Blu-ray Collection
Yu Hyun-mok Collection: Aimless Bullet(1961) The Daughters of Kim’s Pharmacy
The Korean Film Archive has released the “Yu Hyun-mok Collection”, featuring Aimless Bullet (1961) and The Daughters of Kim’s Pharmacy (1963), representative films of master director Yu Hyun-mok, who symbolizes the intellectual in Korean Cinema History. This is the 37th Blu-ray title planned by the Korean Film Archive and produced by Blue Kino.
Yu Hyun-mok is regarded as one of the most significant directors in Korean cinema history and one of the foremost intellectuals of his time. He made a total of 43 films over 38 years, since his debut with Crossroads in 1956, to Mom, the Star and the Sea Anemone in 1994. His filmography encompasses numerous genres, from socially critical literary films like Aimless Bullet, melodrama, comedy to anti-communist/enlightenment films. Yet, in all his films, he consistently explores fundamental questions, such as human suffering and salvation in an absurd world, while maintaining a profound contemplation of reality. While he is regarded as a master of Korean realism, his films are actually quite complex, influenced by European modernist films, and showing pronounced formalist tendencies. As Yu Hyun-mok himself stated, “I think in images rather than through logic.” As an auteur, he sought to construct his artistic world through film language. Critics have solidified his status in film history, hailing him as “a symbol of the sublime auteur sprit in Korean films” (Kim Jong-won), and “the director who elevated Korean cinema to the level of art” (Byun In-sik). He constantly explored weighty themes, such as existence and alienation, the conflict between God and humanity, the tragedy of the division of Korea, adding spiritual depth to Korean cinema. He is remembered as a symbol of Korean cinema itself.
Aimless Bullet held the undisputed top spot on the list of the greatest Korean films for decades, earning the title of “The Korean Citizen Kane”. Through sincere yet powerless breadwinner, Cheol-ho (Kim Jin-kyu) and his younger brother, Yeong-ho (Choi Moo-ryong), who commits crime to escape his reality, the film profoundly illuminates the frustration and suffering of the post-war generation. It captures the total anomy, poverty and social issues plaguing the devastated society in the 1950s following the Korean war, through the tragedy of one family. The then military government had banned the screening of the film, deeming it a miserable storyline detached from reality. Ironically, this made Aimless Bullet a work that symbolized the spirit of resistance in that era. The appeal of Aimless Bullet lies in its aesthetic achievement, which transcends the mere denunciation of reality. Director Yu Hyun-mok employed experimental film language, including frame within frame, subjective shots, and a sound design blending jazz and traditional Korean music, to express the characters’ inner worlds and their absurd reality in a highly sensory manner. This formalist style prevents viewers from fully immersing themselves in the narrative, thus compelling them to reflect upon the film’s hidden meanings. Consequently, film historian Lee Young-il described Aimless Bullet as “a work that achieved the pinnacle of Korean realist film and exceeded the limitations of realist films”. This masterpiece, which transcends the limitation of realism, has continued to be rediscovered anew in every era to this day, owing to its thoroughly tragic nature and aesthetic sophistication, which both transcend time.
The Daughters of Kim’s Pharmacy is based on the novel of the same name by author Park Kyung-ni, and this film is Yu Hyun-mok’s signature work, depicting the turbulent times from the late Joseon Dynasty to the 1930s through the downfall of a family. Beginning with the shamanistic curse, “Those who die from taking poison will see their descendants die in pain”, the film unfolds a fatalistic narrative. It depicts the catastrophic clash of pre-modern values and modern change, as embodied by the tragic lives of the four daughters of pharmacist Kim (Kim Dong-won). The film also offers a glimpse into director Yu’s profound reflection on religion. It projects the existentialist theme of God’s silence amidst the suffering of the innocent onto both shamanism and Christianity, leaving unanswered questions. Unlike the original novel, the film concludes with the Christian daughters surviving and remaining in their hometown, seemingly inheriting their father’s world. This ending reveals the director’s own worldview, seeking to advance towards modernity through unity rather than severance.
The most notable feature of this Blu-ray is the inclusion of a separate booklet containing the script of Aimless Bullet, with handwritten notes by Yu Hyun-mok. The volume is larger than the final film and the inclusion of a shooting schedule suggests that it was the one Yu Hyun-mok himself used for filming. The high-definition picture source, restored over several years by the Korean Film Archive, was used for this Blu-ray. Aimless Bullet is particularly noteworthy for its restoration, achieved through the exceptional challenging task of removing all the English subtitles from the entire film, which is a rare achievement even on a global scale. The Daughters of Kim’s Pharmacy is the version that was restored from the original negative film in 4K resolution in 2024 by the archive, allowing Yu Hyun-mok’s meticulous mise-en-scène to be seen with remarkable clarity. Film critic Chung Sung-ill’s commentary on Aimless Bullet offers a completely fresh interpretation of the film, while the commentary on The Daughters of Kim’s Pharmacy by director Kim Il-rhan, film critic Sohn Hee-jeong, and Senior researcher Cho Jun-hyoung from the archive, analyzes the film’s strengths from the perspective of women’s history. The booklet includes Cho-Jun-hyoung’s profile of the director and reviews of the films, which will greatly aid in understanding Yu Hyun-mok’s complex and profound cinematic world through the lens of existentialism.
Yu Hyun-mok is regarded as one of the most significant directors in Korean cinema history and one of the foremost intellectuals of his time. He made a total of 43 films over 38 years, since his debut with Crossroads in 1956, to Mom, the Star and the Sea Anemone in 1994. His filmography encompasses numerous genres, from socially critical literary films like Aimless Bullet, melodrama, comedy to anti-communist/enlightenment films. Yet, in all his films, he consistently explores fundamental questions, such as human suffering and salvation in an absurd world, while maintaining a profound contemplation of reality. While he is regarded as a master of Korean realism, his films are actually quite complex, influenced by European modernist films, and showing pronounced formalist tendencies. As Yu Hyun-mok himself stated, “I think in images rather than through logic.” As an auteur, he sought to construct his artistic world through film language. Critics have solidified his status in film history, hailing him as “a symbol of the sublime auteur sprit in Korean films” (Kim Jong-won), and “the director who elevated Korean cinema to the level of art” (Byun In-sik). He constantly explored weighty themes, such as existence and alienation, the conflict between God and humanity, the tragedy of the division of Korea, adding spiritual depth to Korean cinema. He is remembered as a symbol of Korean cinema itself.
Aimless Bullet held the undisputed top spot on the list of the greatest Korean films for decades, earning the title of “The Korean Citizen Kane”. Through sincere yet powerless breadwinner, Cheol-ho (Kim Jin-kyu) and his younger brother, Yeong-ho (Choi Moo-ryong), who commits crime to escape his reality, the film profoundly illuminates the frustration and suffering of the post-war generation. It captures the total anomy, poverty and social issues plaguing the devastated society in the 1950s following the Korean war, through the tragedy of one family. The then military government had banned the screening of the film, deeming it a miserable storyline detached from reality. Ironically, this made Aimless Bullet a work that symbolized the spirit of resistance in that era. The appeal of Aimless Bullet lies in its aesthetic achievement, which transcends the mere denunciation of reality. Director Yu Hyun-mok employed experimental film language, including frame within frame, subjective shots, and a sound design blending jazz and traditional Korean music, to express the characters’ inner worlds and their absurd reality in a highly sensory manner. This formalist style prevents viewers from fully immersing themselves in the narrative, thus compelling them to reflect upon the film’s hidden meanings. Consequently, film historian Lee Young-il described Aimless Bullet as “a work that achieved the pinnacle of Korean realist film and exceeded the limitations of realist films”. This masterpiece, which transcends the limitation of realism, has continued to be rediscovered anew in every era to this day, owing to its thoroughly tragic nature and aesthetic sophistication, which both transcend time.
The Daughters of Kim’s Pharmacy is based on the novel of the same name by author Park Kyung-ni, and this film is Yu Hyun-mok’s signature work, depicting the turbulent times from the late Joseon Dynasty to the 1930s through the downfall of a family. Beginning with the shamanistic curse, “Those who die from taking poison will see their descendants die in pain”, the film unfolds a fatalistic narrative. It depicts the catastrophic clash of pre-modern values and modern change, as embodied by the tragic lives of the four daughters of pharmacist Kim (Kim Dong-won). The film also offers a glimpse into director Yu’s profound reflection on religion. It projects the existentialist theme of God’s silence amidst the suffering of the innocent onto both shamanism and Christianity, leaving unanswered questions. Unlike the original novel, the film concludes with the Christian daughters surviving and remaining in their hometown, seemingly inheriting their father’s world. This ending reveals the director’s own worldview, seeking to advance towards modernity through unity rather than severance.
The most notable feature of this Blu-ray is the inclusion of a separate booklet containing the script of Aimless Bullet, with handwritten notes by Yu Hyun-mok. The volume is larger than the final film and the inclusion of a shooting schedule suggests that it was the one Yu Hyun-mok himself used for filming. The high-definition picture source, restored over several years by the Korean Film Archive, was used for this Blu-ray. Aimless Bullet is particularly noteworthy for its restoration, achieved through the exceptional challenging task of removing all the English subtitles from the entire film, which is a rare achievement even on a global scale. The Daughters of Kim’s Pharmacy is the version that was restored from the original negative film in 4K resolution in 2024 by the archive, allowing Yu Hyun-mok’s meticulous mise-en-scène to be seen with remarkable clarity. Film critic Chung Sung-ill’s commentary on Aimless Bullet offers a completely fresh interpretation of the film, while the commentary on The Daughters of Kim’s Pharmacy by director Kim Il-rhan, film critic Sohn Hee-jeong, and Senior researcher Cho Jun-hyoung from the archive, analyzes the film’s strengths from the perspective of women’s history. The booklet includes Cho-Jun-hyoung’s profile of the director and reviews of the films, which will greatly aid in understanding Yu Hyun-mok’s complex and profound cinematic world through the lens of existentialism.
Special Features
- Aimless Bullet Commentary by Chung Sung-ill(Film Critic)
- Daughters of Kim’s Pharmacy Commentary by Kim Il-rhan(Film Director) Sohn Hee-jeong(Film Critic), Cho Jun-hyoung(Korean Film Archive)
- Digital Restoration : Before & After
- Image Gallery
- Replica of the Aimless Bullet screenplay with Yu Hyun-mok’s handwritten notes
Booklet
- "Restoration Note", The Digital Restoration Team at The Korean Film Archive
- “Yu Hyun-mok’s Cinematic World through the Lens of Existentialism”, Cho Jun-hyoung
- " How Did Aimless Bullet Remain as a Masterpiece to This day?", Cho Jun-hyoung
- " The Daughters of Kim’s Pharmacy: From Shamanistic Pre-modernity to Protestant Modernity?”, Cho Jun-hyoung
- Aimless Bullet Commentary by Chung Sung-ill(Film Critic)
- Daughters of Kim’s Pharmacy Commentary by Kim Il-rhan(Film Director) Sohn Hee-jeong(Film Critic), Cho Jun-hyoung(Korean Film Archive)
- Digital Restoration : Before & After
- Image Gallery
- Replica of the Aimless Bullet screenplay with Yu Hyun-mok’s handwritten notes
Booklet
- "Restoration Note", The Digital Restoration Team at The Korean Film Archive
- “Yu Hyun-mok’s Cinematic World through the Lens of Existentialism”, Cho Jun-hyoung
- " How Did Aimless Bullet Remain as a Masterpiece to This day?", Cho Jun-hyoung
- " The Daughters of Kim’s Pharmacy: From Shamanistic Pre-modernity to Protestant Modernity?”, Cho Jun-hyoung