Memories of Murder (2003)

In a small Korean province in 1986, two detectives struggle with the case of multiple young women being found raped and murdered by an unknown culprit.

Director:

Bong Joon Ho

Writers:

Bong Joon Ho, Kwang-rim Kim (play)

Stars:

Song Kang-Ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Roe-ha Kim

Top Rated Movies #174 | 31 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Song Kang-Ho	...	Detective Park Doo-man
Kim Sang-kyung	...	Detective Seo Tae-yoon
Roe-ha Kim	...	Detective Cho Yong-koo
Jae-ho Song	...	Sergeant Shin Dong-chul
Byun Hee-Bong	...	Sergeant Koo Hee-bong (as Hie-bong Byeon)
Seo-hie Ko	...	Officer Kwon Kwi-ok
Tae-ho Ryu	...	Jo Byeong-soon
No-shik Park	...	Baek Gwang-ho
Park Hae-il	...	Park Hyeon-gyu
Mi-seon Jeon	...	Kwok Seol-yung
Young-hwa Seo	...	Eon Deok-nyeo
Woo Go-na	...	Kim So-hyeon
Ok-joo Lee	...	Oh Nam-joo
Jong-ryol Choi	...	Gwang-ho's father
Seung-mok Yoo	...	Journalist

Storyline

In 1986, in the province of Gyunggi, in South Korea, a second young and beautiful woman is found dead, raped and tied and gagged with her underwear. Detective Park Doo-Man and Detective Cho Yong-koo, two brutal and stupid local detectives without any technique, investigate the murder using brutality and torturing the suspects, without any practical result. The Detective Seo Tae-Yoon from Seoul comes to the country to help the investigations and is convinced that a serial-killer is killing the women. When a third woman is found dead in the same "modus-operandi", the detectives find leads of the assassin.

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | based on true story | 1980s | anti hero | criminal investigation | 

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Taglines:

1986 in a small town...for two detectives, everything was new.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

There is also a South Korean movie named: Memoir of murder.

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Goofs

The letter from the FBI about the semen DNA testing is signed by director Clarence M. Kelly. Kelly was director from 1973-1978. William H. Webster was director in 1986.

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Quotes

Detective Park Doo-Man: Once this dries, the stain will form the shape of the murderer's face.

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Alternate Versions

The British DVD by Optimum Releasing has 5 minutes cut omitting the whole part of the film between the release of the last suspect and Detective Seo Tae-Yoon shadowing him. Therefore important scenes for the development of the story are missing, such as when the detectives are informed about the possibility of a DNA analysis of sperm found on one of the victim's clothes and that the sample has to be sent abroad because the required equipment is not in Korea. Also missing is the sequence where Detective Cho Yong-koo loses his leg and a scene with Kwok Seol-yung asking Detective Park Doo-Man to quit the police.

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Connections

Referenced in Vdud: Anton Dolin (2020)

User Reviews

Left me in AWE!

Being a movie buff and a director in the making, I watched this film (with English subtitles, Korean not being my mother tongue), I was completely blown away by this piece of cinematic excellence. There is not a single thing about this film that I can think of in a negative connotation. I wouldn't want to give away anything about this masterpiece. All I would like to say is that this is a film not to be missed. If I want any of my movies to be globally renowned one day, I hope it resembles "memories of murder" in any form whatsoever.

This film simply belongs in the top 10 of the greatest movies ever made. 10/10.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean English

Release Date:

2 May 2003 (South Korea)

Also Known As:

Memories of Murder

Filming Locations:

South Korea

Box Office

Budget:

$2,800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,487, 17 July 2005

Gross USA:

$15,357

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,152,355

Company Credits

Production Co:

CJ Entertainment, Muhan Investment, Sidus

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min 129 min 127 min (Filmfest Hamburg)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1