Seoul Spring

A whirlwind of events that happened during nine hours on some winter day, rushing through and to the ending that we already know for two-and-a-half hours. AND I could not take my eyes off for one second, and those two hours felt like a glimpse of a moment.

Chronologically perfect organization makes complicated events compact and clear. The plot is a spider web; everything is connected to everything, and there is no leap of logic from one event to another. At first, I was worried that all members of Hanahoe getting their moment would muddle the main narrative and obscure strong message. However, how it is executed from the director is just perfection: perfect structure and system. Moreover, because '12.12: The Day' extends the focus from Jeon Du-Hwan alone to Hanahoe, the message becomes stronger and more relevant. Villainizing one person is not enough; the problem lies deep in the rooted corrupt system. Jeon is gone, but Hanahoe in all kinds of forms still exist in today's society.

Hats off to how the director portrays the ending. Lee tae-shin is not described as a loser, but Jeon is as history would tell the story to the next generations.

Lighting plays an important role in the whole movie. 12.12 happens from 7pm to 4am next day. Lights at night from all kinds of sources like lamp posts, headlights from the tanks, old light bulbs in the old building, and even cigarette lights emanate a different atmosphere in different situations. Jeon hides from the light by turning off the lightbulb right when the most important conversation of his life is happening. Lee walks into the light with hundreds of searchlights pointing at him with utmost confidence and grace at the end.

The only weakness of '12. 12: The Day' is that I could not handle myself being outraged and suffocated so often that I had to check my blood pressure and to distance myself from the film from time to time.

*Jung Woo-sung finally meets THE one. His best performance, the best character that embodies actor Jung Woo-Sung. It is every Korean director's wish to portray the best version of Jung, and Kim Sung-soo achieved that goal.

12.12.: The Day, originally published as Seoul-ui bom, is a South Korean historical action-drama that takes place in the late seventies and early eighties in South Korea as it follows the assassination of President Park Chung Hee, the declaration of martial law and a coup d'état unfolding on the day referenced in the title. This movie closely analyzes the rivalry between Lee Tae Shin, the courageous commander of the Capital Garrison Command, and Chun Doo Gwang, an influential security commander with a pitiless attitude. This suspenseful movie is gripping from start to finish, no matter how much you know or you don't know yet about South Korean history. It's interesting to note that very similar events are currently unfolding in South Korea in late 2024 and early 2025 and here's hope that citizens are wise enough to not repeat the terrible mistakes that occurred during Seoul Spring in 1979 and 1980 and led the country into a brutal eight-year long dictatorship rather than to democracy, freedom and modernity.

Other than the gripping story and the valuable lessons that should be learnt from it, one has to point out the excellent acting in this film. Jung Woo Sung convinces as an idealistic commander in a role he didn't choose who successively gets abandoned and betrayed by friends and partners alike. Hwang Jung Min excels as sinister leader putting friends and foes under great pressure who doesn't hesitate to go to extreme lengths to achieve his dystopian goals.

This wonderful movie also works so well thanks to the excellent job by director Kim Sung Soo who uses calm camera work, excellent lighting and atmospheric settings to recapture the dreadful events unfolding throughout one single evening and night at the heart of South Korea's capital.

The director's excellent work is complemented by a tense soundtrack, accurate props and fitting costumes. These elements make this exciting mixture of an action movie, a drama and a thriller feel like an authentic documentary.

One has to applaud South Korean filmmakers to portray the dark side of its history so directly, honestly and openly. Several other countries in the region tend to use excessive lies, pathos and propaganda to make viewers believe fabricated history in contemporary cinema. In times like these, South Korea must fight stronger than ever before to keep these ideals intact and confront those who are putting such values at excessive risk.

To keep it short, 12.12.: The Day, originally published as Seoul-ui bom, combines genres such as action, drama and thriller to create a historical film that doesn't only honestly showcase the horrors of South Korea's past but even the impending doom of its worrisome future. Let's help South Korea keep its constitutional values of democracy, freedom and peace established since the beginning of the Sixth Republic all the way back in 1987 and drive those who actively menace such values out of the country.

Based on true events, 12.12: The Day, released in the end of Nov 2023 and has very quickly become the highest grossing film of the year over there; will likely end up being the best Korean film of 2023 as well. It has broken into the top 9 of all-time Korean box office.

12.12: The Day is a historical action drama set in 1979. Following the assassination of President Park in, military factions wrestle for control during a violent coup in this tense South Korea. The film focusses on the 12 December 1979 military coup and the related conflict between the military leaders. If you've watched the film 'A Taxi Driver', the Gwangju uprising depicted in it was a response to the military coup in 'The Day'

If you like military/war dramas or political thrillers, you have GOT to watch this film. The cast did a stellar job of conveying the sense of urgency and turmoil in a nation's trying times. I don't know enough Korean history, but based on the plot of the film, there are clear protagonists and antagonists; the plot is written so well, the scheming is SO convincing, the idiots are such idiots played so well, that you want the good guys to win and the bad guys to lose even if you don't know the language and not relate to the national story being told.

The film is brilliantly shot, and the sound design deserves special mention for keeping the intensity and the sense of urgency high throughout the film. It takes off in the first five minutes and there are no lows in the film after that. Sit down, buckle up and you're in for a thrilling ride. As someone who didn't know the history behind the events, the destination of this ride was.... anticlimactic but because these are real events, it added a certain value to my viewing experience. Don't miss this one.

Wow dam good... Korea film maker and all actors from this movie never fail and nail it... In realife also bad guys win ..this fiction is best ever done...couldn't breath till last min. Editing is so dam good from every corner..I do recommend you guys if you like nonstop trailler .. Best Best Best ever...sometimes real life heroes r fail, but they can die peacefully ... Villain wins but they will always stay with guilty till they die.. love the main Villain the way he felt guilty on his face ...He wins but not fully happy.... That's why korea actors much more better than Hollywood.... Hollywood fail to show long time back...they know only super hero win in the movie which they give wrong message to viewers.. What I learned from this movie is bad guys always win in realife and they wanna shows to the viewer to accept it...message them just 1 person can change the whole table upside-down within one night....likes it happened in MYANMAR coup in 2020.

I have recently been watching one after the other terrific Korean movie. Why? Because unknown to many Western movie goers (me included until recently) the Korean movie industry is without a doubt one of the very best creators of intense, true to life dramas. They dont come much better than this!

This movie is all about Korean politics and war history. Not knowing anything about Korea's history didnt prevent me from being thoroughly impressed by this storyline though about ONE exceptionally brave and patriotic army commander who single handedly tried to stop a military uprising against the government. Not kiddin'.

What intense drama! What glorious characters. What evil and wicked treachery. What a sad and demoralising final. What a blast to watch!

Highly recommended for the fans of Korean cinema and also for those who are into fierce and unrelenting, war dramas.