Byeon-ho-in

This is a very good movie centred on a wonderful performance from Song Kang-Ho, and while his character and character arc shine, much of the movie feels very fictionalised and "cinematic", sometimes to the point of detracting from the story. Also has a weird, made-for-TV vibe to some of the shots even though generally the cinematography was decent.

Powered by another fantastic showcase from the ever-reliable Song Kang-ho, The Attorney is a riveting slice of South Korean history that brings an infamous incident to screen and delivers as a consistently captivating legal drama about an ambitious tax lawyer who decides to represent & defend a group of students arrested by the military regime on fabricated charges.

Co-written & directed by Yang Woo-suk in his directorial debut, the story first acquaints us with the titular character, the rise of his law firm and the events that ultimately lead to him taking up the notorious case. The other subplot depicts the human rights violations that was perpetrated by the military power during its rule before the two storylines clash & unravel in the court of law.

The non-linear narration has its hits n misses but it keeps the interest alive. The film starts as a light-hearted drama and takes its time to establish the protagonist which helps us invest in him despite his differing views which are then challenged & changed by the court proceedings. The performances are gripping, with Song adding another impressive work to his acting oeuvre and leads from the front.

Overall, The Attorney is a skilfully crafted & brilliantly acted historical account of South Korea's dark past that rides almost entirely on Song's fantastic input to steer past the finish line, and is by all means a promising start for its debutant director. Informative, enlightening & entertaining throughout, the film isn't as provocative or politically charged as it could've been but it delivers the desired goods with finesse.

Very well made, highly recommended. For the roots of the South Korean miracle, and the many little battles to achieve democracy.

The Attorney is about a self-studied lawyer who did not graduate from college. He makes a name for himself doing taxes but gradually his eyes start to open to the state of Korea's oppressive regime and he takes the fight to the National Security Act.

The movie never says it is based on a true story but the events depicted have a sense of reality about it. A simple wiki told me that it is based on Roh Moo-hyun, the former South Korean president who did passionately defend the accused in 1981 and then became a notable leading figure of democratization movement since that trial. After his presidency and following tragic suicide in 2009, his name and legacy have been virtually tarnished and butchered by the local right-wing politicians including the current South Korean president. The movie doesn't depict his Presidency days onwards but focus on his days of political awakening. I remembered reading the tragic suicide in the papersbut had no idea what the man was about.

The movie is not without its flaws. The transition from light comedy to full-on drama is hardly seamless (this is probably the case with most Korean films). The narrative in first act feels uneven and I wasn't sure what the focus was until it hits the second hour. Some characters also suffer from an illness of under-development. However there are two good reasons to see this. Number one is Song Kang-Ho. The actor is definitely the most dependable actor in Korean cinema. His portrayal of the shady lawyer smooths away all the rough spots and he gives the role a humility that will make your heart ache. The second reason is the superb rousing courtroom drama with lots of twist and turns.

The almost first half of the movie was average but it grips up after the first half and it is really awesome to watch the second half of the movie.