3-Iron (Bin-jip) - Michael

3-Iron (Bin-jip)

I'm tempted to follow the main character's lead in this review, and just say nothing. But, as I've already blown that, on with the rambling.

I'll take the internet's word that the main character is named Tae-suk. He certainly never says it, and I don't read enough Korean to make out the credits. And Tae-suk (T-Suck to his friends) isn't the only mute in the movie. His kinda-sorta girlfriend Sun-hwa also doesn't speak. Technically she says about 3 words at the very end, but who's counting?

So, how do you communicate without dialog? If you guessed "meaningful looks", you're almost right! If you guessed "meaningful looks and a barrage of golf balls at point blank range", then I suspect you've seen this movie. In fact, effectively all of the violence in this movie is done via golf balls, or "The Dimpled Killers", as they're known in the tougher parts of town.

Interesting Note: The English title of the movie, 3-Iron, refers to the preferred golf club of Tae-suk to dispense tiny, spherical justice. The Korean title, Bin-jip, translates to "Empty Houses", or something like that, which really has a lot more to do with the movie, considering Tae-suk's hobby of breaking into and living in homes of people on vacation.

That's actually probably more than a hobby, as there's little indication that Tae-suk does anything else. There's not much indication that he has a home of his own, or even a job, other than a very shiny motorcycle and a supply of restaurant flyers. As payment for his uninvited stay, he does chores or repairs around the house.

It's not clear how long Tae-suk has been leading this ghostly existence, haunting people homes, existing just outside their vision, but just inside their perception, but he seems to be very comfortable with the life. After a stint in jail, his abilities move into the realm of the supernatural. He moves without a sound, and makes himself invisible by staying completely behind a person, no matter how they turn. The movie is somewhat surreal throughout, so this is really more of a smooth transition towards the end rather than a jarring break.

I haven't really commented on the relationship between Tae-suk and Sun-hwa, mostly because I'm not sure what to say about it. Given that the only other person she's seen with is her abusive husband, it's not too surprising that she turns to Tae-suk. At first, he simply provides an escape, and she retreats into the same invisible life Soon, though, she begins to appreciate the uniqueness of their situation. Living in the shadow of other families, very slightly touching their lives and being touched by them, but with no real anchor or home.

The very end is a bit (OK, more than a bit) strange, and maybe a little different tone from the rest of the movie. Tae-suk does finally find a place to live, in the shadow of Sun-hwa's husband (literally). The arrangement actually seems to make everyone pretty happy, even if the husband has no idea why his wife is suddenly cheery.

I'll leave you with three choices for the moral of the movie:
1. Only love can give life to a ghost.
2. Women love a good listener, even if they don't have much to say.
3. Don't let your wife date a ninja.

By the Numbers:
Number of Words Spoken by Tae-Suk: 0
Number of Words Spoken by Sun-hwa: 3-ish
Number of Times Tae-suk Holds A Phone, And You Think He's Going To Say Something: 2
Number of Answering Machine Greetings Saying The Family Is On Vacation, Even Though You're Not Supposed To Do That: 3
Number of People Injured By Golf Balls: 4
Number of Women Tae-suk Accidentally Seriously Injures: 2
Chance That Someone Uses The Coupons Taped To Their Door: 0.01%
Chance That Someone Broke Into Your House Last Time You Were Out: 70%
Chance That Sun-hwa's Husband Will Be Drunken And Abusive Again After The Movie: 95%

Rating (without alcohol): 3 1/2 Stars
Rating (with alcohol): 3 1/2 Stars
Rating (as a ninja): 4 Throwing Stars