I would not be lying when I say that after finishing this movie, I needed a three hour nap to recover from it. The Bow is another great masterpiece from Kim Ki Duk that I would truly recommend, that is, if you can find where to watch it. Let’s talk about atmosphere because I believe one thing Kim excels in is creating a memorable atmosphere. It’s a quiet and stifling one here, as the Girl and the Old Man live their lives on a boat in the middle of the sea. This tranquil silence is only interrupted by the fishermen who rent it out and bring some life to both the movie and the characters. Just as us, the viewers, these strangers try to interrupt the two’s life and constantly question the relationship between the two. Ultimately, their life changes due to one of these interruptions. For me, this movie was also a sort of coming-of-age of a sheltered girl. Though we do not know the details of her upbringing, we know she is sheltered and kept from the world (literally), not having the opportunity to mature or progress. That is, until she experiences her first love and shows the viewer how much of a teenager she is. Until the end, it’s a very organic and understandable maturing, despite the ending being rather…mysterious. Lastly, I have to mention the music – what a score. Quiet, haunting, and beautiful, the score for this movie makes it all the more captivating. Building up the atmosphere of traditions versus the modern (if you can count mp3 players modern, anyway), it’s a score that will captivate you. This movie ends ambiguously, leaving the viewer to form their own meaning and thoughts. It’s a sort of quiet ending, as is the rest of the movie, but one that will most likely stick with you for a while.