Movie Digest
Lee Joon-historical ik’s black-and-white film The Book of Fish was released in 2021. The film, which stars Sol Kyung-gu and Byun Yo-han, is about an exiled Joseon Dynasty scholar and a fisherman who collaborate on a book.
The Feel-Good Part
The scenes of village life in The Book of Fish are stunning. With witty language and a fondness for drawing fast sketches of well-known personalities.
The Disappointing Factor
As it skims over significant life events, the film becomes clunky. In one moment, for example, Yak-jeon embraces a pregnant Kago. This happens without any buildup, save from a few flirting phrases spoken by the protagonists earlier in the film. As time slips away, the audience loses sight of how long events take and how characters evolve.
In-Depth Analysis
The Book of Fish follows in this tradition, focusing on Joseon-era scholar Jeong Yak-jeon (Sol Kyung-gu of Birthday) and his exile to Heuksando Island. While most Koreans are familiar with Jeong Yak-yong (Ryu Seung-ryong), Lee Joon-ik chose Yak-jeon because of his interest in the natural environment. Yak-natural jeon’s curiosity “was something that Joseon aristocrats lacked,” filmmaker Lee said in interviews.
Star Power
Sol Kyung-ju and Byun Yo-han do a fantastic job as the unusual master and protégé, and the performers’ dialogue is brimming with wit and genuine passion. Yak-jeon becomes not just a mentor but also a father figure to Chang-dae, who grew up without a father.
Overall Opinion
The movie The Book of Fish is a lot of fun. It succeeds in portraying everyday life in a small fishing hamlet, although failing to pursue all of its topics.
