“Sunny” (2011, Director’s Cut) spoiler-free synopsis by story arcs

Jump to Overview; How to use this spoiler-free synopsis; Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Historical / cultural backgrounders and other information; Lessons in photography with in-depth analysis of the movie’s visuals, cinematography, and editing (work in progress)

Overview from Wikipedia: “Sunny” is a 2011 South Korean comedy-drama film. The film is about a middle-aged woman who tries to fulfill her friend’s dying wish of reuniting their group of high school friends. The film alternates between two timelines: the present day where the women are middle-aged, and the 1980s when they were in high school. It is the second film by writer-director Kang Hyeong-cheol, who previously directed “Scandal Makers” (2008). The movie’s cast is led by Shim Eun-kyung, Kang So-ra, Yoo Ho-jeong, and Jin Hee-kyung.

Released on 4 May 2011, “Sunny” was the first film of that year to sell five million tickets in South Korea, and became the second highest-grossing Korean film by the end of the year. As of 20 September 2012, it is the 13th best-selling film of all-time in South Korea.

“Sunny” was shown in film festivals worldwide. It won the following awards:

48th Grand Bell Awards: Best Director, Kang Hyeong-cheol; Best Editing, Nam Na-yeong.

19th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) for Film: “Sunny”

3rd KOFRA Film Awards: Best Director, Kang Hyeong-cheol

4th Style Icon Awards Content of the Year: “Sunny”

The movie was nominated for the following: 48th Baeksang Arts Awards: Best Film; 32nd Blue Dragon Film Awards: Best Film; Best Director; Best Screenplay; Best Art Direction; Best Music.

Kang So-ra, who plays the young Chun-hwa, won the following awards: 20th Buil Film Awards: Best New Actress; 48th Baeksang Arts Awards: Best New Actress

How to use this spoiler-free synopsis

Based on the story arcs, I divided this movie into three parts, indicating the start and end of each part in minute marks. For each part, I narrated some of the main actions without revealing the twists and turns.

Part 3 is the movie’s finale (the last 35 minutes or so); you can just read Parts 1 to 2, for example, to know what the movie is all about and then go watch the movie. (Part 2 is the midway point of the movie.)

Part 1 (from start to 50:00)

While visiting her mother at the hospital, Im Na-mi meets Ha Chun-hwa, her former classmate in high school. Ha Chun-hwa reveals that she’s dying of cancer and only has two months to live; she pleads with Na-mi that she wants to meet “Sunny,” their group of friends in high school.

Flashback, 1980s ...

On her first day at her new school, Na-mi gets bullied by two girls in her class. But she’s saved by Chun-hwa, who’s the leader of a group of six girls because of her height, beauty, and dominant personality. The other girls are Jang-mi (a portly girl who wants to have double eyelids); Jin-hee (the daughter of a Korean literature professor and who swears a lot); Geum-ok (a dentist’s daughter, who wants to become a writer); Bok-hee (a flighty girl who dreams of becoming Miss Korea); and Su-ji (the most quiet and the most beautiful among the girls).

At home, Na-mi has to deal with a cantankerous grandmother and an older brother who always riles up their father because of his student activism and pro-labor sentiments.

One day, as she begins to have a diabetic episode, Na-mi gets dragged along by Chun-hwa and her friends as they confront a rival group of girls from another high school.

Present times ... Through her former high school teacher, Na-mi meets Jang-mi.

Notes:

1. Part 1 spoilers are posted below.

2. The image below will help you identify the main characters as adults and as students.

3. The video clip below might contain some spoilers that could ruin your viewing of the full movie.



Part 2 (from 51:01 to 1:31:36)

After her daughter refuses to say how she got the bruise on her face, Na-mi begins following her on her way to the “hagwon” (after-school academy).

Flashback ...

Smitten by Jun-ho, Na-mi follows him into a music club. Unknown to her, however, three of the girls from Sunny’s rival group are also there. Later on, as she arrives home, she sees police officers at their gate looking for her brother.

Chun-hwa and her friends have found out how Na-mi was bullied at the music club. On a street where pro-democracy activists and soldiers in full riot gear prepare to square off against each other, they wait for their rival group to appear.

Present times ...

After attending her brother’s court hearing, Na-mi goes to the hospital to work on Chun-hwa’s portrait. When Chun-hwa asks her if there’s anything that she wants to do in her life, she replies that she’s too old to have dreams. Later on, as she arrives at the academy, she sees her daughter in a dark alley being bullied by three girls.

Flashback ...

As Chun-hwa and her friends practice their dance for the upcoming school festival, conflict arises between Su-ji and Na-mi. When Chun-hwa defends Na-mi, Su-ji quits their group and walks away.

Present times ...

Na-mi and Jang-mi find out where Bok-hee lives. Later on, at the hospital, Na-mi promises Chun-hwa that she will find Su-ji.

Notes:

1. Part 2 spoilers are posted below.

2. The video clips below might contain some spoilers that could ruin your viewing of the full movie.









Part 3 (from 1:31:37 to the end)

Na-mi watches the video that she and her friends made back in high school when they spoke to their future selves. In the video, she spoke about becoming an artist, a DJ, and the owner of a comic bookstore.

The private investigator tells Na-mi that although he still hasn’t found Su-ji, he has found Jun-ho.

Flashback ...

Na-mi gets bullied again by Sang-mi, her classmate who bullied her on her first day in school. Angry that Sang-mi questioned the depth and strength of her friendship with Chun-hwa and the other members of Sunny, she challenges Sang-mi to meet her near the school’s garbage dump.

Back inside their classroom, everyone becomes shocked when their teacher beats Sang-mi repeatedly on the head. Before storming out of the classroom, Sang-mi shatters the mirror on the wall and then glares at Chun-hwa.

Notes:

1. Part 3 spoilers are posted below.

2. The video clip below might contain some spoilers that could ruin your viewing of the full movie.



Historical / cultural backgrounders and other information

1. YouTube videos that show life in South Korea during the 1980s:





2. The flashback scenes are set during South Korea’s military dictatorship in the 1980s. Na-mi’s brother is depicted as a pro-democracy activist, and the epic girl fight between Sunny and their rival group is set within the clash between the activists and the soldiers. This clash references the 1980s “Gwangju Uprising” and pro-democracy movement in Korea.

K-movies about 1980s Gwangju Uprising and pro-democracy movement in Korea:







Part 1 spoilers:

Na-mi is married to a husband who’s a good provider but is emotionally distant, just like her daughter. Despite her pleas, her husband and daughter do not visit or communicate with her mother who’s confined in a hospital.

After meeting Chun-hwa, Na-mi goes to her mini-library at home and looks at her high school yearbook and her drawings of her friends. To her surprise, she sees her daughter come into the mini-library and try to take some money that’s hidden inside a book.

Flashback ...

During the confrontation between Chun-hwa’s group and the rival group of girls from another high school, Na-mi has a diabetic episode. Mouthing off her grandmother’s curses, she scares the rival group into running away. Later, despite Su-ji’s sullen reluctance, Chun-hwa and the other girls accept Na-mi into the group. As they celebrate, they meet the friends of Jang-mi’s brother, including the good looking Jun-ho. Na-mi gets teased after Jun-ho says that she’s pretty.

Through a radio program, Chun-hwa and her friends get the name “Sunny” for their group.

Present times ...

Jang-mi works as an insurance agent, but her sales are far below than those of the other agents. With Chun-hwa paying for the expenses, she and Na-mi hire a private investigator to find the other members of “Sunny.”

Through the private investigator, Na-mi and Jang-mi find Jin-hee at a golf course.

At the private investigator’s office, Na-mi asks the private investigator to look for somebody else besides her friends. Hiding inside the office is Jin-hee, who has just retained the private investigator to find out if her husband is having an affair.

Posing as religious proselytizers, Na-mi and Jin-hee find Geum-ok. Unlike the Geum-ok they knew in high school as a bright student who wanted to be a writer, she’s an unemployed stay-at-home wife who takes care of her mother-in-law and her sister-in-law’s baby. As they leave, she runs after them and gives them an envelope with some cash in it for Chun-hwa.

Na-mi takes the cash that her husband gave her and places it inside Geum-ok’s envelope.

Part 2 spoilers:

Flashback ...

At the music club, Jun-ho saves Na-mi from the bullies. Later, near Na-mi’s house, he tells her that if the bullies bother her again, she should tell them that he is her boyfriend.

As the pro-democracy activists and soldiers battle on the street, Chun-hwa and her friends also fight with their rival group.

Su-ji dislikes Na-mi because she’s from Jeolla-do, just like her stepmother whom she hates. At a “pojangmacha” (street stall), she and Na-mi iron out their misunderstandings.

Present times ...

Na-mi, Chun-hwa, Jang-mi, and Jin-hee beat up the high school girls who have been bullying Na-mi’s daughter.

Na-mi and Jang-mi find out that Bok-hee became a prostitute and that her daughter is in a government facility. Jang-mi doesn’t want to meet Bok-hee, but having just seen how Chun-hwa suffered from intense pain at the hospital, Na-mi says that friends are for hard times.

When Na-mi says that they will help her find a new job so that she can reunited with her daughter, Bok-hee breaks down and wails that Chun-hwa shouldn’t be dying because she was supposed to take care of every one of them.

Part 3 spoilers:

Flashback ...

Sang-mi was once friends with Chun-hwa, but Chun-hwa rejected her after finding out that she was sniffing glue.

At the garbage dump, Su-ji saves Na-mi from being humiliated by Sang-mi and the other bullies. She threatens to burn Sang-mi’s face, but Na-mi pleads with her to stop.

At a get-together in the countryside between Sunny and the friends of Jang-mi’s brother, Na-mi becomes brokenhearted when she sees Jun-ho and Su-ji kissing.

Present time ...

Na-mi goes to the record bar owned by Jun-ho and, without explaining who she is, gives him the portrait that she did of him during high school.

Flashback ...

At the school cafeteria, Chun-hwa stops Sang-mi from bullying Na-mi. But using a broken bottle, Sang-mi slashes Su-ji’s face.

As Su-ji is rushed to the hospital, the members of Sunny are beaten up by the teacher; they’re also expelled from school.

On the street outside Su-ji’s house, Na-mi finds out that Su-ji tried to kill herself. Chun-hwa challenges everyone that they’ll meet each other again and perform the dance that they were supposed to present during the festival. She says that in the future, if anyone of them ignores the others because her life has become too good, they will punish her; if anyone’s life sucks in the future, the rest will make her life better.

During Chun-hwa’s funeral wake, her attorney arrives and reads her will to Na-mi, Jang-mi, Jin-hee, Geum-ok, and Bok-hee. In her will, she generously provides financially for Jang-mi, Geum-ok, and Bok-hee. She appoints Na-mi as Sunny’s new leader and Jin-hee as the vice-leader.

After Na-mi, Jang-mi, Jin-hee, Geum-ok, and Bok-hee finish the dance that they were supposed to present during the school festival, Su-ji arrives.

“Swing Kids” (spoiler-free synopsis by story arcs)

Jump to Overview; How to use this spoiler-free synopsis; Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Historical / cultural backgrounders and other information; Lessons in photography with in-depth analysis of the movie’s visuals, cinematography, and editing

Overview from Wikipedia: “Swing Kids” is a 2018 South Korean musical drama film written and directed by Kang Hyeong-cheol and based on the Korean musical “Roh Ki-soo.” The film stars Doh Kyung-soo, Park Hye-su, Jared Grimes, Oh Jung-se, and Kim Min-ho. The film was released on December 19, 2018. “Swing Kids” was screened at The 2019 1st PyeongChang International Peace Film Festival on August 18, 2019.

Genre: historical, music, romance, tragedy.

Kang Hyeong-cheol is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. His first two films “Scandal Makers” (2008) and “Sunny” (2011) have been the highest grossing Korean films of their respective years, and are both among the highest grossing Korean films of all time. Kang won Best Director at the 48th Grand Bell Awards in 2011 for “Sunny.”

“Swing Kids” won the following awards:

55th Baeksang Arts Awards: Best Director, Kang Hyeong-cheol

40th Blue Dragon Film Awards: Best Cinematography - Lighting, Kim Ji-young and Jo Gyu-young; Best Editing, Nam Na-yeong

39th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards: Best Soundtrack, Kim Jun-seok

39th Golden Cinema Film Festival: Best New Actress, Park Hye-su

How to use this spoiler-free synopsis

Based on the story arcs, I divided this movie into four parts, indicating the start and end of each part in minute marks. For each part, I narrated some of the main actions without revealing the twists and turns.

Part 4 is the movie’s finale (the last 40 minutes or so); you can just read Parts 1 to 2, for example, to know what the movie is all about and then go watch the movie. (Part 3 is the midway point of the movie.)

Part 1 (from start to 33:15)

The sprawling Geoje (Koje) Island prison camp during the Korean War in 1951 is divided into two warring sides — the POWs who want to be totally repatriated to North Korea and some Chinese POWs (aka the communists), and the POWs who have given up their allegiance to North Korea (aka the traitors or the anti-communists). The conflict between the two sides have led to violent and deadly riots.

The new camp commander, Brig. General Norman B. Roberts, tells his aides-de-camp that “voluntary repatriation” means victory for the US and South Korea, while “total repatriation” means failure. He orders his aides-de-camp to win over the communists through holding talent shows, providing jobs training, and granting pardons to selected POWs.

Among the leaders in the communist side of the camp is Roh Ki-soo; he’s well-known among the communists mainly because his brother Roh Ki-jin is a killing machine and war hero. But he’s also the target of a group of American soldiers led by a corporal named Jimmy.

While rummaging through the camp’s supply room that’s full of canned goods and beer, Ki-soo sees a black American soldier named Sgt. Jackson doing a weird kind of dance; his companion Man-chul tells him that it’s “tap dance.” That night at an entertainment hall, the American soldiers party with several Korean women, among whom is a newbie named Yang Pan-rae. Providing the music is a band composed of Korean POWs.

In a drunken stupor, Man-chul stumbles out of the supply room while Ki-soo crashes through a door that leads into the entertainment hall. As he merrily dances along with the American soldiers and the Korean women, he’s recognized by Jimmy and his buddies.

The next day, Brig. General Roberts orders Sgt. Jackson to form a tap dance team composed of some POWs. But Sgt. Jackson demurs, saying that he doesn’t think Asians can tap dance.

Notes:

1. Part 1 spoilers are posted at the bottom portion of this post.

2. The videos below shows (a) Ki-soo returning to the prison camp after his unsuccessful escape attempt, being confronted by corporal Jimmy, and going to the supply room with Man-chul, from the start up to the 3:31 mark; (b) the first time Ki-soo sees tap dance, from 3:32 mark; (c) dance party.





Part 2 (from 33:16 to 59:45)

As Ki-soo becomes conflicted between his allegiance to North Korea and his growing desire to learn how to tap dance, somebody finds out that he’s learning tap dance. On the other hand, Man-chul tests Ki-soo’s loyalty by asking him to tattoo with a knife the word “traitor” on the forehead of Sam-shik, the Korean idiot-servant of Brig. General Roberts.

After Ki-soo is kidnapped by Jimmy and his buddies, Jackson is arrested by MPs on patrol. Brig. General Roberts orders that Jackson be sent back not to Japan but to the US; he also orders that the tap dance team be disbanded.

Not giving up, Kang Byung-sam and Xiaofang tell Ki-soo that, while Brig. General Roberts is entertaining the American reporters in the camp, they can do something to help Jackson and their team. But Ki-soo refuses to help, saying that unlike them, he has no reason to dance.

Notes:

1. Part 2 spoilers are posted at the bottom portion of this post.

2. The video clips below might contain some spoilers that could ruin your viewing of the full movie.





Part 3 (from 59:46 to 1:25:33)

Brig. General Roberts tells Jackson that if the tap dance team’s show for the Red Cross and the American reporters on Christmas Day is successful, he will be reunited with his family in Japan. When Jackson asks what’s going to happen to his tap dance team after Christmas Day, Brig. General Roberts smirks at his use of the phrase “my team.” Later on, as Ki-soo tells him about his plans for the future, he says that their team could someday perform on the grand stage of Carnegie Hall.

The peaceful days in Geoje Island prison camp are shattered when Kwang-kuk, Ki-soo’s friend, arrives at the camp along with the newest batch of POWs. In a general assembly, he agitates the communist POWs to annihilate the American soldiers and the anti-communist traitors.

As riots and killings explode in the prison camp, the communist POWs ambush some American soldiers led by Jimmy. Ki-soo arrives, kicks Jimmy downhill, and stabs him repeatedly.

Brig. General Roberts plans with his aides-de-camp how to respond to the riots. Later, during another general assembly, Kwang-kuk tells his fellow communists about how the American soldiers seem to know where they are planning to attack. He says that there’s a spy among them. After announcing that their hero Roh Ki-jin has been reported missing in action, he orders Ki-soo to kill Jackson.

While looking for Yang Pan-rae in a village, Jackson sees Linda and her group of Korean entertainers ganging up on a woman who dared to cross her.

Notes:

1. Part 3 spoilers are posted at the bottom portion of this post.

2. The video clip below might contain some spoilers that could ruin your viewing of the full movie.



Part 4 (from 1:25:34 to the end)

Among the new batch of communist POWs who arrive at the prison camp are Kang Byung-sam’s wife and the chained, heavily guarded Roh Ki-jin.

On the orders of the senior colonel who’s hiding among the communist POWs and organizing their activities, Man-chul is snatched and brought to a cave. Ki-soo is also snatched and brought to the cave where the senior colonel orders him to kill Brig. General Roberts during the Christmas Day show for the Red Cross. He threatens Ki-soo that if he doesn’t do as he’s ordered, he will kill his brother Roh Ki-jin.

The senior colonel coerces Man-chul to deceive Brig. General Roberts into thinking that he has broken up the rebellion of the communist POWs.

When Ki-soo shows up at the training hall, Jackson warns him that he’s putting his life at risk if he dances on stage during the Christmas Day show.

Notes:

1. Part 4 spoilers are posted at the bottom portion of this post.

2. The video clips below might contain some spoilers that could ruin your viewing of the full movie.





Historical / cultural backgrounders and other information

1. YouTube videos about the Geoje Island prison camp and the Korean War







2. Tap dancing





4. Tap dance scene choreography







5. Movie analysis



Lessons in photography with in-depth analysis of the movie’s visuals, cinematography, and editing

Note: This analysis is a work in progress.

“Swing Kids” won awards in the 40th Blue Dragon Film Awards for “Best Cinematography - Lighting” and “Best Editing.” As you can read and see in the discussion below, these awards are highly deserved.

A. Tracking shots (aka “one take shot” or “oner”)

From “From ’Birdman’ to ’Extraction’: 13 Best "One-Shot" Scenes in Movie History”:

The single-shot technique is commonly used in cinema which utilizes a single camera to capture footage in extended takes or to create the illusion that it was. The key factor that influences this technique is the viewer’s increased immersion and participation in what they see and the actions of the filmed characters.

From “One-Take Cinematography (Oner) Techniques”:

One-take, which is recognized as a single-take/shot scene, is a long screened sequence being shot with a one-take, or many takes stitched together to give the impression that it was shot in a continuous long take.

General guides for one-take cinematography

• Stitching point
• Motion blur
• Technocrane to handheld
• Using small handheld cameras and Steadicams
• Utilization of natural light
• Planning
• CGI

Relevant resource: “How 8 Scenes Were Filmed To Look Like One Take | Movies Insider” (YT)

1. Two tracking shots “stitched” together: Dance party among the American soldiers and Korean women

(a) In the first tracking shot, the camera, most probably mounted on a technocrane, shows the topmost portion of the dance hall and moves down to the level of Jackson and the American soldiers buying tickets to the dance. The camera then pans left to show another soldier buying a ticket and then passing for a brief moment in front of the curtain and then stepping into the hall.

(b) The second tracking shot is probably the most elaborate tracking shot in this movie. A s the soldier goes into the hall, we see Yang Pan-rae dancing with one of the soldiers. As she turns to look at the sumptuous food on the table, the camera (Steadicam?) pushes on, arcs to show Jimmy and his buddies dancing towards the center of the dance hall. After arcing around them, the camera whip pans to the band. The camera then moves across the hall to focus on the area behind which are the drunken Man-chul and Ki-soo.

2. Tracking shots when Kang Byung-sam wants to leave the tap dance team, with Jackson, Xiaofang, and Yang Pan-rae encouraging him to stay:

(a) Jackson is shot from the waist up; as he moves to the right, the camera booms (pedestals?) down to show only his feet as he tap dances. As the camera pulls out, we then see Xiaofang’s feet; Yang Pan-rae joins them, and the camera booms (pedestals?) up to fully show Jackson, Xiaofang, and Yang Pan-rae. The camera then pulls out for a wide shot.

(b) Encouraged by Jackson, Xiaofang, and Yang Pan-rae, Kang Byung-sam begins dancing. As he moves forward, the camera booms (pedestals?) down to show only his legs and feet. As he slides forward, the camera pans right and, from a low angle point of view, shows him, Jackson, Xiaofang, and Yang Pan-rae as they dance together. The camera pulls out as he, Jackson, Xiaofang, and Yang Pan-rae, move forward and then arcs counterclockwise to show them in a wide shot.

3. Counter track and tracking shot during the fight between Ki-soo, Yang Pan-rae, Kang Byung-sam, and Xiaofang, on one hand, and Jimmy and his buddies, on the other hand:

The camera pulls out as Ki-soo, Yang Pan-rae, Kang Byung-sam, and Xiaofang retreat into the background; Jimmy and his buddies then enter the frame as they chase after Ki-soo, Yang Pan-rae, Kang Byung-sam, and Xiaofang. In the next shot, the camera tracks Ki-soo, Yang Pan-rae, Kang Byung-sam, and Xiaofang as they fight off Jimmy and his buddies; the camera pans continuously to the left as we see, in succession, Ki-soo and Yang Pan-rae, Kang Byung-sam, and then Xiaofang.

4. Some tracking shots during the Christmas Day show:

(a) At the start of the shot, only the tip of the violin bow can be seen. The camera, mounted on a technocrane, pulls out to reveal the solitary violinist on the stage. The camera then pans left across the audience and then pushes in on Brig. General Roberts. The camera then pans left again and then pushes in on empty chair.

(b) The camera tracks Ki-soo and Yang Pan-rae as they move from the center of the stage to the side platform where the band is located.

5. Counter track during the dance audition:

Jackson becomes frustrated with not being able to find any one of the dozens who auditioned who can dance. Then everyone’s attention turns towards the door as they hear the banging of a little gong and see Kang Byung-sam, who’s dressed in traditional Korean attire worn by "pungmul" dancers. As he walks briskly towards the middle of the hall, the camera pushes in on him.

B. Transitions

1. Cross dissolves during the dance audition:

From an overhead shot, we can see a series of cross dissolves that shows the chaos of the dance audition up to the time when Jackson is left all by himself.

Note: Instead of cross dissolves, the image above might have been a time lapse.

2. Match cuts during the “Hava Nagila” dance sequence:

Ki-soo lies exhausted on the floor after losing the dance battle with Jackson. The camera trucks (moves parallel) to him, pans a bit to the right, and then stops to show him in a medium closeup. After he starts to do a front flip from the floor, we then see him in a closeup. The camera zooms out to show him in a wide view in front of an arch. Notice that as he dances (in a wide view), there are three match cuts: (a) with his left leg, (b) with his right leg, and (c) with his right arm and body as he turns around.

3. Match cut as Ki-soo becomes rattled by the rhythmic beats and sounds all around him that remind him of tap dance: The camera zooms in on Ki-soo and shows him in a closeup. In the next shot, we then see him in an overhead shot suddenly waking up.

4. Match cut from Jackson to Linda:

Jackson does some tap dance moves in the empty hall. As he turns and is about to plant his right foot on the floor, we then see Linda’s right shoe get stuck on the soft ground between the rice fields.

C. “Reveal” shots: In some scenes, a new character is introduced into the frame, changing the scene’s dynamics or context.

(1) Zoom out and panning to reveal who the traitor is among the communist POWs:

As the camera zooms out of Brig. General Roberts, we then see the Korean translator. As Sam-shik moves from the left, carrying a glass of tra, the camera pans left to reveal that the traitor is Man-chul.

(2) Boom shot after the “Modern Love” dance sequence:

We see Ki-soo still inside the empty hall, unable to break out of his fears of embracing tap dance and turning his back on his allegiance to North Korea. As he walks away into the background, he becomes out of focus; the camera also booms down (pedestals down?) to reveal his tap dance shoes on the floor.

(3) Reveal shot at the end of the “Hava Nagila” sequence:

Ki-soo ends up at night near the wire fence; he’s surprised to see someone there with him. The camera trucks (moves parallel) to the left to reveal that it’s the boy-soldier who has been hanging around him.

D. Best examples of this movie’s excellent editing:

(1) Ki-soo becomes rattled as he thinks about joining the tap dance team; everything around him reminds him of tap dance — the POWS marching back and forth, the cooks cutting up the vegetables, the laundry guys beating the wet clothes with the paddles, the men drying the huge blankets, etc.

(2) Ki-soo can’t sleep because every little movement and sound that his fellow POWs make remind him of tap dance. In this scene, there are numerous 90-degree Dutch angle shots, whip pans, zoom in, and zoom out.

E. Miscellaneous observations:

(1) Jimmy's buddies restrain Ki-soo on the ground as Jimmy threatens to cut his leg with a scythe. The camera trucks (moves parallel) to Ki-soo and Jimmy’s buddies; as they disappear from the screen, it then seems to swing upward and sideways to show Jimmy in a 90-degree Dutch angle shot.

Short siding

Dutch angle shots

POV shots

Warm colors

Compressed perspective

Part 1 spoilers:

Sgt. Jackson organized the unauthorized dance party to raise funds that he needs to marry his Japanese girlfriend in Okinawa; in the entertainment hall, he’s amazed by Ki-soo’s dance moves.

The group of Korean women led by Linda provide the entertainment and companionship for the American soldiers in exchange for money. Yang Pan-rae, the newbie, becomes afraid that if Jimmy and his buddies beat up Ki-soo, the dance party will be stopped. Thus, she rushes to the stage and performs a song-and-dance routine with the band that starts the American soldiers and the Korean women dancing and having fun again. But chaos breaks out when an electrical short circuit starts a fire in the hall.

Just as Jackson feared, he couldn’t find any one from the dozens upon dozens of volunteers from the POWs who’s capable of learning how to tap dance. He dismisses Yang Pan-rae after the auditions, but Yang Pan-rae proves her worth by being able to speak Chinese to Xiaofang, a Chinese POW who wants to join the tap dance team.

While Jackson and Ki-soo are having their tap dance showdown, Kang Byung-sam tells Yang Pan-rae that if he becomes famous through the tap dance team, he might be able to find his wife. After Yang Pan-rae says that she doesn’t want to join the dance team because there’s no money in it, Xiaofang says that he dances just because he can and because he needs the food.

Ki-soo loses the tap dance showdown against Jackson and thus becomes part of the team.

Part 2 spoilers

Offended that Jackson didn’t give him a pair of tap shoes, Ki-soo storms out of their training hall. On his way, he’s kidnapped by Jimmy and his friends.

Ki-soo, Yang Pan-rae, Kang Byung-sam, and Xiaofang defeat Jimmy and his buddies in a dance showdown. During the fight, Jackson arrives and asserts his authority as a sergeant to stop Jimmy and his buddies from assaulting his tap dance team.

Because of Jimmy’s revenge, Jackson is arrested when the MPs find communist propaganda materials inside the sack that contains Ki-soo’s tap dance shoes.

Dressed in traditional Korean costumes and wearing masks, Ki-soo, Kang Byung-sam, and Xiaofang present a dance and music showcase that raucously unites the warring sides in the Geoje Island prison camp and sends the American reporters into a frenzy.

Part 3 spoilers

Ki-soo saves Jimmy’s life by pretending to have killed him. But during the general assembly, he’s accused by Kwang-kuk of not doing his part in killing American soldiers.

At the village, after Linda screams that the woman who struck her is a communist, the villagers stone the woman to death.

Jackson explains to Yang Pan-rae that because of the riots in the prison camp, their dance team practices have been suspended. As Yang Pan-rae curses the ideologies of communism and capitalism and exclaims “F_cking ideology!,” he says that if the South and North Koreans can set aside their ideologies, they will remember that they are just one people.

Acting on a tip from the spy, the MPs raid the tent where Kwang-kuk and the other leaders of the communist POWs are meeting and preparing Molotov cocktails. The MPs spray the tent with gunfire, and Jimmy kills Kwang-kuk.

Man-chul is the spy; he betrayed the communist POWs after Brig. General Roberts promised that he will be reunited with his grandmother. When confronted by Ki-soo about betraying his fellow communists and killing Kwang-kuk, he retorts that Koreans have nothing to do with communism and capitalism; he also says that Ki-soo is a traitor himself by learning how to tap dance.

Part 4 spoilers

Kang Byung-sam’s wife is almost a zombie, having become a prostitute to survive the war.

The senior colonel who’s organizing the communist POWs is none other than Sam-shik, the idiot-servant of Brig. General Roberts.

Ki-soo’s brother Roh Ki-jin is a giant with the IQ of a young child.

Yang Pan-rae finds Kang Byung-sam’s wife and provides her with food and shelter.

During the Christmas Day show, Jackson introduces his tap dance team as the “Swing Kids” and titles their performance as “F_ck ideology!”

After the team’s performance, Ki-soo returns alone to the stage and starts tap dancing before the audience. While seeing Ki-soo dance, Jackson imagines him dancing on the grand stage of Carnegie Hall.

Roh Ki-jin stops Ki-soo from taking the gun hidden behind the stage. He takes the gun and shoots Brig. General Roberts. Chaos erupts as he and the American soldiers exchange gunfire.

Sam-shik escapes from the hall, while Brig. General Roberts orders the MPs to kill all the “f_ckin’ yellow gooks.” Jackson tries to protect Ki-soo, Yang Pan-rae, Kang Byung-sam, snd Xiaofang, but they’re all shot and killed.

Decades later, Jackson visits Geoje Island prison camp, which is now a memorial site. Inside the hall where the Christmas Day show was held, he remembers his tap dance showdown with Ki-soo.

“Witness” (1985) synopsis by story arcs, with no spoilers

Jump to synopsis of Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; How to use this spoiler-free synopsis by story arcs; Historical / cultural backgrounders and other information; Mini-review and discussion of the movie’s visuals, cinematography, and editing

From Wikipedia: Filmed in 1984, “Witness” was released theatrically by Paramount Pictures in February 1985. Directed by Peter Weir and starring Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, and Lukas Haas, the film went on to become a sleeper hit, grossing over $116 million worldwide.

At the 58th Academy Awards, it earned eight nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Ford, winning Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing. It was also nominated for seven BAFTA Awards, winning one for Maurice Jarre’s score, and six Golden Globe Awards. William Kelley and Earl W. Wallace won the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay and the 1986 Edgar Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay presented by the Mystery Writers of America.

Genre: crime, drama, romance.

How to use this spoiler-free synopsis by story arcs

Based on the story arcs, I divided this movie into three parts, indicating the start and end of each part in minute marks. For each part, I narrated the main actions without revealing the twists and turns. Part 3 is the movie’s finale (the last 20 minutes or so); you can just read Part 1, for example, to know what the movie is all about and then go watch the movie.

Part 1 (from start to 40:16)

Rachel Lapp, a widow, travels with her young son Samuel from their Amish community in Pennsylvania to visit her sister in Baltimore.

While waiting at the station for their delayed train to Baltimore, Samuel witnesses the murder of an undercover police officer. At the police station the next day, the detective in charge of the investigation, John Book, asks Samuel to try to identify the man who killed the undercover police officer through a lineup and through the mug shots.

After Samuel identifies the killer, Book informs his superior (and former partner) Chief Paul Schaeffer about the killer’s ties to a two million dollar drug deal four years ago. Chief Schaeffer promises to ask for outside help, including the FBI, to investigate the killer and whoever his accomplices may be in the drug deal. He tells Book to move Samuel and his mother to a safe location.

Notes:

Part 1 spoilers are posted at the bottom portion of this post.

The embedded video below might contain some spoilers that could ruin your viewing of the full film.



Part 2 (from 40:17 to 1:30:55)

Chief Schaeffer pressures the police sergeant who has jurisdiction over the Amish communities in Pennsylvania to find Book. But the police sergeant says that there are thousands of Amish people with the surname “Lapp” and that he doesn’t have the manpower to do a house to house inquiry.

Tension arises between Book and Rachel over his gun, which Samuel found in a drawer.

While still recuperating from his gunshot wound, Book calls up on a public phone his junior detective and says that he will come back to Philadelphia for some unfinished business. But the detective warns him that he’s still too hot and won’t be able to get even a mile of Chief Schaeffer.

Book tries not to stand out among the Amish, and with Eli’s prodding, he begins helping out with the farm chores.

Chancing upon Book and Rachel inside the barn where Book is repairing his car, Eli reprimands Rachel that people in their community are beginning to talk about her and Book; he warns her that she could be shunned by their community.

Notes:

Part 2 spoilers are posted at the bottom portion of this post.

The embedded videos below might contain some spoilers that could ruin your viewing of the full film.





Part 3 (from 1:30:56 to the end)

With McFee and the other dirty police officer, Chief Schaeffer barges into the farmhouse and pressures Rachael to say where Book is. Eli arrives, and as he sees McFee, he shouts out to warn Book.

In the barn, Book orders Samuel to run to a certain farmhouse and hide there; he then tries to start his car. But the other police officer hears it; after entering the barn, he begins shooting at Book with his shotgun.

Note: Part 3 spoilers are posted at the bottom portion of this post.

Historical / cultural backgrounders and other information

1. YouTube videos on the Amish









2. Reviews of “Witness”





Mini-review and discussion on the movie's visuals, cinematography, and editing:

A. Chekhov’s gun (setup and payoff) in “Witness”:




From Wikipedia:

Chekhov’s gun (Chekhov’s rifle; Russian: Чеховское ружьё) is a narrative principle that states that every element in a story must be necessary, and irrelevant elements should be removed. For example, if a writer features a gun in a story, there must be a reason for it, such as it being fired sometime later in the plot. All elements must eventually come into play at some point in the story.

From “Writing 101: What Is Chekhov’s Gun? Learn How to Use Chekhov’s Gun In Your Writing”:

Chekhov’s gun is a dramatic principle that suggests that details within a story or play will contribute to the overall narrative. This encourages writers to not make false promises in their narrative by including extemporaneous details that will not ultimately pay off by the last act, chapter, or conclusion. Chekhov’s gun has become a highly influential theory of effective writing that mandates noticeable details are integrated into the plot trajectory, character development, and mood of the work.

1. The bell: In the middle part of this movie, Rachel signals Eli, Samuel, and Book to have breakfast by ringing the bell outside of their house.

In the last part of this movie, with Chief Schaeffer holding Rachel and Eli at gunpoint, Samuel calls for help from their Amish neighbors by ringing the bell.

2. As Book tries to fit into the Amish way of life, he explores the house and barn with Samuel. In the barn, Samuel shows him a huge grain bin. When Book looks up and asks what’s up in the grain bin, Samuel replies, “Corn.”

In one of the final scenes of this movie, Book kills one of the police officers by releasing the corn from the top of the grain bin.

B. Visual symbolism

1. The gentleness and tranquility of the Amish way of life are symbolized by the gently swaying green grass.

2. Rachel becomes emotionally and sexually involved with Book. It may seem to some viewers that her decision to do so wasn’t fully explained or sufficiently motivated. But it seems to me that even before she met Book, she already had some crisis or misgivings about her faith and her way of life. Examples are her use of the word “whacking” (which she probably heard from Book’s sister) and her sassy attitude and words towards Book as she, Book, and Samuel eat hot dogs. What’s more, her eyes light up when she tells Book that the Mennonites have phones, cars, and refrigerators.

IMO, what visually symbolizes her crisis of faith is the woman’s dress on the scarecrow (shown the day after Book stopped himself from making love to Rachel).

3. Perhaps, the most beautifully staged shots in this movie are in the farewell scene between Book and Rachel at the end of movie. Despite their emotional and sexual bond, the gulf between them — an Amish woman and a hardbitten Philadelphia detective — and their ways of life is too great for them to overcome. This gulf is symbolized in the following ways:

(a) While Book is outside of the house, Rachel is inside her house and boxed in by the door posts. Notice also that they’re shot with a Dutch angle.

(b) The medium shot of Book shows in the background the long upward road that leads away from the house.

C. Visual cues

“Visual cues” are explained in an excellent series of articles from “My Drama List” by someone with the username “3GGG.” Although the articles refer to K-dramas, the visual cues described in them can also be used in explaining the staging and blocking in Western movies and dramas.

“Popular Visual Cues found in K-Dramas, Part 1: visual ways to establish a conflict, division, or fight between two or more characters”

“Popular Visual Cues in K-Dramas, Part 2: boxing to establish a character’s vulnerability, solitude, or fear; comfort and respite; change; danger; showdown”

“Popular Visual Cues in K-Dramas, Part 3: Dutch angle”

“Popular Visual Cues in K-Dramas, Part 4 Interpersonal cues (using cues simultaneously or one after another)”

The YT video “The Brilliant Cinematography of Parasite” by Thomas Flight (5:04 mark) shows how director Bong Joon-ho used lines to depict the division between the social classes, between the rich family and the poor family.

1. Eli stops Rachel from screaming (thus alerting Chief Schaeffer) when they see Samuel in the house (after Book ordered him to escape). Notice that Samuel is boxed in by the door posts to depict or reinforce the emotional or psychological tension of the scene.

2. As they search for a potential suspect in the murder, Book and his junior detective take Samuel and Rachel to a rundown section of Philadelphia. Notice that their car is shot with a slight Dutch angle (unless of course, if the street is actually lopsided).

3. In the 1st picture below, Samuel sees the picture of narcotics officer James McFee. Several shots later (2nd picture), he points out to Book that McFee is the killer. Notice that in both shots, Samuel and Book are shot with a slight Dutch angle.

4. As Chief Schaeffer threatens Book and the Amish with his shotgun, Rachel stands frozen in terror against a wall. She’s boxed in the lines in the wall to depict or reinforce her emotional or psychological tension.

D. Leading lines and other shots that I like

Studio Binder in its article titled “Rules of Shot Composition in Film: A Definitive Guide” says:

“Leading lines are actual lines (or sometimes imaginary ones) in a shot, that lead the eye to key elements in the scene. Artists use this technique to direct the viewer’s eye but they also use it to connect the character to essential objects, situations, or secondary subjects.”

Leading lines may be straight or curved; they may lead directly to the subject or to the subject plane; they may come from either left or right. Considering that we read from left to right, my personal preference is that they come from the left going to the right.

1. Book and Chief Schaeffer are in a standoff as Chief Schaeffer threatens Rachel with his gun. Notice the line on the wall that lead our eyes towards Book.

2. As Chief Schaeffer threatens Book and the Amish with his shotgun, Rachel stands frozen in terror against a wall. Notice the line on the wall that lead our eyes towards her.

3. As the horse-drawn carriage disappears from view, we then see some Amish people slowly appear in the grass fields.

4. With their guns, Chief Schaeffer, McFee, and the other dirty police officer walk menacingly towards Rachel and Eli’s farmhouse. This image contrasts sharply with the image of the Amish people going to the farmhouse to give Rachel, Eli, and Samuel comfort during the wake for Rachel’s husband.

5. I stand to be corrected, but I think that this movie uses cross dissolve only once. This cross dissolve is used to depict or reinforce Book’s doubts and hesitation about entering into a relationship with Rachel.

E. Short siding in a 1985 movie?

In the pictures below of Rachel, Book, and Samuel, you’ll see that they’re shot with what is called lead room, nose room, or breathng space. These terms refer to the space in front of a subject that allows the viewer’s eye to follow the subject’s gaze or movement.

In my reviews of the cinematography of Korean dramas, I’ve ranted against how Korean directors and cinematographers in recent years have run berserk in using “short siding” to depict or reinforce emotional or psychological tension in a scene. As far as I know, short siding became prominent with Tom Hooper’s 2010 movie “The King's Speech” and with the 2014 US TV drama “Mr. Robot.”

I was thus surprised when I saw these two short sided shots of Samuel and Book in the scene where Book catches Samuel picking up his loaded gun from a drawer. As Book takes all the bullets from his gun, he sternly tells Samuel that a loaded gun is very dangerous. As you can see in the pictures below, Samuel is fully short sided. Book, meanwhile, seems to be dead center in the frame, but he’s actually slightly short sided.

Part 1 spoilers:

From a newspaper clipping inside a display cabinet at the police station, Samuel identifies the killer as decorated narcotics officer James McFee.

In the shoot out at the parking garage with McFee, Book sustains a gunshot wound in the stomach. As he takes Rachel and Samuel back to their farm house in Pennsylvania, he calls up his junior detective and tells him to get rid of Rachel’s and Samuel’s records in the police station. He also cautions him about Chief Schaeffer.

At the farm, Book crashes his car against the pole of a bird house; before losing consciousness, he warns Rachel that if he’s found, Samuel will also be found.

Eli, Rachel’s father-in-law, gets an Amish man to treat Book’s wound. When the man says that Book needs a real doctor, Rachel pleads with him that Samuel’s life is in danger.



Part 2 spoilers:

After repairing the battery in his car, Book dances with Rachel in the barn. But Eli chances upon them. Later on, after helping out in the barn raising, Book goes to see Rachel but stops himself from making love to her.

After finding out that his junior detective has been killed, Book calls up Chief Schaeffer and threatens to come after him.

Rachel finds out from Eli that Book is leaving the next day; she runs out to him on the field, and they kiss passionately.

At the town, Book has a run-in with some rowdy tourists who are harassing some of the Amish. The shopkeeper who saw what happened becomes concerned about the incident harming the tourism business and reports it to the police. Chief Schaeffer thus finds out where Book is hiding.







Part 3 spoilers:

Book traps and kills the dirty police officer inside the grain bin. After finding the officer’s shotgun, he kills McFee.

Upon hearing the gunshots, Samuel runs back to the farmhouse.

At gunpoint, Chief Schaeffer herds Rachel and Eli out to the barn. But on Eli’s signal, Samuel begins tolling the bell that alerts the Amish men and women from nearby fields to rush to the farmhouse.

With a shotgun, Chief Schaeffer faces off with the Amish men and women. But Book shouts at him that he can’t kill all of them; he tells Chief Schaeffer that it’s over.

After Chief Schaeffer is arrested, Book says goodbye to Samuel and to Rachel.