Yoon Eun-kyoung’s outstanding directorial debut The Tenants explores the vast struggles of social disparity when living in a rich society.
Director: Yoon Eun-kyoung
Genre: Thriller
Run Time: 89′
Fantasia Premiere: July 29, 2024
Release Date: TBA
From the minute Yoon Eun-kyoung’s thriller The Tenants begins, there’s something incredibly uncomfortable and stifling about the setting. In the film’s opening scene, the camera pans out from what appears to be a tranquil seaside location. However, the landscape, which would ordinarily be considered beautiful, feels bleak and barren.
It is devoid of color and presented only in black and white. Moments later, viewers discover that they aren’t looking at a real-time ocean view but instead a beach photograph. The audience is then introduced to a man who stares aimlessly at the picture on the bare wall inside his small apartment. There’s a longing in his eyes for a better existence, but before he even speaks a word of dialogue, we can sense that his dreams are far from reach.
The gentleman in question is Shin-dong (Kim Dae-gun), who is struggling to pay his rent, which has led to a potential eviction by his less-than-satisfied landlord. However, when Shin-dong thinks all hope is lost, his friend suggests that if he can sublet one of his rooms, it will prevent him from being kicked out. Soon after Shin-dong advertises that he has a room available, a mysterious couple arrives, eager to move in right away, but they seem a bit off and decide to reside in the bathroom, which is a rather odd choice. The pair also keep strange hours, and after a few weird occurrences that Shin-dong has with his new roommates, he starts to regret his decision to let them move in. As time passes, he becomes more paranoid about their presence, questioning who his new tenants are and if they have any hidden motives.
At its core, The Tenants is a film with much to say about the social inequality that exists in South Korea, particularly low-income earners in Seoul, and the various strategies people resort to for survival. Take, for example, the ominous couple who sublet Shin-dong’s apartment when the pair arrive for a tour of their potential future dwelling. They are overjoyed to have a tiny room (which is actually just the bathroom) and consider it more than enough space. However, it’s heartbreaking to watch, as the pair don’t even have a nice warm bed to relax in after a long, hard workday. Instead, the wife sleeps in the bathtub while the husband curls up on the floor around the sink. But instead of complaining, they’re just happy to have a roof over their heads.
The Tenants is also relatable to anyone who may struggle to make ends meet and who watches in fear as the cost of rent increases each year while they work tirelessly at a job that barely pays enough to survive. This work-to-live theme is reflected in Shin-dong’s unwavering dedication to his career and his burning desire to climb the corporate ladder. Though he eventually receives some excellent job news, the sacrifices that he’s made to reach that point feel significantly greater. During one scene, his colleague even asks why he stays at the office late. After all, he doesn’t receive overtime pay and stumbles into his bedroom each night, exhausted, with no extra money lining his pockets. Additionally, he has little life outside of his job and merely exists to fulfill his financial responsibilities without feeling any additional purpose.
This also plays into the narrative of someone becoming so consumed by staying afloat financially and seeking a better life that they unwillingly or, in some instances, willingly distance themselves from those they love. However, doing so comes at the expense of isolation and loneliness. In Shin-dong’s case, this leads to paranoia and a warped view of reality.
The Tenants’ decision to use black-and-white cinematography throughout the film’s runtime further instills a feeling of surrealness. It also adds mystery, and creates an eerie atmosphere that makes each scene feel all the more claustrophobic and leaves viewers feeling uneasy. The powerful themes explored in this feature require compelling characters that create a high-stakes narrative that holds your interest throughout. Thankfully, the cast is fantastic, delivering gripping performances.
The fact that The Tenants is Yoon Eun-kyoung’s directorial debut is remarkable when you consider how well-written and intricate the narrative is. The film’s powerful themes of injustice and the human psyche have a substantial impact and will be alarmingly relatable for some. Not only does the feature shed light on the implications of social disparity, but it also blurs the lines between reality and illusion. The audience is then left to decide what might be real or what could be the cause of emotional detachment and the ramifications of high stress, which leads to severe burnout.
So, if you ever contemplate getting roommates to help ease the burden of bills, this film might make you reconsider inviting cryptic strangers into your apartment to help pay the rent.
The Tenants premiered at the Fantasia Film Festival on July 29-August 4, 2024.
