The Book of Fish (2021) – Korean Movie Review

Once in a Lifetime

The Book of Fish (2021)

자산어보

Directed by: Lee Joon-ik (이준익)
Starring: Sol Kyung-gu (솔경구), Byun Yo-han (변요한), Lee Jeong-eun (이정은), Dohee (민도희)
Release Date: March 31st, 2021


The Confucian scholar Jung Yak-jeong (Sol Kyung-gu) is exiled to the island of Heuksang after new royal court politics label him a threat. There, village leaders warn fellow islanders to steer clear of him before he is taken in by a single woman (Lee Jeong-eun). A figurative fish out of water, Jung learns to cope with his new life in exile. Not long after arriving, Jung becomes completely enthralled by the aquatic life of the ocean and begins work on a new book as he documents all the bizarre creatures and delicious delicacies the ocean has to offer.

One day, Jung Yak-jeong encounters an islander and expert fisherman named Chang-dae (Byun Yo-han), who is privately studying Confucianism and dreams of becoming a great scholar himself. When Jung proposes the two men exchange knowledge to help each other in their causes, Chang-dae promptly refuses to work with the court labeled sinner. But Chang-dae eventually warms to Jung’s offer and the two begin a life-changing cooperative effort that accelerates each of their studies as they grow into new men of prominence.

Video Review


 

9.2
The Book of Fish (2021)
  • Story
    8.5
  • Acting
    9
  • Direction
    9
  • Technical
    9.5
  • Art
    10
Categories
Korean MoviesNew MoviesReview

Tyler is a passionate fan of East Asian cinema, especially South Korean films which he has followed closely for nearly two decades. He started one of the Pacific Northwest's first Korean Cinema Clubs out of the University of Idaho in 2004, where he also spent a year abroad studying Japanese at Nagasaki University of Foreign Languages. Since 2011, Tyler has been living and working in Seoul, South Korea as a freelance English teacher and writer. He also spent one year studying at Sogang University's well-known Korean Language program.
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