Director – Lee Jung-jae – 2022 – South Korea – Cert. – 121m
****1/2
Two top KCIA operatives, each heading up his own department, both come to believe that the North Korean mole they are hunting is the other – out in cinemas Friday, November 4th; opened the London East Asia Film Festival (LEAFF) as part of a strand of films celebrating actor Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game) which ran in cinemas from Wednesday, October 19th to Sunday, October 30th
Two Korean intelligence men are sitting in a car. One asks the other riddles.
What’s a war in space? Star Wars.
What’s a war in winter? Cold War.
What’s a neverending war? Korean War.
A little background history will add to your enjoyment of this fictional thriller set against the backdrop of actual historical events.
In 1979, a South Korean coup d’état established the country’s fourth dictatorship since WW2. In 1980, with martial law declared, the Gwangju Uprising saw a battle between the military and ordinary citizens in the town of Gwangju in which at least 200 civilians were killed. In 1987, student protests lead to the overthrow of the Fifth Republic Of South Korea (1981-87) and free elections.… Read the rest