Overlay: Oldboy (2003) plot analysis

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Ambiguity of the Ending: The summary mentions Dae-su seeking a hypnotist but omilost-nuance

#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION

Regarding the film Oldboy (2003), how does the relationship between the two main characters evolve over the course of the film event by event?

#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE

The relationship between Oh Dae-su and Lee Woo-jin in Oldboy (2003) is a masterclass in psychological warfare, evolving from a casual, forgotten encounter into an all-consuming, god-and-mortal dynamic.

The following is an event-by-event breakdown of how their relationship evolves:

1. The High School Incident (The Forgotten Catalyst)

The Event: While in high school, an ordinary Oh Dae-su witnesses Lee Woo-jin and his sister, Lee Soo-ah, in an intimate moment. Not fully grasping the gravity of the situation, Dae-su casually mentions this to a friend.
Relationship Dynamic: At this stage, the relationship is asymmetrical and largely one-sided. Dae-su is a "careless observer" who quickly forgets the event. Woo-jin, however, becomes a "traumatized victim." Dae-su’s gossip spirals into rumors of Soo-ah’s pregnancy, leading to her suicide. From this moment, Woo-jin’s entire existence is redefined by Dae-su, whom he views as his sister's "murderer."

2. The 15-Year Imprisonment (The Jailer and the Pet)

The Event: On the day of his daughter’s birthday in 1988, Dae-su is kidnapped and locked in a private prison for 15 years. He is given no explanation, only a television for company.
Relationship Dynamic: This is a "God-and-Mortal" dynamic. Woo-jin acts as an invisible, omnipotent force, watching Dae-su’s every move through cameras. He isn't just punishing Dae-su; he is "cultivating" him. He frames Dae-su for his wife's murder and ensures Dae-su’s daughter is raised in a way that serves his future plot. Dae-su, meanwhile, develops a monomaniacal hatred for an unknown "Entity X," effectively becoming a weapon forged by Woo-jin.

3. The Release and the Challenge (The Cat and Mouse)

The Event: Dae-su is suddenly released in 2003. He soon encounters Woo-jin, who is calm, wealthy, and youthful. Instead of killing Dae-su, Woo-jin presents a challenge: Dae-su has five days to discover why he was imprisoned. If he succeeds, Woo-jin will kill himself; if he fails, he will kill the woman Dae-su has fallen in love with (Mi-do).
Relationship Dynamic: This is a "Controlled Quest." Woo-jin treats Dae-su like a "pet" or an experiment. He mocks Dae-su’s 15 years of physical training, showing that physical strength is useless against his psychological trap. He financially supports Dae-su’s investigation, ensuring his "mouse" follows the correct path.

4. The Investigation (The Mirroring)

The Event: Dae-su retraces his steps to their old high school and identifies "Evergreen" (Woo-jin). He begins to remember the gossip he spread.
Relationship Dynamic: The gap between them narrows. Dae-su moves from blind rage to the horrifying realization of his own "sin." He starts to see Woo-jin not just as a monster, but as a man fueled by the same level of grief and vengeance that he himself feels.

5. The Penthouse Confrontation (The Ultimate Subjugation)

The Event: In the final confrontation, Woo-jin reveals the ultimate twist: through hypnosis and meticulous planning, he orchestrated for Dae-su to fall in love and have sex with Mi-do, who is actually Dae-su's own daughter.
Relationship Dynamic: The "Oedipal Tragedy." The power dynamic shifts to total subjugation. Dae-su, once a man of violence and pride, is reduced to a "dog." He literally barks, licks Woo-jin’s shoes, and cuts off his own tongue to atone for the gossip that started it all. Woo-jin has successfully forced Dae-su to live through the exact same taboo shame (incest and the loss of a loved one) that Woo-jin lived through.

6. The Resolution (The Hollow Victory)

The Event: Having completed his revenge, Woo-jin enters an elevator, hallucinates his sister's death one last time, and commits suicide. Dae-su seeks a hypnotist to erase the knowledge that Mi-do is his daughter.
Relationship Dynamic: "Mutual Destruction." Woo-jin realizes that even "perfect" revenge cannot bring back his sister or fill his internal void; he dies because he no longer has a purpose. Dae-su is left "free" but psychologically shattered. Their relationship concludes with a shared tragedy: both men chose revenge over the living (Dae-su's daughter/Woo-jin's sister's memory), and both lost their humanity in the process.

#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)

[1] Dae-su witnesses Woo-jin and his sister Soo-ah in an incestuous act through a school window.

[2] Dae-su tells his friend Joo-hwan about what he saw, which starts the rumors.

[3] The rumors lead to a 'phantom pregnancy' for Soo-ah, who then commits suicide by jumping from a dam.

[4] Dae-su is imprisoned for 15 years (1988-2003) starting on his daughter's birthday.

[5] Woo-jin frames Dae-su for his wife's murder and manipulates his daughter's life.

[6] Dae-su is released in 2003 and meets Woo-jin.

[7] Woo-jin gives Dae-su five days to solve the mystery.

[8] The terms of the challenge are accurate: Woo-jin's suicide vs. Mi-do's death.

[9] Dae-su finds the 'Evergreen' handle in the school yearbook/website and remembers the rumor.

[10] The revelation of incest and hypnosis is the film's climax.

[11] Dae-su begs like a dog, licks Woo-jin's shoes, and cuts off his tongue to protect Mi-do.

[12] Woo-jin commits suicide in an elevator after remembering his sister's death.

[13] Dae-su finds the hypnotist to erase his memory, leading to the ambiguous ending.

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

Low

Ambiguity of the Ending

The summary mentions Dae-su seeking a hypnotist but omits the famous ambiguity of the final shot (the smile/grimace), which leaves it unclear if the hypnosis was successful.

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 Does the hypnosis work at the end of Oldboy?

#02 What is the significance of the tongue cutting scene in Oldboy?

#03 How does the 2013 Oldboy remake differ from the 2003 original?

#S SOURCES

ashleyhajimirsadeghi.com whatculture.com ashleyhajimirsadeghi.com gamerant.com clip.cafe

#R ORIGINAL AI RESPONSE

▼

The relationship between Oh Dae-su and Lee Woo-jin in *Oldboy* (2003) is a masterclass in psychological warfare, evolving from a casual, forgotten encounter into an all-consuming, god-and-mortal dynamic. The following is an event-by-event breakdown of how their relationship evolves: ### 1. The High School Incident (The Forgotten Catalyst) * **The Event:** While in high school, an ordinary Oh Dae-su witnesses Lee Woo-jin and his sister, Lee Soo-ah, in an intimate moment. Not fully grasping the gravity of the situation, Dae-su casually mentions this to a friend. * **Relationship Dynamic:** At this stage, the relationship is asymmetrical and largely one-sided. Dae-su is a "careless observer" who quickly forgets the event. Woo-jin, however, becomes a "traumatized victim." Dae-su’s gossip spirals into rumors of Soo-ah’s pregnancy, leading to her suicide. From this moment, Woo-jin’s entire existence is redefined by Dae-su, whom he views as his sister's "murderer." ### 2. The 15-Year Imprisonment (The Jailer and the Pet) * **The Event:** On the day of his daughter’s birthday in 1988, Dae-su is kidnapped and locked in a private prison for 15 years. He is given no explanation, only a television for company. * **Relationship Dynamic:** This is a "God-and-Mortal" dynamic. Woo-jin acts as an invisible, omnipotent force, watching Dae-su’s every move through cameras. He isn't just punishing Dae-su; he is "cultivating" him. He frames Dae-su for his wife's murder and ensures Dae-su’s daughter is raised in a way that serves his future plot. Dae-su, meanwhile, develops a monomaniacal hatred for an unknown "Entity X," effectively becoming a weapon forged by Woo-jin. ### 3. The Release and the Challenge (The Cat and Mouse) * **The Event:** Dae-su is suddenly released in 2003. He soon encounters Woo-jin, who is calm, wealthy, and youthful. Instead of killing Dae-su, Woo-jin presents a challenge: Dae-su has five days to discover *why* he was imprisoned. If he succeeds, Woo-jin will kill himself; if he fails, he will kill the woman Dae-su has fallen in love with (Mi-do). * **Relationship Dynamic:** This is a "Controlled Quest." Woo-jin treats Dae-su like a "pet" or an experiment. He mocks Dae-su’s 15 years of physical training, showing that physical strength is useless against his psychological trap. He financially supports Dae-su’s investigation, ensuring his "mouse" follows the correct path. ### 4. The Investigation (The Mirroring) * **The Event:** Dae-su retraces his steps to their old high school and identifies "Evergreen" (Woo-jin). He begins to remember the gossip he spread. * **Relationship Dynamic:** The gap between them narrows. Dae-su moves from blind rage to the horrifying realization of his own "sin." He starts to see Woo-jin not just as a monster, but as a man fueled by the same level of grief and vengeance that he himself feels. ### 5. The Penthouse Confrontation (The Ultimate Subjugation) * **The Event:** In the final confrontation, Woo-jin reveals the ultimate twist: through hypnosis and meticulous planning, he orchestrated for Dae-su to fall in love and have sex with Mi-do, who is actually Dae-su's own daughter. * **Relationship Dynamic:** The "Oedipal Tragedy." The power dynamic shifts to total subjugation. Dae-su, once a man of violence and pride, is reduced to a "dog." He literally barks, licks Woo-jin’s shoes, and cuts off his own tongue to atone for the gossip that started it all. Woo-jin has successfully forced Dae-su to live through the exact same taboo shame (incest and the loss of a loved one) that Woo-jin lived through. ### 6. The Resolution (The Hollow Victory) * **The Event:** Having completed his revenge, Woo-jin enters an elevator, hallucinates his sister's death one last time, and commits suicide. Dae-su seeks a hypnotist to erase the knowledge that Mi-do is his daughter. * **Relationship Dynamic:** "Mutual Destruction." Woo-jin realizes that even "perfect" revenge cannot bring back his sister or fill his internal void; he dies because he no longer has a purpose. Dae-su is left "free" but psychologically shattered. Their relationship concludes with a shared tragedy: both men chose revenge over the living (Dae-su's daughter/Woo-jin's sister's memory), and both lost their humanity in the process.

#A DIRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED ANALYSIS)

▼

The relationship between Oh Dae-su and Lee Woo-jin in Oldboy (2003) evolves from a distant, asymmetrical dynamic (Observer/Victim) to a highly controlled "God/Mortal" relationship during Dae-su's 15-year imprisonment. Upon release, it shifts to a "Cat and Mouse" game where Woo-jin manipulates Dae-su's quest for vengeance. The dynamic culminates in a "Master/Slave" relationship when Woo-jin reveals he has tricked Dae-su into an incestuous relationship with his own daughter (Mi-do), mirroring Woo-jin's own past trauma. Dae-su abases himself (cutting his tongue, begging like a dog) to protect Mi-do. The relationship ends in "Mutual Destruction": Woo-jin commits suicide having fulfilled his purpose, and Dae-su is left physically maimed and psychologically fractured, seeking hypnosis to suppress the truth.

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