This shocking tale is designed to repulse viewers, chiefly because it's based on a horrific true story. Following the activities of South Korea's first serial killer, MEMORIES OF MURDER tracks the gruesome events through the eyes of the two detectives investigating the case. The murders unfolded in 1986, a time when South Korea .. Read more
| Starring | Song Kang-ho, Sang-Kyung Kim, Roe-Ha Kim, Jae-Ho Song |
|---|---|
| Director | Bong Joon-ho |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
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This shocking tale is designed to repulse viewers, chiefly because it's based on a horrific true story. Following the activities of South Korea's first serial killer, MEMORIES OF MURDER tracks the gruesome events through the eyes of the two detectives investigating the case. The murders unfolded in 1986, a time when South Korea fell under the watchful eye of a military dictatorship, meaning that technological advances were scant, and the detectives had precious little evidence to work from. The victims were all women from various age ranges, and all were raped and slain by the killer. This dramatic reconstruction of events makes for compulsive viewing, and harks back to a time when the innocence of South Korea's citizens was truly shattered.
| Starring | Song Kang-ho, Sang-Kyung Kim, Roe-Ha Kim, Jae-Ho Song |
|---|---|
| Director | Bong Joon-ho |
| Studio | OPTIMUM HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 11 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama, World Cinema |
| Language | DVD: Korean |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 24 Jan 2005 Production year: 2003 |
| Format | DVD |
Bong Joon-ho's simmering police procedural is inspired by the unsolved crimes of South Korea's first serial killer. The investigation brings together impulsive small-town cop Song Kang-ho and his city superior, Kim Sang-kyung, and it's their relationship that provides the focus here as much as the search for the rapist who has claimed ten victims on a sadistic killing spree. Initially, there's a comic edge to the town versus country posturing, as Song tries to frame a local man with learning difficulties. But the tone grows darker once female officer Koh Seo-hee establishes a link with a radio request show and Kim begins to succumb to the pressures of making an arrest.
A huge critical and commercial success in Korea, Bong's film fictionalises the search for the country's first... read more on Time Out
Based on the true story of the first serial killings in Korea, Memories of murder is a perfect blend of gritty realism, dark humour and excellent performances which help to create a movie going experience which feels both fresh and original.
The three detectives that we follow on this dark journey are so well performed that it's hard to believe that they are not real detectives doing a spot of acting on the side. You truly believe in the fact that the Korean task force are clearly not prepared for a murder spree of this magnitude, some of their methods of detection are embarrassing at best and that's where the humour comes in to it. Two of our three leads will stop at nothing in order to crack the case, while the other, a more experienced detctive from Seoul, contrast beautifully even if the end results are equally unproductive.
There's no over blown theatrics here, similar in tone to Nowhere to Hide, it's the attention to realism which will have you hooked. Right up until the low key, bleak and rather touching ending. Memories of Murder is a film worth watching.
something completely different, bound to get a re-make in hollywood. the ending is a brilliant realisation of the fact that the real horror of evil is how banal it can be. but before you get there the script never fails to entertain. especially the double act of the two local cops who think that beating a confession out of somebody equals solving the case. the camera work is also fabulous.