain and on fish float rest placidly on the surface of calm water . yes and it kim ki duk and all right . kim even describe the film a beautiful in an interview include in the dvd special feature . but i be not sure anymore what that mean after view this putrescent presentation . what be beautiful about angry and potty mouth prostitute and lustful and violent and potty mouth fisherman and a covetous mute merchant and explicit animal torture and sequence of self mutilation and a pace that swing nauseatingly between bestial carnality and mindless brutality . these be the only element of humanity that present themselves in this utterly confounding and ultimately pointless film . if it be base on a fable or intend a a parable or be mean to be symbolic of something great and this reviewer be unfamiliar with the source material . it have be favorably compare to audition by japanese director takashi miike ( much to kim satisfaction ) and but aside from some astonishingly good performance and especially give what they have to work with and by lead actor seo jung and kim yoo suk and i find little reason to recommend this film . i have not see audition and but i doubt it would alter in any way my view of the isle . it violence be pornographic and senselessly sadistic . it sex be not pornographic and but passionless and masochistic . character behave on irritate impulse because there be no plot . it point be either non existent or and i will admit and lose amidst korean cultural quirk that i fail to understand . the only beauty be in the cinematography and which be classic kim represent fog shroud boat lap slowly across a serene lake and mountainous terrain dominate the background and and an imaginative and playful use of color . at time it seem a if viewer be lock in a big kim ki duk romper room . some touch and like the mysterious and seductive mute merchant play by jung and the pleasantly odd use of motorbike and be intrigue . but a a film and this effort be downright confuse and and in the end and offensive to the sens and not necessarily to sensibility . one hop that kim will leave this kind of film making in the trash heap of his past and for we know he be capable of so much more .