- [Cinema/Film/Movie] “Do I have to be at the top?” September 24, 2024
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The story to tell a cruel world that only remembers first place: “Fourth Place”
Kyung-eun Lee, Lecturer, Department of Sport Industry Studies
“Someone once said it’s worse to have mediocre talent. It’s hard to either let go or hold on to hope...”
As the title “Fourth Place” suggests, the movie tells the story of Junho, an athlete who always ends up in fourth place. Was it really all hardship and adversity for this athlete? The movie is about a young athlete who only finishes fourth but shines brightest when he is fourth. Why did the director focus on the life of a fourth-place finisher instead of a first- or second-place one?
The movie begins with coach Gwangsu’s childhood. As an Asian Games prospect, Gwangsu had a great skillset, but this turned out to be his undoing. His playing days were marred by arrogance and hubris, as well as plenty of drinking and gambling. With regret and frustration, Gwangsu recalls, “No one meddled with me because I got those records and medals... I would have been more successful if anyone had pushed me harder.” His words reveal a desire to blame others for his failures and show how he tries to project his dreams onto young Junho.
Another character attempts to do the same: Junho’s mother, Jung-ae. She is unhappy with her son, who is always content with being in fourth place. One day, Jung-ae is introduced to coach Gwangsu, whom she assigns to her son Junho. Gwangsu does not hesitate to swear and physically punish Junho under the belief that a real teacher is aggressive, while Jung-ae looks the other way. As Junho’s skills improve, the bruises on his body and mind also increase. Claiming that this is all for his own good, the adults are actually expressing their own desires.
One day, in the middle of training filled, as always, with corporal punishment and swearwords, Junho runs away. Although he loves swimming, he can no longer do that for someone else other than himself. Junho’s escape seems to be not only a rebellion but a confession of his dreams and self.
When Junho announces that he is quitting swimming, his mother gives a hurtful but perhaps honest response: “What right do you have to quit when I’ve worked harder than you?” This reveals her obsession with swimming. It shows that just as a parent’s efforts cannot be a child’s efforts, a parent’s dreams can also never be a child’s dreams.
“Fourth Place” is a swimming movie, but it is not merely about sports. It is a story about a parent and child that we can easily find around us. Through the complicated feelings of a son who becomes first but was happier when he was fourth, and a mother who sees her child’s success for the first time, the film deeply explores the inner values of individuals and the understanding between family members. As the words “Being a mom is new for me, too” suggest, the film captures not only the growth of her son Junho but also that of his mother Jung-ae, depicting it from different perspectives.
The piece was organized by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea in 2016 and is a direct critique of triumphalism. On the surface, it sends a clear message about taking a critical look at rankings and competition, but it seems to have a deeper meaning behind it. It also emphasizes the beauty of the visuals, such as swimming and the aesthetic expression of color, to create a delicate visual experience for the audience.
At the recent Paris 2024 Olympics, South Korea finished with an impressive 8th place overall. To someone like me, who checked the medal standings every morning during the Olympics, the movie “Fourth Place” was a deeply reflective piece. It made me reflect on my own obsession with rankings, even though I have studied sports and seen athletes’ dedication and hard work for years.
The movie “Fourth Place” sheds new light on the way we view sports and competition. It reminds us of the value of growth and self-understanding along the way instead of being overwhelmed by the importance of wins and rankings. Hopefully this movie inspires you to reflect on whether you have been too harsh on others and yourself and to reconsider the true meaning of competition.
Fourth Place
Release date: 2016. 4. 13.
Director Jung Ji-woo
Best New Actor at the 53rd Daejong Film Awards,
Special Jury Prize at the 17th Busan Film Critics Association Award -
SINCHON·INT′l
SINCHON·INT′l
- MIRAE
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