When discussing works of tragedy in class yesterday, Dr. Sexson made a great argument that if you walk out of a theater and simply say "Now THAT was depressing!", then there is either something wrong with you or what you just saw. I immediately thought of three of my favorite films, which are all modern tragedies that are so utterly brilliant and devastating that I know that William Shakespeare would have given his seal of approval... and I can't recommend them enough.
These films are all part of The Vengeance Trilogy by Korean director Park Chan-wook, who said that Shakespeare is indeed a profound influence on his work. A trailer for each film...
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance. Don't let the Americanized movie trailer fool you. This film is at such a slow, wrenching pace that it literally makes your skin crawl. This one might be the most Lear-esque out of the trilogy--an absolutely devastating masterpiece.
Oldboy is easily one of the best films of the last decade, and might be one of the greatest films ever made. Period. Don't let anyone ruin the twist for you. It also happens to have one of the best fight scenes of all time, and a scene where a live squid is eaten whole (no joke).
Lady Vengeance. Perhaps the most emotionally disturbing of the three. Be forewarned, there is some really violent content involving children in this film. I also just realized that it's another version of the Demeter myth--mother and daughter reunited, even though the Lady Vengeance herself may not find peace. See it to see why!
All three of these are streaming on Netflix instant (though I think Oldboy is dubbed--AVOID IT), and if you want to see modern tragedy done in a highly entertaining, emotionally gut-wrenching, and utterly beautiful way then look no further than the Vengeance Trilogy.
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