Welcome to our Colossus Movie Guide for The Wailing. This guide contains everything you need to understand this film. Dive into our detailed library of content, covering key aspects of the movie. We encourage your comments to help us create the best possible guide. Thank you!
The Quick Analysis
The Wailing paints a vivid picture of a man’s spiritual struggle, narrating a fable that is less concerned with the clear dichotomy of good and evil, and more with the struggle of discerning them amidst chaos and uncertainty. This inner battle mirrors director Na Hong-jin’s personal journey with faith following a series of tragic losses.
Set in a small village that becomes a breeding ground for a mysterious illness, the movie explores the fear of the unknown, illustrated by the villagers’ escalating paranoia and desperation. Further, the disorienting clash between Christianity and shamanism, depicted through a series of intense ritualistic sequences, underscores the conflict between old and new, tradition and modernity. It symbolizes the individual’s inner turmoil when confronted with a crisis of faith, a personal tug-of-war between the comfort of familiar beliefs and the daunting allure of the unknown.
The unsettling ending—a manifestation of the director’s struggle with faith—leaves the audience grappling with the realization that sometimes, in life as in the film, clarity may not be granted, and we are left navigating the grey areas of our belief systems. Through The Wailing, we comprehend the idea that fear, chaos, and the quest for meaning often walk hand in hand, just as they do in our lives.
Cast
- Kwak Do-won – Jong-goo
- Hwang Jung-min – Il-gwang, the shaman
- Chun Woo-hee – Moo-myung, the Woman in White
- Jun Kunimura – the Japanese Stranger
- Kim Hwan-hee – Hyo-jin
- Her Jin – Jong-goo’s mother-in-law
- Jang So-yeon – Jong-goo’s wife
- Kim Do-yoon – Yang I-sam, the deacon
- Son Gang-guk – Oh Seong-bok, Jong-goo’s police partner
- Park Sung-yeon – Kwon Myeong-joo
- Kil Chang-gyoo – Park Choon-bae
Movie Guide
Podcast
Chris and Travis share an in-depth discussion of the strengths and flaws of The Wailing.
Title Explanation
What does the title The Wailing signify? How does it relate to the movie’s intentions and storyline?
Themes and Meaning
Discover themes that help us define The Wailing’s commentary, message, and meaning.
Ending Explained
Confused by the ending of The Wailing? Our comprehensive explanation will clear up any lingering questions. Coming soon.
Important Motifs
Delve into the important motifs that highlight the most critical moments of symbolism in The Wailing. Coming Soon.
Key Shots
Explore the most important and symbolic shots that help us understand the deeper meaning of The Wailing. Coming soon.
Movies Like The Wailing
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Questions and Answers
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