Alienation

While face-to-face contact is gradually decreasing, some people resort to their computers to relieve their loneliness.

Those people willing to disclose all of the little details of their personal lives on the Internet are often referred to as “publizens,” a compound word made from “publicity” and “citizen.” And there are also nasty netizens, also known as “evil repliers,” who get pleasure from receiving mounting criticism by leaving ill-mannered replies on the Internet. However, such twisted behaviors reflect their desire to communicate with other people. Perhaps they are so desperate that they want to get attention even from anonymous people. However, these abnormal behaviors are nevertheless a remedy to cure their loneliness.

What they really might need is actual face-to-face discussions with people so they can open their mind and talk about their innermost feelings. There is a movie about two completely different people who begin to reveal their problems to each other and find out the true meaning of life.

“Maundy Thursday,” which hit theaters in September 2006 and was released on DVD recently, is about Yoo-jeong (played by Lee Na-yeong), a professor who has attempted to kill herself three times, and Yoon-su (played by Kang Dong-won), a death row inmate. The couple, who were both unable to bear difficulties in life, meets at a prison.

When they first meet, they act coldly toward each other. However, they soon realize that they have something in common. They soon share their secrets never revealed to anyone else and become good friends. All of a sudden, the two, who desperately wanted to die, begin to feel an urge to live.

Many people believe they are the only misfortunate ones unfairly treated. “A thorn as small as dust might look insignificant to others, but if it pricks you, it may leave you a wound as painful as the universe,” Yoo-jeong says in the movie.

People seem to have difficulties in understanding not only other people’s feelings, but also their own feelings. However, the movie implies that everyone wants to be loved and love someone despite those difficulties. Their anger against the world and their contemplation about suicide are, in fact, their desperate craving for attention and a chance to talk with somebody. Maybe that is why the feelings between the two lead characters appear to be more of compassion than love between a man and a woman.

Movie Visitor, which has not been yet released on DVD, is about a story of two men. Ho-jun (Played by Kim Jae-rok) is a divorced part-time lecturer who often releases his sexual desire by bringing a prostitute to his house. His life is filled with cursing and complaining. Kye-sang (Played by Kang Ji-hwan), who believes in an unorthodox religion, visits houses door-to-door to preach God’s words. Kye-sang is so religious that he finds it hard to socialize with others. One day, Kye-sang visits Ho-jun’s house to preach to him and rescues him from being trapped in a locked bathroom. Following that, the two find out more about each other.

“Faith! Kye-sang, you should have faith in people! Faith in People!” Ho-jun says.

“Don’t you think we humans are too imperfect?” Kye-sang questions.

“There is nothing perfect. But people are trying to make things perfect,” Ho-jun says.

Although Ho-jun is very cynical, he starts to open his heart to the world with the help of Kye-sang. And ultimately, he talks to Kye-sang at the end of the movie and says, “This time, it’s my turn to pull you out.” Eventually, the two characters rescue each other. Although their beliefs are poles apart, they cure each other’s wounds with their similarity as being outsiders. In short, the sought-after remedy is a human relationship.

yourcat@donga.com