Sam gang yi (2004)

Directors:

Fruit Chan
Takashi Miike

Writers:

Haruko Fukushima (segment)
Lilian Lee (segment)

Release Date:

20 August 2004 (South Korea)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

From the Nightmares of 3 Horror Masters

Plot:

An Asian cross-cultural trilogy of horror films from accomplished indie directors. |

Plot Keywords:

Director | Anthology | Author | Severed Finger | Sex

Awards:

4 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Ling Bai	...	Mei (segment "Dumplings")
Pauline Lau	...	Li's Maid (segment "Dumplings")
Tony Leung Ka Fai	...	Lee (segment "Dumplings")
Meme Tian	...	Connie (segment "Dumplings") (as Meme)
Miriam Yeung Chin Wah	...	Ching (segment "Dumplings")
Sum-Yeung Wong	...	Old Hairdresser (segment "Dumplings")
Kam-Mui Fung	...	Vomiting Woman (segment "Dumplings")
Wai-Man Wu	...	Nurse (segment "Dumplings")
Chak-Man Ho	...	Wang (segment "Dumplings")
Miki Yeung	...	Kate (segment "Dumplings")
So-Fun Wong	...	Kate's Mother (segment "Dumplings")
Kai-Piu Yau	...	Gynaecologist (segment "Dumplings")
Byung-hun Lee	...	Director (segment "Cut")
Won-hie Lim	...	Stranger (segment "Cut") (as Won-Hee Lim)
Hye-jeong Kang	...	Director's Wife (segment "Cut")

Also Known As:

Three, Monster (South Korea)
Three... Extremes (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong disturbing violent content, some involving abortion and torture, and for sexuality and language.

Runtime:

South Korea:118 min | Argentina:118 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival) | Australia:121 min | USA:125 min

Country:

Hong Kong | Japan | South Korea

Language:

Cantonese | Japanese | Korean | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Brazil:16 | Sweden:15 | Australia:R | Germany:18 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:R (Alberta/Nova Scotia) | Malaysia:(Banned) | Portugal:M/18 | Finland:K-18 (self applied) | France:-16 | UK:18 (uncut) | New Zealand:R18 | Argentina:18 | Japan:R-15 | Italy:VM18 | Hong Kong:III | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18

Company:

Applause Pictures

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the segment "Cut," towards the end of the film there is a panning shot looking in through a window. The reflection of one or more persons standing on the outside portion (the side the camera is on) can be seen.

Quotes:

Mei: You're rich but I'm free.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bakjwi (2009)

Some uncomfortable moments with this one

This movie is incredibly cruel and unrelenting. It plays as a single feature divided into three sections: "Dumplings", directed by Fruit Chan of Hong Kong, "Cut" directed by Park Chan-Wook of Korea and "Box" directed by Miike Takashi of Japan. Each section is like a dissertation in horror, although "Dumplings" could also be classified as an exploitation film.

All of them are beautifully produced and directed, and I especially found "Box" to be quite lavish in sets, costumes and atmosphere. They each show a lot about the culture of the respective countries they were made in and also provide new takes on the terrifying and the appalling. They are each original in their own right, although "Cut" could be compared to the "Saw" or Hannibal Lecter franchises in that there's a psycho who's trying to get a message across by way of murder and mayhem.

I don't want to give details on the plots of any of them because I think that viewers need to experience them for themselves with no preconceptions going in, but what I can say is that "Dumplings" has the most plot and is probably the one with the highest "squeam" factor, "Cut" covers a rather familiar premise but with lots of fun moments (you'll see) and "Box" is more of an artistic endeavour with not much of a plot, but for some reason I was enthralled and couldn't look away; it's the one I liked the most.

A solid 8 out of 10 for the efforts of these genius Asian directors.