Gyul-baek

Ahn Jung-in is a successful defense attorney. She is estranged from her family and is place in the uncomfortable position of defending her mother who has been accused of murdering 3 and the attempted murder of 2 more people who were attendees at her father's funeral. She sets out to find out what really happened and uncovers corruption, lies and secrets among the people her father called friends.

I enjoyed this film. The first part of it runs long but does a good job of setting up the drama to unfold. Admittedly the emotion drives the film and brings up questions about whether wrongs can be made right with more wrongs. Can an injustice right the longsuffering victims of justice denied?

I don't mind suggesting this film to people who enjoy films in this genre. It was well acted, filmed and constructed even if it was a tad slow and a bit long.

'Innocence' begins intriguingly with a funeral in a backwater small town, whereupon the supercilious village mayor (Huh Jun-ho) and a number of the local townsfolk are poisoned after drinking rice wine laced with pesticide. The suspect is none other than the deceased's wife Hwa-ja (Bae Jong-ok), who is taken into custody and promptly charged with the heinous act.

As you would expect, the subsequent plotting will unveil just who the real culprit is, with writer-director Park Sang-hyun opting to do so through a combination of courtroom and investigative drama. Both are driven by the brilliant young lawyer Jung-in (Shin Hye-sun), who returns from Seoul to her birthplace when she hears about the case and then decides to take over from the incompetent lawyer engaged by Hwa-ja's sister.

Jung-in also happens to be Hwa-ja's daughter, so it isn't just any life that is in her hands but in fact that of her mother. There is good reason why she had not returned prior for her father's wake, and revisiting her painful past that had led to her leaving her hometown as a teenager is one of the poignant pleasures of this well-crafted mystery thriller.

Oh yes, the question of 'who did it' is probably less important than 'why it had happened in the first place', and over the riveting course of two hours, we are led on a viscerally and emotionally gripping journey of greed, guilt and reconciliation. Jung-in's relationship with her mother is one major dimension, which also concerns her autistic younger brother Jung-soo (Hong Kyung); and without spoiling anything, let's just say the secrets from her past will form a pivotal basis for the surprising yet affecting conclusion.

The other dimension concerns the mayor's shady dealings with Jung-in's father and a bunch of local village folk, all of whom used to be miners before there was nothing left to mine. As with such tales, money and power are the reasons why once-firm friends turn against one another, and even though the revelation here isn't quite so shocking, the twists and turns are still more than engaging to hold your attention.

What is perhaps more significant is how the two subplots tie in together with each other, which lends added poignancy to the fate which the young Jung-in had suffered at the hands of an uncaring and physically abusive father that ultimately led to her running away from home. It should come as no surprise that mother and daughter do eventually make up, but how Jung-in comes to terms with her professional and personal lives is something the story manages with deftness and finesse.

In what is her first leading role, actress Shin Hye-sun shines with nuance and poise. She doesn't over play her character's steeliness and knows just when to play up Jung-in's vulnerabilities especially with regard to her mother's condition. Shin holds her own against the deliciously cunning Huh, and the courtroom scenes between them as lawyer and witness crackle with tension and suspense.

That it may not boast a big-name cast means it's all too easy to lose sight of 'Innocence' amidst the flurry of Korean movies hitting our screens over the past few weeks, but you'll do well not to dismiss this well-plotted drama. It is paced with momentum, packed with good surprises, and nicely executed to deliver an emotional wallop towards the end. In fact, we would go so far as to say that it is one of the finest Korean movies we've seen this year, so don't be guilty of letting it slip you by.

5.5 / 10.

The first half hour is quite stretched, tiring and boring. Later the story becomes more interesting and has a good mystery. Not predictable but it should have been a little shorter.

Innocence, originally titled Gyul-baek, is a South Korean movie halfway between a drama and a thriller. It tells the story of a successful female lawyer who travels from the busy capital of Seoul back to her gloomy hometown to defend her own mother suffering from dementia who is accused of having poisoned five men with rice wine.

This movie convinces on numerous levels. First and foremost, the actresses and actors are truly excellent. Shin Hye-sun excels as successful young lawyer who must revisit her own difficult past in order to protect her mother suffering from dementia and her little brother struggling with autism. Bae Jong-ok impresses as elderly mother dealing with severe dementia who has more than one sinister secret to hide. Hong Kyung indeed delivers the goods as innocent but observant younger brother dealing with a severe case of autism who is negatively influenced by corrupt acquaintances and emotional family members alike. Huh Joon-ho touches viewers by portraying a corrupt politician who is unafraid of betraying, exploiting and harming friends time and again. Tae Hang-ho deserves a special mention for portraying a clumsy but perseverant constable with a heart of gold.

Another strong element of this movie is its emotional plot that comes around with a few decent twists and turns by the end of the film. Viewers will get to explore themes such as attempted suicide, child abuse, corruption, mental illnesses and murders. However, this movie also features a few positive themes such as courage, family, friendship, justice and resilience. Viewers are going to explore an intense rollercoaster ride from start to finish.

One should also mention this movie's consistent sinister atmosphere. Viewers will get to explore funerals, prison cells and courtroom settings in the present while exploring locations connected to abuse, betrayal and murder in numerous cleverly interwoven flashbacks. The film's very good lighting techniques, sound effects and soundtrack elevate it to an above-average entry in both the drama and thriller genres.

At the end of the day, Innocence, originally titled Gyul-baek, is a slow burn that develops into a mysterious thriller and a sinister drama. This very good movie is carried by excellent acting, gripping atmosphere and clever plot with a few twists and turns. While not innovating its genres or leaving a profound mark, genre fans and followers of contemporary South Korean cinema should most definitely give this movie a fair chance.

The trailer does not do it justice. It is a must watch if you like rooting for the underdog trying to clawing back up from an impossible scenario. The story has enough twists and turns to keep you intrigued throughout the movie until the last 10 or so minutes, which is a rarity these days.