Rating:
Director: Matthias Keilich
Producer: Stefan Reiser
Writer: Matthias Keilich
Director of Photography: Henning Stirner
Cast: Ill-Young Kim, Ju Youn Kim, Lisa Kreuzer
Visit the IMDB page for full cast and crew
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FISH NOR FOWL (NICHT FISCH, NICHT FLEISCH) Rating: Director: Matthias Keilich Producer: Stefan Reiser Writer: Matthias Keilich Director of Photography: Henning Stirner Cast: Ill-Young Kim, Ju Youn Kim, Lisa Kreuzer Visit the IMDB page for full cast and crew |
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Review by: Warren
Curry
6/28/02
German writer/director Matthias Keilich's debut feature Neither Fish Nor Fowl is a moving and provocative film that examines one man's struggle to find a cultural home. The movie doesn't over dramatize its protagonist's plight or paint him too neatly, instead choosing to embrace his flaws as refreshingly human. Ill-Young Kim delivers a very raw and captivating lead performance, which keeps you involved in his dilemma from beginning to end.
Michael (Kim) is in his early 20's; Korean by birth, but adopted by German parents and raised separately from his Korean roots in a small German town. When his parents get divorced, Michael decides to move out of their home and joins his friend Linus (Juergen Lehmann) in Berlin. Almost immediately after his arrival, he visits a Korean restaurant and is smitten by the young woman behind the counter named Jin Hi (Ju Youn Kim). Michael pleads with the woman for a date and soon the two start spending time together, as Jin Hi invites Michael into her world of family and friends, who are exclusively Korean.
Michael doesn't speak a word of the Korean
language and isn't at all familiar with the culture. Because of
his feelings for Jin Hi, he feels the need to try and assimilate
with her social circle, and in the process starts to resent his
German-ness, which includes turning a cold shoulder to Linus and
his overprotective mother (Lisa Kreuzer). No matter how hard he
tries, Jin Hi's friends and strict family (especially her father)
are reluctant to accept him, as they view Michael as a lesser
person because he's not aware of where he comes from.
The relationship between Michael and Jin Hi is developed in a
completely authentic way. Although there lies a mutual attraction
between the characters, they aren't allowed to freely co-exist,
not only because of external forces, but also their own shortsightedness.
It's a roller coaster ride of a relationship that rings true with
every turn.
I admire any film that openly addresses the flaws of the lead character, and Keilich doesn't shy away from exposing Michael's shortcomings. As Michael battles to find his own identity, he neglects and abuses those around him, without really being cognizant of the damage he's inflicting. Kim's assured performance makes Michael at times completely likeable, utterly frustrating, but always relatable.
The film was shot in Super 16 and went through some processing tricks in the lab, which give the film a very grainy look that doesn't seem to be all that necessary, but not harmful either. Some of the alienation Michael feels from his parents could've been a bit better explained, but that's a tiny complaint in the big scheme of things.
Neither Fish Nor Fowl is a touching, well-executed journey that may feel like a small film in its production values, but certainly not in the scope of its emotional landscape.
(Screened at the 2002 Los Angeles Film
Festival)
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