The Isle 2019

Suh Jung portrays Hee-jin, the quietly observant and stoic owner of a modest fishing resort, where she manages floating cottages and navigates the precarious gap between land and water. Her demeanor is as relentless as the elements that surround her, yet beneath her seemingly indifferent exterior lies a profound empathy. When Hyun-shik (played by Kim Yu-seok), a fugitive from justice, finds his way to her resort, Hee-jin’s steadfastness begins to waver, and a cautious relationship begins to develop between the two.

As their bond deepens, Hee-jin becomes increasingly intrigued by the layers of Hyun-shik’s troubled history. At first, she resists his advances, but ultimately, her curiosity prevails, prompting her to engage a local prostitute to cater to his desires. However, Hyun-shik soon discovers that his need for genuine connection surpasses mere lust, leading him to forge a more profound relationship with the woman, even while Hee-jin continues to show her care.

The complexity of the interactions among Hyun-shik, the prostitute, and Hee-jin propels the story forward. As Hee-jin’s affection for Hyun-shik intensifies, she becomes increasingly involved in his life, intervening when he attempts suicide on two occasions—one of which becomes a horrifying spectacle involving fish hooks. Meanwhile, the prostitute finds herself falling for Hyun-shik, oblivious to the storm of emotions brewing within Hee-jin.

When Hee-jin’s jealousy peaks, she resorts to extreme actions, transporting the prostitute to a desolate float and leaving her vulnerable. The repercussions of this act are tragic, culminating in the woman’s demise through drowning. The next day, Hee-jin’s unsettling indifference surfaces as she discovers the body and disposes of it in a cold display of detachment. In the ensuing chaos, the pimp—seeking answers about his missing associate—falls victim to Hee-jin’s wrath during a confrontation with Hyun-shik.

In the aftermath of these harrowing events, the connection between Hyun-shik and Hee-jin begins to fracture. Hyun-shik longs to escape the confines of the resort, but Hee-jin, the keeper of the only boat, is unwilling to relinquish her grip. When he makes an attempt to swim away, she finds herself compelled to reel him back in, treating him as if he were a fish caught on her line.

As tensions heighten, Hee-jin’s desperation culminates in a dramatic bid to prevent Hyun-shik from leaving. In a moment of self-destruction, she inflicts wounds upon herself with fish hooks and plunges into the water. It becomes Hyun-shik’s duty to rescue her, pulling her back with the hooks still embedded, symbolizing their entwined fates.

Amidst their tumultuous relationship, an unplanned encounter between a sex worker and an unsuspecting bystander ignites a series of events that echo through the lives of the troubled couple. A man’s treasured Rolex finds its way into the water, triggering a frenzied quest for recovery that inadvertently uncovers the lifeless forms of the sex worker and the pimp, whose dark dealings have long been concealed.

As Hee-jin and Hyun-shik continue to navigate the complexities of their relationship, they slip away into the night, secretly commandeering Hyun-shik’s float as a means of escape. The ambiguous closing of this compelling narrative leaves audiences reflecting on the destinies of its fraught protagonists, eternally ensnared in a cycle of sorrow and turmoil.