Anarchist from Colony

Anarchist from Colony

Released: June 28, 2017

     Anarchist from Colony, directed by Lee Joon-ik, is a film about Park Yeol. Park Yeol was an independence activist in Korea under Japanese rule. He created a group called, “Huekdohoe” (in the film is called, “Bulryeongsa”), which planned to kill Japan’s Prince, Hirohito. This group had 14 Koreans and 5 Japanese members. The film shows Park Yeol’s relationship to Fumiko Kaneko, who was Japanese, but could relate to Koreans under the Japanese rule. In the film, Fumiko is shown a brave woman, who will not back down from being separated from his husband Park Yeol.

     Since the film is based on the real story of Park Yeol, I think watching this film, will give the viewer what type of life Park Yeol had and what he had to deal with. It gives the perspective of what activist did during the Japanese rule in Korea and how they reacted.

     As someone who is more into action filled films that have a balance of music scenes and dialogue scenes, it seemed that Anarchist from Colony prioritize dialogue in every scene. The focus of the film was definitely on the dialogue, has it told the story of Park Yeol. Watching films that had been stacked with action and thriller, watching this film I felt a different feeling. Watching other type of activist films, that I can connect to, I tend to be more moved to do something. Watching this film, because the connection was less, it only felt like I was learning history. Which is a good thing, but for people who do not find that connection, may find the film uninteresting and leave them feeling ‘what did I just watch.’ – which was I had felt, ‘what type of film did I just watch?’

Private Eye

Private Eye

Released: April 2, 2009

“Shadow Murder”

     Private Eye, directed by Park Dae-Min, is a film about a wrongly accused doctor, Kwang-Su (Ryu Deok-Hwan) who finds a private detective on flyer, Hong Jin-Ho (Hwang Jung-Min). The films opens with Kwang-Su rolling a wheel barrel with a body in it. He takes it back to his basement and begins operating on it. The next day, Kwang-Su finds out that the body was part of a murder and realizes he cannot put the body back. Kwang-Su finds the private detective, Hong Jin-Ho, on a flyer and asks for help. Hong Jin-Ho, who has been only capturing small scandals, tells the young doctor that he does not do anything related to murder. But the doctor, keeps pestering him, until he brings up the reward for capturing the murder. Once Hong Jin-Ho hears about the reward, he is all in.

     This chasing, thriller, full of action film, keeps tables turning. The script writer of this film, really keeps viewers guessing every second. Films that keep to their climax and engage the viewer to take guesses on who the murder is, has the audience wrapped in many questions. When you think the murder is found out, the tables turn. Until you begin to understand everything that happens in the film, only then do you realize what the young doctor, Kwang-Su, and the private detective, Hong Jin-Ho, get themselves into.

     This was another one of the films I really enjoyed. Since the energy of the film was around a mystery, keeping viewers guessing, definitely builds the intensity of trying to figure out what is happening too. As someone who enjoys a good mystery, this film was very enjoyable. Definitely recommend to those who also enjoy a good mystery!

Detective K: Secret of the Lost Island

Detective K: Secret of the Lost Island

Released: February 11, 2015

“All lives are equally precious”

     Detective K: Secret ofthe Lost Island is directed by Kim Sok-yun and is the sequel to Detective K: Secret of the Virtuous Widow. The film is set in the Joseon year 1795, with King Jeongjo ruling. Joseon is importing silver from Japan, however Kim Min, an inventor and his sidekick, Seo-pil begin to investigate counterfeit silver. Kim-Min and Seo-pil begin to reveal hidden secrets about the counterfeit silver industry, as a young girl approached them asking for help to look for her sister. Kim-Min keeps turning down the girl, and eventually Kim-Min hears about children washing up on a shore. Scared from these rumors, he visits the shore, and eventually finds the girl that had kept asking for help. Realizing the counterfeit for silver is deadlier than he thought, he investigates more, almost to the point he could die.

     The “Indian Jones” style of some clips, leaves the viewer on edge. With a quite sense of humor, wit, and thrilling action, the viewer will be on the edge of the seat. Similar to The Admiral: Roaring Currents, the music has the “Pirates of Caribbean” feel too. Adding this westernization to international films definitely draws viewers to watch more international films.