Pluto (2012) User Reviews

Intense South Korean school drama

[Red-Barracuda · 6/10 · 24 June 2013]

This downbeat South Korean school drama reminded me somewhat of another film from that country, the animated movie The King of Pigs (2011). Both those films dealt specifically with the themes of bullying and the privileged cliques that exist in the South Korean school system. In this one it looks unfavourably at the system of ranking students, creating different classes of pupils; the film considers the possible violent outcome of this type of rigid system and the way that it can be manipulated by the students themselves. The story begins with the murder of a boy by an unknown assassin. Blame quickly falls on another boy whose phone was found at the scene of the crime. He is released and quickly entraps several of his school mates and from here the story alternates between the present and extended flash-backs that slowly unveil how we got to this situation.

This is a pretty gloomy film with no humour. It's title derives from the fact that the main character identifies with Pluto which was outcast as a planet because it was the wrong shape and too far removed from the central Sun. He himself feels like an outcast and is a loner who wishes to be part of the privileged group. It's no coincidence that events in the story are designed to culminate at the point of a total solar eclipse, the very moment the Sun is blocked out; the very moment the core group is wiped out. In truth, the set-up has more potential than is ultimately delivered. The central secrets of the story are not especially surprising and it does maybe lack a certain emotional core. Because of this it's difficult emphasising with the characters and caring all that much as to what happens to them. Still, it's a very well-acted film indeed and the cinematography is very fine with plenty of shots that capture the geometric almost prison-like shape of the school.

Pluto

[politic1983 · 6/10 · 15 June 2014]

When watching school teacher-turned-director Su Won Shin's 'Pluto', you feel like you have to account for some cultural differences. Watching it as a days of black and white British person, the film can feel a little too extreme and almost unbelievable at moments. But written and directed by a former school teacher, the high school drama serves as a social comment on school systems in South Korea whether accepting the way the plot unfolds or not.

Jun has transferred from a humble background to an elite school, where competition for school grades is of utmost importance in gaining both acceptance, respect and future prospects. If enough of a nerd to reach the school's top ten students, you get to sit in a 'special class' with additional privileges that come with it. In his jealousy of school top boy, the American-raised (though not fat) Yujin, June starts to take steps into the violent and dangerous world of achieving good grades at school.

To start the film is relatively black and white: with the murder of his classmate, of whom he is known to be jealous, Jun is questioned by the police as to his involvement in between flashbacks of his arrival and subsequent outcast status within the school. But as the film progresses, the motivations of the characters become more and more difficult to empathise with, being from a country where discussing your most recent hangover seems to dominate academic achievement in school.

The life and death nature of being part of the school's elite seems very alien, and the lengths that people will go to achieve and maintain it require some level of faith from the audience that this is the case, and not just shock tactics forming part of lazy film-making. But, with extracts form teenage student suicide notes and home videos of students featured, along with Su Won Shin's own admission that things can get much more severe, it's clear that 'Pluto' is borne out of a different society to my own.

More bombastic elements aside, 'Pluto' is a very solid work from a rather novice writer-director, exploring some interesting themes running throughout everyday life for students, the titular 'outsider' status one of them. In 'Pluto', pain and obsession reign, feeling 4.67 billion miles from Luton Sixth Form College.

A dark tale of bullying and peer group pressure, but one well told

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 27 November 2015]

Film4 did well by showing a double bill of this with THE KING OF PIGS, a similar South Korean story of high school bullying, albeit an animated one. PLUTO seems to be a rather overlooked film judging by the lack of reviews and commentary about it on the Internet; that's a shame, because it also happens to be very good. Yes, it's long and slow, but it's never less than quietly gripping with plenty of great cinematic moments.

The plot is complex and non-linear and requires the viewer's complete attention to make sense of what's going on. It begins with some harrowing filmed footage before moving into a typical police procedural murder investigation with an obvious suspect. However, the majority of the storyline then plays out in flashback as we build up to the crime and see the reasons for it.

As is the norm for Korean cinema, PLUTO is a very well crafted production with exemplary direction and high class acting throughout. It's also an entirely dark film that plumbs the depths of human life and explores topics including bullying, stress, suicide, peer group pressure, and plenty more besides. The performances from Da-wit Lee and in particular Sung-Jun are really impressive with the latter underplaying it for all his worth. I'd recommend it for all fans of edgy, mature, international film-making.

If you've ever been that smart kid who was ultimately made to feel like an underdog, check this out.

[GiraffeDoor · 7/10 · 26 March 2019]

This was a very likeable little drama that i guess develops, rather naturally, into a thriller about competitive school children.

As a westerner, it's somewhat fascinating for me to observe this culture's image of its own high standards and how it intersects with the issues of class and relationships.

I don't know how much reality there is in this elite club but this was a stirring story of a character who eventually rebounded against the the high pressure he was constantly subjected too in a way that is frightening, but very satisfying.

Pluto - Far out teen angst movie that deserves to remain in the system

[joebloggscity · 6/10 · 22 November 2015]

A number of years back, Korean cinema was heralded for its originality and non-conformism in a number of its films. Times have moved on but still it holds its own in trying to make original films. In many ways Pluto does and doesn't fall into this sphere.

What we have is one young bright kid finding that to make up his grades to reach the top he will have to sell his soul out to a clique at his new school who are populated by sociopaths with a bent to abuse to remain at the top of the class.

We have here a dark satire on the pressures of the education system in East Asia (and lets be honest increasingly everywhere now), and the angst & extremes that some feel they need to go to. This film takes the premise further, and combined with some fine cinematography, some good dialogue and a fine cast we have a good film.

Yet it also falls short. Starting well, it does seem to fall into cliché later on and you can seen parts taken from other highly regarded teen movies in the genre (such as 'Heathers'). It's a brutal movie at points and some may feel uncomfortable.

I liked it but not as much as I thought I was going. It loses its way and some of the early promises seem to be side stepped to give it a more orthodox feel into the final third.

A fine dark film, questioning much of what we already know about education, but just doesn't reach the tape at the end of the race. Still I'd say it is worth a shot.

Boring and implausible

[mister_bateman · 4/10 · 11 August 2019]

The things these success-driven, elite kids engage in to bully one another in order to come out on top is completely ridiculous and implausible. It's like the Hogwart's of psychopaths. Nothing makes any sense either and there is no tension.

"There are no friends and there will never be."

[alalchemical · 8/10 · 21 January 2014]

From an asianwiki description plus its trailer, I was intrigued by this movie. I am a fan of Korean movies, and this for me is one of those that are exceptional. I could compare it to a movie called Bleak Night (2010), All About Lily Chou Chou (2001) and also Confessions (2010). I read from some other reviews out there that, as shown in the movie, "the pressure for entrance exams and the film's opening scenes of people praying and lining the streets to cheer exam takers are real, with Korea having high student suicide rates in reality." The movie ultimately shows how "the stress and expectations of society pushed these students to do horrible things. How bleak their world seemed even though they were only 17 (19 in Korean age); no loyalty, friendship driven by fear." The plot to me means a lot, it's very strong. I needed a second viewing in order to fully get what the movie gives. I agree that this film has more potential than how it's delivered, but a different direction could actually make the movie turn over-dramatic or feel unreal. It had a really nice atmosphere. There is also an added creepy thing, the torture chamber (before) within the school building that actually existed, which was one of the most important setting in Pluto. Plus, pretty Kim Kkot-bi is added as a minor character but stands out as well, like Lee Da-wit and Sung Joon. Yes, acting is really good.

Don't miss this one. I also recommend to re-watch the film as one may not fully understand it. I did not get at first what the metaphors in the movie meant, like the thing about Pluto being demoted, but after a re-watch, it became more clear. If you like the titles mentioned above, give this one a try.

Gloomy enough

[longhoanghmu · 8/10 · 2 May 2015]

This should be considered a serious topic. Korean education system, which is similar with ones seen in other countries, is pushing students to their limits. Mental problems, even suicide, and unfair competition are mentioned in many films and TV series. The issue is more significant in Korea, where the gap between the rich and the poor is being extended.

The theme of the movie revolves around "Pluto", a small planet is not considered a planet owing to its small size and too far distance from the Sun. People will find June resembling the planet so much since he's poor and always sitting at the corner of the class. June is excellent, he's just not lucky enough to have a rich family.

I'm not the type enjoying too dark movies. Too much blood, too much tears, too much pain - that's not what I expect from a psychological thriller. Pluto is in a slow pace, capturing alternatively the present scenes and past scenes, and gradually reveals the dark curtain in education behind a famous high school. June, the central character, has been pushed to an extreme that he captures and threatens all the classmates who have killed Yujin.

The actors act very well, especially Da-wit Lee (Kim June). He must play both mental sides - weak and innocent, and dark and fearless. June possesses an abundant set of psychological features, and it's hard for a juvenile actor to play this role well; but Lee has successfully made it.

The crazy things in the movie will not make the audiences vomit. They don't haunt them, either. But as many Korean thrillers, they do leave a trace on people's mind.