Searching for the Elephant (2009) User Reviews

Three lost thirty-somethings try desperately to get a grip on love, life and reality

[aliosbeybanti · 6/10 · 6 November 2011]

Director SK Jhung's Searching for the Elephant brandishes bare skin and spews blood with so much gusto that all other considerations seem secondary. The apparent core theme - of people who are lost and spend their lives trying to find their way - seems incidental. Each of the three main characters, childhood friends who are now in their thirties, is struggling with his own particular madness: a photographer battling manic-depression (Jang Hyuk), a sex-addicted plastic surgeon (Jo Dong Hyeok) and a financial trader with a mysterious past (Lee Sang Woo). One reason to watch this film is Jang Hyuk's nuanced and sensitive portrayal of a man with only a tenuous hold on life and reality. His flights to fantasy are given credence by the unexpectedly creative cinematography. In fact, technical coherence is the film's other strength, also evident in seamless jump-cuts through non-linear time phases and across different characters. In the end, I enjoyed the show for what it has to offer - after all, this uneven and quirky film does not seem to take itself seriously.

Tries too hard to make the audiences confused

[KineticSeoul · 4/10 · 27 April 2010]

I don't know if this film was trying to be a deep movie about the human psychology or just trying to be artsy, but it fails on many levels and just leaves the audience confused. Not that the audience ain't smart enough to comprehend the story, but the movie literally tries to confuse the audience while trying to be all artsy in order to make the movie seem better than it really is. I also ain't sure how many different stuff the creators copied off of other people, but one thing I am sure of is that it really did copy off parts of the novel "Choke" by Chuck Palahniuk. If you read the novel and watched the movie you will know what I am talking about and the main reason I decided to watch this film is because of Jang Hyuk and Lee Min Jung. Lee Min Jung is pretty as ever in this, but besides that this is a below average movie that tries to cram way too many things into it while trying too hard to make it seem deep and make it seem like if you don't like the movie than your just not smart enough to comprehend the film.

4.3/10

For Murakami fans

[Atavisten · 6/10 · 18 October 2010]

Technically brilliant movie about memory, love and superficiality. Well it deals with a lot of things, in a humouristical way. It is easy going and tries to raise some questions as well, but just don't take them too seriously.

Searching for the Elephant is jam packed with comedy, romance, sex, violence and a wee bit of despair. It wouldn't be too far off to mention Murakami Haruki in this context, actually come to think of it, it is quite apt. Though it is no "Tony Takitani".

I took me a little time to be able to separate the male protagonists because of the style of direction, even as they're quite different.

6.5 / 10 stars

Intriguing

[Jithindurden · 7/10 · 24 April 2018]

Maniac depression, sex addiction, hallucinations, the plot reveals that happen out of nowhere but makes sense relating to small scenes, stylistic camera, editing and vfx. All comes down to a kind of confused film but highly entertaining and thought-provoking. This could have been much better if details were given enough focus.

A personal film about urban schizophrenia

[ele0615 · 10/10 · 17 May 2010]

I had a chance to see "Searching for the Elephant" at a film festival. Unlike the energetiv responses from the festival audiences, I heard that the Korean audiences had mixed reviews. I think this movie was misunderstood by many. The writer/director of the film seems to have portrayed a very personal tale regarding the psychological state of his 30 something generation in Korea. Despite harsh criticisms from many, I was touched by "Searching for the Elephant"for its raw and imaginative sequences. In a sense this is a 'coming of age' story of Korean young adults who had refused to grow up in the age of economic prosperity. I give it 10/10 more for how the story was told rather than what it was about. I recommend it for Murakami Haruki readers.

Alternative Asian cinema that f***s with your mind! Awesome!!!

[cinephilereview · 10/10 · 23 March 2014]

Although I have seen many famous (well-known in North America) Asian films, I was never a big fan of Korean cinema until I saw Searching for the Elephant. This amazing independent film simply shocked me, washing away all the wrong stereotypes I previously had about Korean movies. This is a very realistic story of three young men and the women surrounding them. (No, there is no melodramatic bullshit or hard core revenge stories like many popular Korean films.) This movie is about people like you and me. Yet this multi-layered hybrid-genre gem has much more to offer. Rich in ingenious photography and audacious (almost schizophrenic) cuts, this movie examines that inexplicable emptiness that we all have felt at one time or another in our lives. The sharp, witty dialogues are full of black humor and aphorism, while the pace of storytelling sometimes overwhelms with speed, with numerous sequences that are very clever in execution. (I had to rewind it several times to pick up on certain scenes). The outrageous climax is original and quite thought-provoking. This film reminded me of early Wang Kar-Wai films as well as Last Year at Marienbad by Alain Resnais. I am definitely going to watch this again.