The Surrogate Woman (1987)

“No, we are not {human). Even if we look like human, we are not treated as human.”

Ok Nyo: ”I am human..so are you!”

Mother: “No, we are not. Even if we look like human, we are not treated as human.”

Why is the first 55 minutes of this movie on DramaThis, yet the last 38 minutes on MyAsianTV?

A melodramatic movie set during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea showing the inhumane treatment of the young, virgin surrogate mother Ok-nyeo (Kang Soo Yeon) by a system which values male “heirs” over female, and a culture steeped with so much “wives tales, useless pomp and circumstance, and ritual”…most of the which is useless for anything except keeping all, rich and poor, in their proper place in this, and other, society.

Most of the movie was on Ok-nyeo and her being in complete solitude between visits by the young Master, and no Internet in those days to play on while in solitude!

I loved the music, scenery, cinematography, and costumes of the period; I also appreciate the director allowing the young girl the chance to be ‘consoled’ by the young Master more often than the Matriarch and the house staff would allow.

I dislike the lack of emotion and feeling that prevailed in everyone, save for the Master and surrogate woman. It seems that 'emotion' was set aside for women during this time period; however, the young Master also seemed to have no one worrying about his emotions as well! As I have studied religion and myth for years, this is typical not only for Korea but for most cultures before the modern era.

I loved the ceremony just before the birth, where all the poor community were enjoying themselves.

Everyone, except the Master and the young surrogate, treated her surrogacy as nothing more than a business contract, allowing very little ‘humanity’ in this movie.

The director showed the attempt society has always had for emotional contact between humans of different social classes; that is why media (printed, audio and visual arts) is full of successful movies and stories of a man and a woman from different social-economic classes falling in love and successfully ‘beating the system’.

I enjoy being able to see a microcosm of traditional societies in movie form, such as this movie.

This is a service both for those wishing to be entertained and for those who want to see a slice of life in bygone eras, which isn’t that much different than a slice of life if taken from any society today!

The system of separation even extends to the ‘raising’ of of rich people's children: Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was raised by servants but not her parents (as she allowed the same for her children as well); she was cold and removed from her children as Queen Victoria, Elizabeth II and most of the other elite members of out society, those who control the rest of us!

What was revealed later in the movie is that Ok-nyeo's mother was also a surrogate until she, a female, was born accidentally.

What is sad it that much of the poor also believe that tradition and useless ritual is necessary in order for society to continue: it is, is you want to continue the separation of people as this movie shows.

I would recommend this for anyone who wishes to watch a great movie,or anyone interested in the movies of Kang Soo-youn or interested in Korean movies in general.

What is sad is that I watched this great movie on the same day actress Kang Soo-youn died in Korea…she was scheduled to film the movie “Jung_E” during the last part of this year (2022)

My kudos to this great movie and condolences for her, her family and all the friends of Korean films!

https://news.yahoo.com/veteran-actor-kang-soo-youn-175505996.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

RE-WATCH VALUE: Definitely!

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