Wild Animals (1997) User Reviews

Uneven but satisfying

[alexfnm · 6/10 · 20 September 2005]

Kim Ki-Duk's second film is the story of two illegal immigrants in Paris, a North-Korean former soldier and a South-Korean street painter, as they both struggle for survival in the French metropolis. Eventually, they develop a strong friendship whilst their association with the local underworld will have dramatic effects on their lives.

Definitely not equal to the director's latter efforts, but nonetheless charming and bittersweet, the film contains clear evidence of the unique style Kim Ki-Duk would eventually develop. Set in the streets of Paris, where the director had previously studied arts and worked as a street painter (just like one of his main characters).

Interesting early Ki-duk

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 16 February 2021]

WILD ANIMALS is an interesting early career piece from Kim Ki-duk, one of my favourite directors. It's something a little different as it follows the lives and loves of a pair of Korean ex-pats - one from the North, one from the South - trying to make a living on the streets of Paris. It's as gritty as they come and slightly rougher around the edges than we're used to from the director, but it still hits the mark with plenty of content and lots of incident, much of it shocking. The usual themes of povetry, social realism, misogyny and exploitation of women are covered in detail and the quality of the performances counts for a lot.

Great Movie "if" I could only watch it on DVD with English Subtitles!

[EmeraldEmpress66 · 9/10 · 27 August 2013]

I gave this movie by Kim Ki Duk only a 9 mainly because it's not sold on DVD anymore. IF you're lucky enough to find a copy of it on DVD it's only in Korean without English subtitles. I'm a HUGE Ki Duk fan and LOVE all of his movies, even own almost all of them on DVD except for TWO I've been wanting what seems like forever "Crocodile" and this one "Wild Animals". Just don't understand why these two from the start of his career aren't mass produced on DVD with English Subtitles like all of his later movies after these. Just doesn't make any sense! Surely SOMEONE could make them from certain manufacturer? I even contacted several Korean DVD stores directly from South, Korea to see if they had these movies on DVD and one does "Wild Animals" but it's only in the Korean language and not with English Subtitles. I'm just livid and beyond upset why these two wonderful first movies of Ki Duk's isn't on DVD anywhere in the world with English Subtitles. Unreal!!! PLEASE someone - manufacture these on DVD w/the English Subtitles so I can finish my Ki Duk movie collection. I would be more than elated! As for the movie, I've only seen the trailer as well as a section of it on You Tube but again in Korean only! :( I think there may have been English subtitles on Y.Tube but just can't remember. I would highly recommend both of these out of print movies IF you can ever find them. Doubt that will ever happen! :( Just hope someone reads my review here and can do something about it. Why even show anything write-ups or anything about a movie if you can't actually purchase it to watch it? HELLO???? Uggggg!!!! So I give the movie of course a 10 but 9 rating here because it's not sold on DVD with English subtitles.