I'll always treasure this movie. It was my first Ozu and I wasn't sure what to expect. I remember being caught off-guard by the tatami-mat-perspectives and the way actors looked directly toward the camera. I felt at once alienated and transfixed. By the time the credits rolled I was confused. "That's it?" I remember thinking. The plot was almost mundane and events that would be considered "dramatic" all seemed to happen off-screen. I felt tired. But slowly I began to…

Adapted from an old Korean folk-tale, A TALE OF TWO SISTERS establishes itself as a memorable entry in the long canon of horror films centered on haunted (and haunting) children. Much of its success can be attributed to the deft use of shadow and light, a muted palette that broodingly contrasts with vibrant patterns and textures, and the sharp sound design. Less violent than director Kim Jee-woon's I SAW THE DEVIL, the atmosphere is equally oppressive and disconcerting. At times…