Chorki’s ‘Bandhobi’: A social commentary on migrant workers in Korea
Right from the beginning, Chorki, the online streaming service, has stood out for its distinct choice of content. This week, it added the Bengali dubbed version of "Bandhobi", a 2009 South Korean independent film, which stars Bangladeshi actor Mahbub Alam.
"Bandhobi" is written and directed by indie darling, Dong-il Shin, and showcases an unusual friendship between a rebellious teenage girl and a migrant worker in Korea.
The film, while not a success at the box office, has a lot to offer. It delves into topics like Korea's rampant xenophobia, exploitation of the working class and increasing alienation of Korean children.
With beautiful cinematography, handheld shooting and artistic camera angles, the movie is a treat to watch. Shin uses his craftsmanship to deliberately make several long scenes feel heavy, to convey the weight of certain incidents.
The lead stars, Mahbub Alam and Jin-hee Baek, gave stellar performances as Karim and Min-seo, and it's their acting skills that makes up for any shortcomings in the plot. The supporting cast felt like the perfect selection for the roles required, and the use of dialogues fits in perfectly with the central themes of the film.
On a humorous but sensitive note, "Bandhobi" shows the struggle of workers from Southeast Asia, who are deprived of their dignity and rights. In Karim, we see the personification of the migrant working class, who albeit the injustices, decides to remain in an extremely self-centered, capitalist society. The exclusion of migrant workers from the mainstream, despite their continuous endeavors to fit in, is also conveyed properly.
"Bandhobi" does an excellent job of portraying the newer generation of Korea, using a level of nuance that is rarely seen in films. One of the major themes revolves around how the breakdown of traditional households has left children neglected and dependent on external sources for support. But the gap this leaves in self-actualisation do not escape the audience's eyes.
We see Min-seo being progressive, but failing to understand her troubled, darker side. While she is not afraid of the immigrant community, unlike the older generations, somewhere down the line, she refuses to respect their culture.
The only complaint I had with the movie, is that a better job could have been done in terms of dubbing, as often the words used seem forced and unnatural.
Overall, "Bandhobi" is no stranger to K-drama fans as well as East Asian indie movie lovers. In its quirky mix of humor and depth, this movie has something up its sleeves for everyone.