A couple of months ago, we published an article regarding the beginning of the Korean Weird Wave, which included films that have a sci-fi/fiction basis, but arthouse aesthetics. The wave seems to continue full on with “The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra” another title of the category that first screened in BIFAN, where it took home awards for Best Director, the Audience Award and the NH Bank award (distribution award)
“The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra” is screening on Fantasia International Film Festival
To realize the weirdness of the film, it would be enough to mention that it actually revolves around a fungus, an organism that as the movie informs in the beginning, has captured the imagination of scientists in recent years, since fungi stand out as nearly indestructible. However, this is not the only unusual element here, as the fungus actually grows on a mattress that “travels” to the bedrooms of different couples, while eventually starts biting their fifth thoracic vertebra as it develops into something that is very close to an actual creature. In that fashion, we watch its creation during the interaction of a couple where the man seems to suffer from narcolepsy and the girl has mental issues of herself, a dying woman, another couple that is about to split, a couple who are just looking for a “quickie” beneath it on the street, and a van driver who is celebrating his 37th birthday on the road.
As such, the narrative unfolds in two axes, with the evolution of the creature being the first, but essentially functioning as an “excuse” for Park Sye-young to present his many and rather interesting social comments. The difficulties relationships present in contemporary society where the egos tend to be as significant as possible is one of the most central ones, as is loneliness, death, sex, all of which are concepts that are ingeniously connected to the mattress, both literally and metaphorically. This same duality applies to the concept of the monster, which seems to feed on all the negative feelings the protagonists feel, until eventually it is revealed as a creature that is also tormented by the same ailments. At the same time, the monster, apart from giving an uncanny essence to a movie that could have been another indie drama without, also connects the different episodes, essentially allowing the movie to function as a compact narrative instead of an omnibus, in another great choice by the director.
Also of note is the visual approach Park has implemented, with each segment essentially switching setting, coloring, and lighting, while the camera changes distances and speeds according to the circumstance, ranging from extreme close-ups, to POV, to middle shots, to time-lapse. The combination with Han Min-hee's electronic music is another aspect that adds to the sci-fi factor of the movie, while the presence of the creature emits a constant sense of danger that works quite well for the overall atmosphere. Park's own editing implements a relatively slow pace that suits the general aesthetics, while the succession of the various episodes is quite smooth. Lastly, at 62 minutes, the movie does not overextend its welcome in any way, even if the finale could have been a bit briefer.
“The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra” is a film as weird as it is unique, and definitely a part of the Korean Weird Wave that keeps surprising in the most delightful ways.
