Memories of Murder

Wow. This film is well worth the hype as one of the best Korean films of 2003.

In Darcy's review at koreanfilm.org, he says the movie is "at turns blackly humorous, thought-provoking, and horrifying", and indeed it is so satisfying because it works on those multiple layers. As grim and intense as several scenes are - the plot is based on a true serial-killer case from the '80s that remains unsolved - there is also some very funny Korean dialogue, flavored with countryside accents, amidst the dark situations.

I'm impressed with how well the whole thing holds together. It could have been the sort of mess where the film doesn't quite know what genre(s) it belongs to, or rehashes one cliche after another. Certainly, it helps to be blessed with steady direction, quality acting, tight plotting. But beyond that, I think this film works because it doesn't attempt to be deep or flashy. Above all, it values simplicity and economy.

Take the relationship between the two cops and the unknown killer. The filmmakers resist the temptation to make it more complex than it probably was in real life: the killer runs and the cops chase - that is what they do. There are no strings attached to the purity of that relationship, as in so many bad psychological serial-murder movies.

Or take the shooting style. It's a textbook demonstration of economy in filmmaking. Camera movements and framing are carefully designed - you sense the deliberation - and no shot feels wasted. It's wonderful to feel like the filmmaker knows what he's doing and is in control of his craft, and it's a sad statement that I rarely feel that way. Or is it just my ego?

Song Kang-Ho (the actor on the left in the poster above) is priceless. I've seen 9 of the 11 films he has made, and my respect for him grows with each film.

Trailer (WMV)
CJ Entertainment site
koreanfilm.org review