Review for ‘‘POSTMAN’’ by Minkyu Kang

Postman makes for another notch in Minkyu Kang's long list of achievements in cinema and television. Discrete and understated, within its 6 minutes it fits a world of thoughts on the medium itself, and art and inspiration in general.

Plot-wise, minimalism is the name of the game. A day in the life of a dutiful postman is interrupted, and his life itself changed forever, through a grim and unexpected encounter. The postman's plain and stoic figure clashes with the dostoyevskian painter, whose dismissal of the material world in favor of the enchanting sky blue can be interpreted in more than one way. Themes of the dedication to art, the pursuit of dreams and ideals, buddhism and obsession seem to pervade the short yet dense film.

Visually speaking, Postman is yet again discreet, crisp and colorful but at the same time consciously mundane and at times creepy. It's characterized by a devotion to realism, and through an impressionist lens photographs aspects of simple life. That is, until under the influence of inspiration and art, the protagonist ascends as close as possible to the metaphysical. The decision to forgo music or fancy editing only serves to further highlight the transcendent ending. Acting is satisfactory, the script however leaves something to be desired, be that an extra scene or some small illuminating dialogue.

As a sum, Postman is a short and sweet experience of catharsis, consumed as if in a daydream in the monotonous everyday lives we lead. Protagonist, antagonist and theme, the higher nature of art that was personified in the ancient Greek Muses now perseveres as Kang's blue sky. We hope for larger and deeper projects from the creator.