Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance Cinematography Analysis

 

Hailey Spencer  

Film Appreciation 

FILM 115-IN1

Professor Trevor 

September 14th, 2025 

    As someone who enjoys films and TV shows that take place in Korea such as Train to Busan, Squid Game and more recently, Kpop Demon Hunters, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance immediately piqued my interest not long after watching the trailer. The frequent cuts and use of fade ins and fade outs created this sense of terror and unease. After watching Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, I noticed it employs various effective cinematography techniques. This film's cinematographer, Kim Byeong-il, who has also worked on films such as Hitchhiker, Untold Scandal, and Addicted, is known for having a distinct style of cinematography. He is very talented and often uses balanced cuts and wide-shots to create a sense of tension between the characters and their environment. 

     One example of Byeong-il's effective use of cinematography is the close-up shot of Peng, a fired factory worker, slicing his stomach. After pleading with his employer Park Dong-jin, Peng, in an act of protest, engages in self-harm and slices his stomach multiple times with a knife. The close-up shot immediately draws attention to Peng and is extremely effective at displaying his emotions to the audience. You can see each individual bead of sweat on his face emphasizing his desperation and pain. There is also a close-up shot of his sliced stomach dripping with blood, so much so that it bleeds through his white tank top. The shot of Peng's sliced stomach is also used to illicit strong emotions from the audience. It highlights Peng's poverty-stricken situation, his loyalty to Dong-jin, and determination to be rehired so he can provide for his starving children.     

    Another example of Byeong-il's effective cinematography is the canted angle of a rose lying on concrete.  This angle is used to create a disturbing atmosphere and the horizontal tilt makes the audience feel like something is off. The rose itself foreshadows the events of the film as they are symbolic of love and hope while the concrete represents a ruthless and unforgiving environment. The abnormal angle is meant to highlight Ryu's terrible actions even if they were initially done out of love for his sister. It suggests that his worldview is twisted and that vengeance has corrupted and consumed both him and Park. 

   Lastly, there is the usage of wide-shots throughout the film. Some scenes that utilize wide shots incredibly are when Yoosun slips into the water and Ryu discovers her body shortly after she drowned. The way Ryu stands near the river bank as he notices Yoosun's lifeless body near a rock in the river creates a tense and disturbing atmosphere. The wide shot emphasizes Ryu's emotional isolation and creates a sense of powerlessness. It highlights his grief and the tragedy of the incident especially when Yoosun slips into the water. The wide-shot makes it clear to the audience that Ryu is completely unaware that Yoosun has fallen into the water evoking emotions of terror and dread. 

    Overall, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance utilizes numerous cinematography techniques. Byeong-il's use of close-up shots, canted angles, wide-shots, and wide-angle lens, all contribute to the tense, unsettling, and disturbing atmosphere present throughout the film. Director Park Chan-wook and cinematographer Kim Byung-il's use of wide angle lens makes the world feel isolated and unsettling. It also allows them to perfectly capture the emotions of the characters. The various techniques present in this film not only allow the audience to sympathize and connect with many of the characters facing difficult or tragic situations, but highlight Park Chan-wook's message of how revenge only results in a never ending cycle of violence.