After the liberation of Korea in 1945, there were various films that were considered representative films of South Korea that were released throughout the 1960s. One of these noteworthy films was released in 1961 called The Coachman (마부) that was directed by Kang Dae-jin. Due to the time period that this movie was released in embodies many of the aspects of the Korean people during that time period. The movie itself can be looked at as not only a representation of the time period, but as a reflection of the struggles and triumphs that the Korean people as well. While the majority of the film is quite negative in the sense that the characters all seem to continually face obstacles, the conclusion of the story paints a more positive future. Additionally,
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When we look at the protagonist once again, Ch’unsam is representative of the working class, as well as the father figures in families. Ch’umsam worked diligently in order to support his family since he is the sole breadwinner, but still struggled to find jobs as a coachman. In his family, he is a widower and must watch over all of his children, as they all seem to struggle with life. If we examine Ch’unsam’s children, his oldest son, Suôp, is representative about the academic Koreans who are studying to gain a better education in a modernizing Korea. Suôp also experiences his own troubles as he repeatedly fails the bar exam. In addition, when Suôp takes over his father’s job when he is injured represents the Koreans who had to let go of their education in order to make money to support their families. The next member in the family is Oknyeo, a mute daughter who is married to a man who abuses her and cheats on her. In many ways, Oknyeo is married off just to keep the burden off of the father, since in traditional Korea, after daughters are married off; they are no longer the father’s responsibility. However, since Oknyeo being mute is represented the lack of a voice she had in her life’s decisions, which mostly is mostly due to the patriarchal society. Therefore, Oknyeo was representative of the victims of not only a traditional Korean society, but a patriarchal
When we look at the protagonist once again, Ch’unsam is representative of the working class, as well as the father figures in families. Ch’umsam worked diligently in order to support his family since he is the sole breadwinner, but still struggled to find jobs as a coachman. In his family, he is a widower and must watch over all of his children, as they all seem to struggle with life. If we examine Ch’unsam’s children, his oldest son, Suôp, is representative about the academic Koreans who are studying to gain a better education in a modernizing Korea. Suôp also experiences his own troubles as he repeatedly fails the bar exam. In addition, when Suôp takes over his father’s job when he is injured represents the Koreans who had to let go of their education in order to make money to support their families. The next member in the family is Oknyeo, a mute daughter who is married to a man who abuses her and cheats on her. In many ways, Oknyeo is married off just to keep the burden off of the father, since in traditional Korea, after daughters are married off; they are no longer the father’s responsibility. However, since Oknyeo being mute is represented the lack of a voice she had in her life’s decisions, which mostly is mostly due to the patriarchal society. Therefore, Oknyeo was representative of the victims of not only a traditional Korean society, but a patriarchal