10 Movies That Shockingly Switch Protagonist

Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, the first film in Park Chan Wook's Vengeance Trilogy wasn't well-received upon release, less because of its narrative choices than its sudden and shocking moments of violence, the likes of which have come to dominate popular Korean cinema throughout the past few decades.

The film sees deaf-mute Ryu (Shin Ha-kyun) engaged in a desperate struggle to help his ailing sister receive the kidney transplant she needs to survive. After being conned out of his own kidney and left penniless and in pain, he kidnaps the daughter of wealthy businessman Park Dong-jin (Song Kang-ho) in a last-ditch attempt to get the money needed for his sister's operation. Wackiness ensues, as Ryu tries to make sure the little girl doesn't know she's been kidnapped while sending her father ransom notes and pictures of her crying.

However, in a tragic sequence of pure circumstance, Ryu's sister takes her own life, the little girl drowns, and the perspective shifts, becoming all about her father's quest for vengeance. Dong-jin hires investigators, uncovers clues, and tortures his way to Ryu's door, while Ryu's quest to exact his own revenge on the cartel who stole his kidney quietly continues in the background.

But there are no happy endings, and this all leaves us wondering which Mr Vengeance we are meant to feel the most sympathy for.