'The Quiz Show Scandal' is a very underrated movie that unfortunately fell through the cracks despite bordering on exceptional. The plot is original: due to an accident a group of strangers learns the final answer to an impossible quiz show that has yet to be beaten. They part ways and work on how to answer the remaining 29 in order to take the ultimate prize of 1.3 million dollars.
Each of the contestants offers a glimpse into Korean society, particularly the shadier side, with a comic flair. There are petty gangster wannabes that deliver food; an uptight high school girl who is part of a depression support group; salarymen; a bickering married couple; a family of father and teenage son with an infirm mother; a pair of hit men. They either clash on the contest proper or form unlikely alliances. Their backgrounds come into play when answering the many questions. Particularly interesting is one of the categories in which contestants ask one another questions. It highlights the fact that it is almost impossible to possibly beat the system, there is always a question that will trip a contestant despite how educated s/he may be.
The movie delves deep into the mechanics of quiz shows (this one is clearly based on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire) and on how the questions are chosen so as to cause problems. An example mentioned is that of a scientist who came close to win only to stumble on a sports' related question that virtually everyone else could have answered. Being proficient in an area of expertise makes it likely that one will be less know about other areas. There is an attention given to how people think and it energizes the movie.
The two characters that emerge are a jaded and highly intelligent hit-man and the teenage boy. They strike something of a strange friendship and both battle and help each other out along the way. Despite the strong comedy element the drama is topnotch and the reveal of what the final question is truly about is heartbreaking and well executed.
'Quiz Show Scandal' deserves much more exposure. It can be very funny, visually complex in some scenes like the one of the car accident, and yet deep without ever being boring. Add this a great cast and acting and there is little more than one can ask.
