The Quiet Family (1998) Choyonghan kajok 

Directed by Kim Ji-woon (A Tale of Two Sisters)

Starring Choi Min-sik (Oldboy), Song Kang-ho (Memories of Murder)

Excellent black comedy following the fortunes of a family that buy a guesthouse in the middle of nowhere only to be cursed with patrons who wind up dead. 

Suicides, murder and mayhem ensue as this wonderfully dysfunctional family try to secrete the corpses while putting a brave face on it all despite the misfortunes that befall them.

The North/ South divide comes into play though only in a minor way, the emphasis is on thrills, chills and sublime comedy and this, the inspiration for Miikes Happiness of the Katakuris truly deserves to be ranked amongst the best of South Koreas recent film output.

A thorough recommendation as the sometimes hammy acting that unfortunately proliferates a great deal of South Korean cinema works wonderfully here. 

Well worth seeking out especially if you have seen Happiness of the Katakuris, you cant help but compare the two and the differences are readily apparent though I must admit, Id have to say that overall, The Quiet Family was surprisingly, the more enjoyable of the pair.

Catch it if you can.

Cheers Trev.

BBFC rated 15.

An unusually good quality dvd from the now defunct (at least in the U.K.) Taiseng.

Extras in this above average 2 disc release include:

Subtitled director's commentary,
Making of,
Music Videos,
Storyboard comparison,
Trailers,
Filmographies,
Short film - Coming Out (2001) & more.