Unveiling the Hidden Symbolism: Oldboy’s Epic Hallway Fight Holds Surprising Meanings, Says Director

Summary

Park Chan-wook reveals that the infamous hallway scene in Oldboy was a metaphor for the obstacles people face in life, not just a typical action sequence.

The scene depicts the perpetual struggle against torment and threats, embodying the weariness and isolation that arise from this fight. Despite its intensity, Park perceives a blend of tragedy and comedy concealed within life, a portrayal also evident in the hallway scene.

Legendary South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook recently discussed the profound significance of the iconic hallway scene in his acclaimed 2003 neo-noir action thriller, Oldboy. The film, hailed as a classic and showered with accolades, revolves around the gripping tale of Oh Dae-su, a businessman imprisoned for 15 years in a mysterious motel-like room, unaware of his captor's identity or motive. Following his escape, Dae-su embarks on a merciless quest for vengeance. The movie was later remade in 2013 by Spike Lee.

During a conversation with Inverse, Park delved into the lasting impact of Oldboy, specifically exploring the notorious and visceral hallway sequence. He revealed that the multitude of adversaries Dae-su confronts in the scene serves as a metaphor for the numerous obstacles that often threaten our lives. Furthermore, Park highlighted the scene's unexpected humor, emphasizing that even in the most challenging moments, irony and comedy can be found. Park's complete statement can be found below.

The enemies I wanted to emphasize are insignificant figures, not important individuals. This scene does not involve the protagonist engaging in a direct confrontation with the primary antagonist. Instead, they are merely henchmen hired by someone who was in turn hired by the main villain. These characters are inconsequential and will not reappear in the story, remaining nameless throughout. One could even argue that they represent abstract entities. Thus, being surrounded by these individuals and engaging in an eternal battle with them made me perceive it as a literal metaphor for one man's entire life.

By likening one's life to a battle, I perceive this battle-like demeanor as a reflection of the adversities we face, such as illnesses or any threats that pose a challenge in life, including internal conflicts. In essence, I interpreted this particular scene as a manifestation of the hardships that assail and torment us in life – a visual representation of the exhaustion and solitude stemming from this lifelong struggle against these afflictions. It served as a metaphor in this sense.

More Details On The Oldboy Hallway Scene

The iconic scene from Oldboy, where Dae-su battles his way through a horde of cronies to escape captivity, has become legendary in modern cinema. It has inspired and influenced other films and shows, such as Netflix's Daredevil, in their attempt to recreate its brilliance. What sets apart Oldboy's hallway scene is the remarkable resemblance of the chaos in front of the camera to that behind it. This renowned sequence was captured in one continuous, sweeping shot, and it reportedly took three entire days to film.

Additionally, excluding the knife inserted into Dae-su's back, the scene was largely devoid of CGI effects. In fact, the use of CGI throughout the entirety of the film Oldboy was kept to a minimum, even during the infamous scene where Dae-su consumes a live octopus. This particular moment was captured using a real creature, necessitating four separate takes.

Since his breakthrough years ago, Park has consistently displayed an extraordinary level of attention to detail and thoughtfulness as a director. His work consistently delves into various facets of the human experience. The Oldboy hallway scene stands out as one of Park's most profound portrayals, exploring the universal struggles faced by all individuals and demonstrating that beneath the initial perplexity lies sheer brilliance.

Source: Inverse