There is only so much you can pull off in a short feature, which is why it sometimes feel like they are somewhat limited in their range. However, when done well, the opportunities are limitless and can even include various genres. “Hunted Owl Family”, a short feature directed by Jin Roh, feels rather special as it delves into the genre of spy drama, which is often even neglected in regular features or left to the big blockbusters such as “Mission Impossible”. Roh takes the genre back to some of its roots, aesthetically and narratively, while also re-connecting with its noirish foundations.
Hunted Owl Family screened at Busan International Short Film Festival
For years a family has owned a small hotel. The father, Lee Chunbae (Zhang Uidon), is also a North Korean spy and has been successfully keeping a low profile. Lately, it seems, however, the authorities or some agency has been following him and his family, making him keep to himself even more. His son, Lee Kwon (Kim Cheolyun), and daughter, Lee Sooyoung (Hong Sooyeong), have also been keeping to themselves lately, with Lee Sooyoung suffering from loneliness and isolation, resulting in depression. As her mental state makes her take a drastic step, this could be the final evidence their enemies need to lead them to their hideout.
Not only is “Hunted Owl Family” a spy drama, but it also works as a silent film. Not relying on any dialogue, the burden to carry the narrative as well as the conflicts within/between the characters lies on the actors, the images and the sound. Luckily, all of the mentioned aspects succeed in making “Hunted Owl Family” work as the genre blend it aims to be, but also make it quite special even within the often very experimental landscape of short features in general. Starting from the opening scenes introducing each of the family members, the combination of lighting, colors and the overall design choices give a very distinct noirish vibe, which is also confirmed by the setting of the remote hotel as a metaphor for the family in hiding and having lived in isolation for some time.
Additionally, the cast does a fantastic job also. While Zhang Uidon highlights the idea of a person feeling trapped and in danger of being caught, Kim Cheolyun and Hong Sooyeong emphasize the need for their characters to break out and get in touch with the world outside. We get the feeling of the family sticking together, but also certain members losing track of one another, adding further to the dramatic aspects of the story. Again, this is all done through the aforementioned aesthetic choices and with no dialogue, stressing the preciseness in the feature altogether.
“Hunted Owl Family” is a spy drama which feels modern as well as a return to some of the roots of the genre. Director Jin Roh succeeds in creating an aesthetically and narratively pleasing short feature which shows a great talent for visual storytelling and precise direction.
