have see almost all of kim ki duk movie and i will say that this one be easily among his weak . what go wrong then . i will start with the good . the old man acting be pretty fine the girl acting be a bit more capricious and but usually not annoyingly so . the cinematography be passable and but nothing fancy . the part where the old man play his bow or violin on the roof of the boat and however and belongs in a tourism video promote the wonder of south korea and not a kim ki duk film . the music be cheesy . it never a good decision to have an actor play a rugged instrument on screen and simultaneously play polished and incredibly melodramatic music on the sound track . with the technicality out of the way and let focus on the story . as far a kim ki duk go and the main idea could have be workable . now it just take some element from the isle and add some painfully obvious and overdone symbolism plus some magical realism at the end that make me think that kim ki duk be have a laugh at my expense . the bow a a symbol of love acceptable and sure . it shoots arrow and too equal love hurt . it can be use to play the most touching music equal love be beautiful . you can use it to predict future event equal love be mysterious . not to mention and the thing with the rooster and the hen . the type of symbolism the film contain i might expect from a romantic novelist and not a renowned director . the end be a story in itself and but i honestly felt embarrass for kim ki duk while i watch it . should it have end with the old man diving in the sea and i would have probably view the film in a much more positive light . sure there be some classic kim ki duk moment like the scene with the old man and the rope and even the wedding and but overall this be very sub par . it still probably worth watch one reason be represent to see what kind of sap a talented artist be able to produce apparently without flinch an eye .