Part courtroom thriller, part relationship drama, Innocent Witness is wholly engaging throughout but it is the palpable, uplifting warmth seen in the depiction of the growing trust between an autistic young girl and an able-bodied man (helped yet further by a superlative performance from actress Kim Hyang-gi) that is the film’s greatest strength. [Read More]
People: Kim Hyang-gi
Young-ju (영주, 2018) review: a childhood cut short
Though Young-ju is her debut feature, Cha Sung-duk brings a directorial confidence to this hard-hitting yet gently poignant drama that ensures it wholly succeeds an emotive powerhouse from start to finish, helped yet further by a remarkable, stunningly nuanced performance from actress Kim Hyang-gi. [Read More]
Movie review double bill: Along with the Gods 1 and 2
Somehow, I managed to miss last year’s fantasy blockbuster Along with the Gods. I didn’t spot that it got a brief UK release until it was too late, and the movie didn’t make to any of the UK festivals to my knowledge. I didn’t even read any reviews. But it registered in my brain as … [Read More]
Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (신과함께, 2017) review: a spectacular odyssey of post-mortem trials
Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds is a star-studded tale of actions and consequences, guilt and forgiveness wrapped up within a visually stunning journey through the seven Hell trials of the Afterlife. Like it or not, it’s one of the biggest box office smashes in Korean film history. [Read More]
Snowy Road (눈길, 2017) review: friendship, trauma and survival under the Japanese military
Originally a two-part television production, subsequently spliced together into a full length feature release, Snowy Road is a hugely emotional and indeed important story which uses social commentary to deftly create layer upon layer within an already in-depth and gripping narrative. [Read More]
Thread of Lies (aka Elegant Lies) (우아한 거짓말, 2014) review: bullying, secrecy and the cost of silence
In focusing on the psychological aspects of bullying rather than the far more often seen examples of physical brutality, ‘Thread of Lies’ can delve far more deeply into the issue. An incredibly insightful and deeply poignant discussion of childhood persecution that feels utterly true to life, from start to finish. [Read More]