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:

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

Top Rated Movies #177 | 26 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kang-ho Song	...	Detective Park Doo-man
Sang-kyung Kim	...	Detective Seo Tae-yoon
Roe-ha Kim	...	Detective Cho Yong-koo
Jae-ho Song	...	Sergeant Shin Dong-chul
Hee-Bong Byun	...	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
Hae-il Park	...	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 | false evidence | 1980s | anti hero | 

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Taglines:

Based on the true story of serial killings

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

One deleted scene shows detective Cho walking in a red light district, and then getting a massage from a girl as he asks her about possible leads regarding the murders. The scene was shot in a real red light district, and they had to ask the local pimp for permission to film.

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Goofs

When Detective Park shows murder suspect Kwang-ho a picture of the footprint in the dirt, Park is also holding a right foot sneaker that matches the print in the picture. However, the footprint in the picture would have been made by a left foot sneaker. The print and the correct shoe making it would have been reverse images of each other.

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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 Rewind This! (2013)

User Reviews

Walking in Dangerous Rain

Since a synopsis would be redundant here, I'll confine myself to praise alone.

Each positive comment that precedes this is accurate. I watched this movie yesterday. I couldn't take my eyes off it. Everything taking place on screen was riveting, from the simple act of walking down a dark lonely road in the rain, to a wild chase by three desperate detectives. This movie held me in thrall.

As a new viewer of Asian movies, I try to analyze the reason I tend not to be interested in western works any longer. I finally came to the conclusion that it has to do with the accessibility of the players. They seem to be people first, actors by choice, and stars, by the public making them so.

In Memories of Murder, I saw this human factor almost too painfully. By the end of the story, I was in tears. Even now, the mood prevails. It's been so long since these crimes took place, and I don't know absolutely that they remain unsolved, but I think it's the case, and I think about that, and how frustrating it still must be to those who worked on the case.

The actors have become the people in my mind, and the horrible sense of defeat that becomes palpable eventually, is heartbreaking. When one relates to the inroads made on the health; mental and physical; of the detectives, who are ultimately portrayed as tireless and completely dedicated to the case, you realize that you've watched something that is historic. You have seen the probable truth.

The way this movie draws you into it, so that you are walking through dangerous rain, with a warning shout in your throat, points to the brilliance of the director and the players.

It is difficult to say, "I love this movie", just as it is hard to say, I love Silence of the Lambs, because love is a peculiar word to use for such fare.

But yes, I love it for the fact that during it, I was in a small village in South Korea in a terrible era of sirens blaring, military dictatorship, and the hopeless pursuit of a serial killer. I landed back here in this time and place with a thud, only after turning off the DVD player, and going to the kitchen for a glass of water. While I was caught there mentally---I felt the desperation, and I felt the defeat and the sorrow of the detectives, who were essentially decent enough human beings when all was said and done.

There are not many movies that can time-travel you into their present. This will do it.

I most seriously recommend that you view the interviews with the director and the stars (all of them are stars of a special kind in my mind) in order to dispel some of the hold the story will have on you.

These are incredibly interesting people, and it's a sheer joy to see them smiling and peaceful. They're intelligent, educated and articulate. The younger members of the cast, the less seasoned, are so beautiful in their desire to do it right.

They definitely did it right. They were wonderful, and they thanked the interviewer. How lovely that was to see.

I watched the movie using the English subtitles rather than the English dubbing because I wanted the authenticity. The subtitles were very good.

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:

$1,123,723

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