A Blurred Identity

The blockbuster The Good, the Bad, the Weird, gives the viewer a strikingly different exotic impression – cowboy hats, train running in the middle of a desert, and a mix of Chinese and Japanese culture. The Koreans represent a minority in Manchuria and we could see a blur in the identity of the Koreans. Koreans often wore Western cowboy clothes, or traditional Chinese clothes.

A recurring theme throughout the movie was the notion of fleeing the current situation for a better future, opportunity, and life. In a scene, Yoon Tae-go reveals the reason why he fled to Manchuria. He was revealed to be the “Finger Ghost” back in Korea, and he fled the country to start a new life. However, in the beginning of the movie, we can also see that he again wants to flee Manchuria for a better life. When he finds out that the map is a treasure map, he tells his grandmother to go to America with him and live a fancy life. It is clear that he does not feel attached to Korea, or any other places.

A blur in the identity of nation is further demonstrated in the scene where Yoon Tae-go goes in a prostitution place run by a Korean person. The owner claims to be helping the Korean independence movement by financing few events. Yoon Tae-go sarcastically states that “everyone claims to be doing independence movement.” It is later confirmed that it actually was a mere excuse to get the map.

Does this blur in the national identity delivering a specific message to the viewers? This is a question that must be further examined.