The President's Barber: An ambiguous film?

To be honest when I first sat back and attempted to reflect on the film I was not entirely certain on what the message of the film was. Usually, as we spoke about in class. a film is an allegory, in which it is trying to covey a deeper central message through the narrative. Perhaps, my uncertainty was due to the food at Tuesdays screening. Although, the more likely explanation would be related to the main character Seong Han-mo. Han-mo’s character is honest, kind hearted, and a little bit slow. His passive nature and lack of knowledge about the political realm allows him to be a relatively impartial. Therefore, we do not see the film take a overwhelming bias toward any group. This relatively unbiased interpretation of the film’s political content is also very much due to the fact that the narration is performed by Nak-an, Han mo’s son. The voice of Seong Nak-an is very naive and childish with no personal opinions about the events that take place. Although, we do see the main character undergo physical trauma due to the irrational acts of the government. The narrator, instead of being angry or scarred, comments on how the electroshock torture was ticklish instead of painful. This neutralizes particularly negative emotions that could have arisen towards the government. In this example we see how comedy is also used to neutralizes the biased opinion of the characters in the film. The film does a relatively good job at presenting the events without having a take or opinion on these events.

Another aspect of the film I found relatively ambiguous in its message was the entire substoryline regarding the old monk/acupuncturist. The fact the the monk’s prophecy about Nak-an recovering due to eating “the eye of the dragon” was true was interesting. What was the point of this? What was the moral? You should always take advice from acupuncturist? Eastern medicine works? Perhaps, Nak-an drinking the ‘dragon eye soup’ was not what truly cured him. Perhaps, it was the devotion of a father to his son. The willingness of a father to do what is necessary to protect his family. This paternal relationship can be paralleled to the relationship between the President and the Nation. Once again actor Song Kang-ho embodies what every man should aim to be, especially the President. Honest, kind, uncomplicated and dedicated to his family.