There's this house in the movie which they break in together and the woman visits it again later while the residents are there and takes a nap on the red cushions of the couch. Why the residents of the house was so cool about the woman's behavior? Is it because the house is not a regular modern house?
shareI'll try and answer your question as I also wondered, in general, why the director inserted that scene, as it sort of sticks out, as you have noticed.
The residents seem like peaceful people. They tend a beautiful garden, are old fashioned (clothes and furniture), live in a quiet neighborhood, practice traditional tea ceremony. So when a beautiful woman comes in and peacefully rests on the couch, although certainly unusual, the tranquility of it all seems to let it pass.
They are also unique in that they show the opposite reaction when a stranger comes into their home. The boxer, husband, photographer, and dead man's son show the typical response, which is to attack. They exhibit a peaceful response. So it fits because the girl is peacefully sleeping and they are peaceful themselves.
In general, I think that scene was to show that the girl was still longing for her lover. The washing of the clothes and this scene establish that and shows whats on her mind, as a character (without words, you have to remember).
The second reason, that I can think of, is it helps transition the movie from it's realistic tone to surrealistic, which is the second part of the film. So the viewer is put into the exact position as the couple, which is that they are both confronted with something that is unusual/surreal and must decide how to deal with it.
If you, as a viewer, reject the surreal situation you will, in my estimation dislike the ending thinking it ridiculous that no one can see the protagonist. Or you can be like the couple and accept it and enjoy it for whatever it is.
I really enjoyed reading your response! Thank you very much!
I agree that it is kind of a turning point in the movie. This house has many differences with the other regular ones in the movie. Another different point is that they don't check the answering machine, or maybe there's not a phone at all!
What I didn't mention, because I didn't want to put ideas in one's head, is that the house feels like a holy place, like a shrine or something, and maybe that couple are the janitors of it. I think we need someone who knows Korean architecture to make sure about this.
You seem particularly interested about the house itself so I'll tell you what I know. That style of house is traditional. The Chinese and Japanese have a similar counterpart style. The traditional style you enter the house from a courtyard/garden where the rooms surround and/or look out onto the courtyard. The furniture is also traditional. I guess from a western view it's something like if you had victorian style furniture as opposed to Ikea. The photographer had a modern western style apartment. The wife beater had a bit of a mix.
It's also common to employ certain "decorating" choices via a Feng Shui type philosophy to maximize the harmony of the spirit forces. So for instance running water is a must. In harmonious locations they will always put running water someplace in the form of a fountain or brook. This water is for spiritual purposes, I'm not talking about the cooking water. They have a whole bunch of other rules. The purpose is to make the place harmonious which you picked up on.
You may be onto something as to why she picked out that place to revisit her lover. As of all the places, that place was most "spiritual" and that guy started getting all metaphysical so I can see a bit of connection.
Well! Thanks a lot again.
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