Woman is the Future of Man

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'Yeojaneun namjaui miraeda' or 'Woman Is the Future of Man')

Directed by Sang-soo Hong
South Korea 2004

The title of Hong's comedy of manners and mores, taken from a Louis Aragon poem, is gently misleading: the woman here, bar-owner Sun-Hwa (Sung), is actually a figure from the pasts of the two men, aspiring film-maker Kim (Kim) and university lecturer Lee (Yu). Both men had affairs with her in their student days, although they recall her very differently. And when they meet for the first time in some years (Kim has been studying in the US) they decide to look her up - and both of them fall for her all over again. The fact that Lee is now married is only one of the complications which affect the resulting triangle of jealousies, rivalries and generally less than great sex. As usual, Hong loads the film with neat symmetries and patterns of repetition/variation, but there's less formalist play with narrative structures than before. (Maybe the French co-producer's demand for cuts forced him to axe some of his ideas this time?) Still, it's funny, wry and emotionally acute.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: May 17th, 2004 - Cannes Film Festival

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Comparison:

New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray

(New Yorker - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray - RIGHT)

Box Covers
Distribution	New Yorker Video - Region 1 - NTSC	Arrow Video Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:27:21	1:27:29.911
Video	1.85:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.41 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	Disc Size: 49,190,476,846 bytes Feature Size: 19,810,000,320 bytes Average Bitrate: 25.05 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Videos
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	Korean (Dolby Digital 2.0), Korean (Dolby Digital 5.1)	DTS-HD Master Audio Korean 1718 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1718 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 512 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio Korean 1798 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1798 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitles	English, None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: New Yorker Video Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1 Edition Details: • Video Introduction by director Martin Scorsese • Making-of Featurette (38 minutes) • Interviews with the Actors (32 minutes) • Theatrical Trailers: 2 each from Korea and France • Photo Gallery • Liner Notes with Essays by Michael Atkinson and Kyung Hyun Kim DVD Release Date: April 3rd, 2007 Keep Case Chapters: 12	Release Information: Studio: Arrow Video Disc Size: 49,190,476,846 bytes Feature Size: 19,810,000,320 bytes Average Bitrate: 25.05 Mbps Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Videos Edition Details: • Newly filmed introductions to both films by Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns (see below) • "Tony Rayns on Woman..." (41:54) • "Tony Rayns on Tale...." (20:29) • Introduction to Woman is the Future of Man by director Martin Scorsese (02:29) • The Making Woman is the Future of Man, a featurette on the film s production (38:13) Interviews with the actors of Woman is the Future of Man: • Sung Hyunah (18:29) • Yoo Jitae (05:40) • Kim Taewoo (07:47) Interviews with Kim Sangkyung, Lee Kiwoo and Uhm Jiwon, the stars of Tale of Cinema: • Kim Sangkyung (14:13) • Uhm Jiwon(11:36) • Lee Kiwoo(07:05) • Stills gallery • Original trailers • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Scott Saslow FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the films by Michael Sicinski Blu-ray Release Date: July 16th-17th, 2018 Transparent Blu-ray case Chapters: 13

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Arrow - Region FREE- Blu-ray - July 18': "Woman is the Future of Man" comes to us from Arrow Video on a dual-layered Blu-ray also containing Hong Sang-soo's "Tale of Cinema". This is simultaneously released on Blu-ray in the UK and North America by Arrow. The UK and US discs are absolutely identical which means that no matter which package you buy, the discs will play in any Region A or B setup. The booklets are also identical, but there are minor cosmetic differences on the disc labels and sleeve to do with differing copyright info and barcodes, and the US release doesn't have BBFC logos.

The 1080p image is in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio. This is a major improvement over the previously reviewed SD DVD in every regard. Colors look more realistic, with flesh tones looking more natural. The detail of the image is also quite improved, even more drastically as much as on the "Tale of Cinema" image. A small bit of grain is evident, giving the picture a filmic appearance, when in motion. Contrast looks good, with deeper blacks. Although a middling bitrate the image is a notably improved digital presentation in the higher resolution.

Both "Woman is.." and "Tale of Cinema" have the option of original Korean 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio (24-bit) or a 5.1 DTS-HD Master surround bump (16-bit). the film is quite passive but "Woman is the Future of Man" has a score by Yong-jin Jeong (Woman on the Beach, Tale of Cinema) that suits the narrative. There are optional English subtitles on this Region-free Blu-ray.

Arrow gives us the option of watching "Woman is.." with a 42-minute introduction by Tony Rayns. There is also the option of watching a 2.5-minute introduction to the film by Martin Scorsese - as also found on the Arrow as is the featurette on the film's production lasting around 40-minutes. Arrow has also included the same three interviews with the actors Sung Hyunah, Yoo Jitae, and Kim Taewoo. The film's original trailers (Korean and French) are included, as well as a stills gallery. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Scott Saslow and on the First Pressing, an illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the films by Michael Sicinski.

Woman is the Future of Man is occasionally met with indifference but I found its secret joys once being exposed to more of director Sang-soo Hong's other work. Yes, there is a Rohmer-esque element to it with elements of our sexual communication, our frivolous whims and glaring limitations. It is an arthouse film - and I think a good one exposing human failures with honest and true characterizations. The matching with Tale of Cinema on Blu-ray is a super idea. This is, obviously, the absolute best way to indulge in this director in your home theatre. Some will find this cinema very addictive.

Colin Zavitz

***

ON THE DVD: New Yorker are really improving in many areas with their recent DVD releases. Unfortunately this image still shows combing - which I can only assume if from an interlaced transfer as the standard master utilized would no doubt also be NTSC (cites Korean company Enter One in the opening). The image is anamorphic and the disc dual-layered but it loses a few points for lack of sharpness which won't probably be evident if viewing through standard television CRTs (cathode ray tubes). Still it has hazy moments and colors are not as vibrant as they might be. But the rest is all good - a 2.0 stereo and largely untested 5.1 track are optional as are well rendered English subtitles. The image is free from damage and I saw no untoward artifacts. The DVD is stacked with supplements.

It starts with a 2 1/2 minute intro by Martin Scorsese. There are 30 minutes worth of optionally subtitled interviews (3) with the principles, an almost 40 minute long 'Making of..." featurette (also optionally subtitled), a photo gallery and both Korean and French theatrical trailers. There is also a 6-page liner notes leaflet with short essays by Michael Atkinson and Kyung Hyun Kim. All relevant additions and fully supporting further appreciation of the film.

Like some of Sang-soo Hong's other work (Turning Gate, Woman on the Beach) - this is an excellent and memorable piece of poetically human cinema. There is a Korean DVD of the film available but I have no information on it at present. As for this NY'er edition - I am quite proud of them - they have come a long way in the past few years and this has shown some real growth especially in the area of extra features. An imperfect DVD, but one we recommend on the basis of the film and supplements.

Gary W. Tooze

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