The Korean film Fragment tells the shocking story of a murder. But it has an unexpected twist. The protagonists are not directly involved in the murder. They are the children of the murderer and the victim. It's truly astonishing how thrillers have unhinged us so much, to the point of always being eager to uncover the mysteries, never seeing beyond the crime. Of course, those left behind deserve our full attention. Are the children of a murderer violent enough to become criminals? What does the pain of losing loved ones turn you into? A monster or an angel? What effects does such a crime have on young minds? These are the many questions raised by the Korean drama thriller Fragment.
Fragment's premise is deeply captivating and, for me, an instant hit. However, in the process of delivering an aesthetically stunning film, much of its purpose sometimes falls away, making the usual runtime feel too long. The film has a chilling atmosphere, not only because of the plot, but also because it's filmed in the cold Seoul winter, where everything looks faded, gloomy, and very cold.
Director: Kim Sung-yoon
Writer: Kim Sung-yoon
Stars: Oh Ja-hun, Moon Sung-hyun, Kim Gyuna
This grayish color sets the tone for a story that will undoubtedly make you think. But while this story is so desperately original, placing the lives of two very different boys, who have experienced completely different traumas, in parallel, it follows a typical Korean structure. Don't get me wrong, this is never a bad thing; however, we've seen this type of bullying countless times in Korean cinema, and I wish there were another way to portray the same situation.
While these are some disappointing aspects of the film, it more than makes up for them. I think before I say anything else, I should congratulate the three young lead actors, who truly kill it, especially in the final minutes of the film. Oh Ja-Hun is phenomenal as Jun-Gang, as is Kim Kyu-Na, who plays his younger sister. Many of their interactions seem too real to be acted; these are the best parts of the film. The bond between siblings is the essence of the film. How they want to protect each other, how the boy takes responsibility for his sister, and how that same sister can sense her brother's pain without saying a word is truly magical. Of course, Moon Sung-Hyun is also magnificent as Gi-Su, who finds himself on the opposite side of this chaos.
I don't imagine it's easy to evoke such deep and emotional performances from such young stars, but director Kim Seong-Yun pulls it off in his feature debut. This story is anything but improvised, and it focuses on the daily lives of these children and how they deal with such a troubled past. I don't want to give away any spoilers, and I personally went to see the film without any information, which, in my opinion, is the best way to go about it. But, since you're reading my review, you already have a small idea of what the film is about.
In reality, this is a melancholic love story for children who must face the consequences of their parents' mistakes. As a society, it's common to isolate those associated with any kind of crime. Does one instantly become evil if they share blood with someone who might be pure evil? Is it fair to judge children for a history in which they had no say, denying them the dignity of autonomy? Absolutely not, but this is what we've been doing for centuries. Fragment presents all these uncomfortable questions in the most cinematic way, and if you have a little patience, you'll undoubtedly enjoy it. Well, enjoy it as a film, not as a subject, of course.
There's a profound silence in this film that undoubtedly reinforces the story, presented with care and from real perspectives. I think the final act is really powerful, while the middle section dragged a bit. The film could have been a little sharper, but it's still very well done. There's an undertone of sadness throughout the film, but I'm happy to say the ending is almost refreshing in its contrast. It brought me genuine joy and also made me believe everything was going to be okay.
While Fragment isn't Anatomy of a Fall, it's easy to draw comparisons, given the premise involving a young child and moral dilemmas, and the slower pace of both films. The performances are undoubtedly equally excellent. For the past few years, the theme of "grief" has captivated us globally. I suppose it's an emotion that many are eager to explore through cinema. There are so many ways to metaphorize grief, that I completely understand why this is the sensation we're so eager to freeze in time through our screens. But while I've seen this way too much in horror, especially in recent years (Ari, I'm looking at you), I think it's one of the few times I've seen it executed so well in what we might call a thriller.
The first half of Fragment certainly plays out like a thriller before more context is given, and things start to make more sense. Ultimately, if you're looking for something original and raw, Fragment will definitely delight you. While it's far from perfect, it's still a fantastic, engaging film, which is why I give Fragment 3 out of 5 stars. I can't wait to see what Kim Seong-Yun does next!
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