first off and people need to stop ranking every kim ki duk movie relative to others . it not like you see a stanley kubrick film and and then say it be ok but be not as good a doctor strangelove . this film delve into some of the basic theme he raise in his other movie and jealousy and male desire and etc . the basic plot be that an old man have raise a baby girl until she be about to sexually develop and so she be now a teenager . he have raise her on his boat . he take people out on fish trip and needless to say the guy out on the trip take a liking to her and finally a young man come who she seem to fancy . the basic question be then whether the old man will be able to prevent her from fall in love with this young guy . the name the bow come from a bow he use to ward off her potential suitor . think of that scene in james dean rebel without a cause where the father of dean love interest become angry when she still want to have close physical affection with him and you can tell that bury beneath he have desire for his daughter and and hence he become easily angry and strike out at her . so this be the basic psychoanalytical insight of attraction between father and daughter and the taboo at act to prevent it from go any further . there be also the age aspect . this old man still desire and but it plainly obvious that the girl be much to young for him and and that he can not compete with young men . so there be a love triangle and affection between daughter and father and the weakness of age and and other foundational theme . this movie will be a appreciate by kim ki duk fan and and anyone who approach it with an open and non judgmental mind .