Ikiru Film Study

The film "Ikiru" is a medium of social criticism. The film has satire about the gender roles seen in a patriarchy japanases culture. In this film we see a reversal of the gender roles especially in the characters of Eun-Jin and Kang Su-il. Shin Eun-kung, as Eun-Jin is depicted as a fearless masculine warrior. On the other hand Kang Su-il is a civil servant that follows the law and lacks masculinity. There is even a reversal of gender roles in their sexual relationship. During intercourse Eun-Jin is always the aggressive one and is always on top of the man. Throughout the film this mockery of gender roles gives the film its hilarious moments as social stereotypes are turned upside down.

The film opens with a flashback of a dynamic and highly energetic fighting scene in which we are first introduced to Eun-jin as well as to her extraordinary fighting. In the first scene the rain in incorporated into the fighting, adding both force and power to her fighting skills. The first scene is essential to the audience understanding of the basis of Romeo and Shim Woen-choel unconditional loyalty.

There is a gender indistinctness in Eun-Jin character at the start of the film. In the first encounter only a dark figure is seen and the rain helps to conceal her identity. The second time we encounter this figure we get a close camera shot, she is completely masculinized. She is dressed in a dark suit with short hair. Her men refer her to as "Sir" and "Big brother". The female protagonist is masculinized almost to point of losing her sexuality as a woman. As the development of the character continues, the character begins to become more feminine but this transition is never complete