3.5, Korea

Voice of a Murderer

2007 / Park Jin-pyo > It’s been quite a while since Korea’s had a film worth writing home about, but Park’s Voice of a Murderer seems to have passed that test with flying colors. Loosely based on the true story of the kidnapping of a popular anchorman’s young son, the film is filled with emotional tension that resonates from the absolute fear of helplessness. What can one do to save one’s child if nothing seems to be enough? Thrown amongst the somewhat exaggerated ineptitude of the police, the parents’ faith in their beliefs and themselves is questioned, leading to another powerful and memorable performance by my personal favorite Korean actor, Sol Kyung-gu. For Park, this is a less melodramatic follow-up to You Are My Sunshine, but one that shows his maturation with its grittiness and efficiency.

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