Perhaps South-Korean director Kim Ki-duk knew the kind of backlash a project such as “The Isle”, or “Seom” which is the film’s original title, would have to face internationally. Even though audiences and critics understood the artistic quality of the film, for example, when it was screened at the Venice Film Festival. In his review of the film, acclaimed critic Roger Ebert wrote:”This is the most gruesome and quease-inducing film you are likely to have seen. You may not even want to read the descriptions in this review.” For these reasons, its depictions of violence and instances of animal cruelty, the film achieved a certain notoriety over the years.

A young, mute girl named Hee-jin (Suh Jung) is the caretaker of a fishing resort. Her tasks include renting the various floating cottages on the lake as well as taking care of the needs of the costumers from fishing hooks,...