Rated by Tiffany Ran
Northwest Asian Weekly
“Bacchus” follows protagonist sassy So-young through her chaotic, take-no-prisoners life as a prostitute in Korea, at the ripe age of 65, that is. So-young and other senior prostitutes fall into a category of “Bacchus grannies” or bagkaseu halmeoni, a term that connotes cheap sex. Following a Bacchus Lady through the film will be a rollercoaster of emotions, from humor to sorrow and violence, as the film pans out to show a large generation of Korean elderly who are left with few financial options and community support at a late stage in life. The fast building, frenetic plot takes place in beautiful, polished, and well maintained public parks in the cusp of colorful, crisp autumn; a disconnection that is palpable throughout the film.
Characters in the film, from the buoyant prostitutes to their depressed clients, paint a poignant and very human look at the difficult predicament for real life Bacchus ladies who continue to ply their trade in the face of few options.
Tiffany Ran can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.