Kim Ki-Duk Wins in Venice with Bleak Capitalism Allegory

A Korean director known for his bleak perspective on modern life has won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for a drama about a mother who returns to reclaim a son who has grown into an evil man.

Pieta received a standing ovation at its screening and beat out 17 other films in contention to win the top prize at the 69th Venice Film Festival Saturday, making Kim Ki-duk, 51, the first Korean director to win a best film award at a major international film festival. He is also the first Korean to win prizes at Cannes, Berlin and Venice.

Pieta portrays a debt collector (Lee Jung-jin) who cripples delinquent debtors then collects the insurance money. This diabolical occupation is interrupted when his mother (Jo Min-su) enters his life to beg his forgiveness for having abandoned him as a child. The resulting inner struggle makes up the bulk of the film’s drama.

Kim named his 18th film after Michelangelo’s statue of Mary cradling the body of Christ, intending it to be a condemnation of “extreme capitalism”. He calls money the film’s “third protagonist.”

Instead of an acceptance speech Kim sang the Korean traditional folk song “Arirang”, commenting that it contained “the answers to my questions throughout life.” The song’s lyrics are a mournful recounting of the arduous effort of climbing a steep mountain pass and warns that one who leaves his lover behind won’t go more than a couple of miles without suffering foot ailments.

That song’s title also happens to be the title Kim gave to a film meant to be a self-portrait of his struggles as a director.

“I express my endless thanks to all actors, actresses and staff who took part in this movie,” Kim told the audience upon receiving the prize, according to Yonhap. “I also would like to honor all of you who chose Pieta.”

He then picked up the Golden Lion and kissed it when asked for his feelings on winning it.

Pieta’s film leading actress Jo Min-su shed tears as she spoke of her joy at having a Korean film win the top prize for the first time.

Pieta stood out because it “seduced you viscerally,” said lead jurist Michael Mann during the festival’s closing ceremony.

Kim’s films have received generally tepid receptions at the Korean box office while eliciting raves from foreign critics. In 2004 3-Iron won the best director award at Venice. In the same year Samaritan Girl received the second-place Silver Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival. In 2011 Arirang won the Un Certain Regard award at Cannes.

Pieta appeared headed for somewhat better box office than Kim’s previous efforts, even before it won the Golden Lion. On Thursday when it opened in Korea it sold 8,673 tickets. By comparison total ticket sales for Breath (2007) was 12,293 and for Time (2006) was 28,412, according to JoongAng Daily.