Memories of Murder

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  • Movie: Memories of Murder
  • Revised romanization: Salinui chueok
  • Hangul: 살인의 추억
  • Director: Joon-ho Bong
  • Writer: Joon-ho Bong, Kwang-rim Kim
  • Producer:
  • Cinematographer:
  • Release Date: May 2, 2003(South Korea)
  • Runtime: 128 Min
  • Language: Korean
  • Country: South Korea

Plot

1986 Gyunggi Province. The body of a young woman is found brutally raped and murdered. Two months later, a series of rapes and murders commences under similar circumstances. And in a country that had never known such crimes, the dark whispers about a serial murderer grow louder.

A special task force is set up in the area, with two local detectives Park Doo-Man (played by Song Kang-Ho) and Jo Young-Goo (played by Kim Nae-Ha) joined by a detective from Seoul who requested to be assigned to the case, Seo Tae-Yoon (played by Kim Sang-Gyung). Park personifies the policeman who goes with his instincts and his fists, bloodily challenging every small-time crook in the area to confess. In contrast, Seo pores over evidentiary documents related to the case and inevitably the clash of styles leads to tense rivalry.

From the fact that not a single hair is ever found at the scene, Park takes off to search the area's temples and public baths for people with follicular disease, while Seo finds a pattern in the evidence of women wearing red on a rainy day as the victim's profile. On a rainy day, the detectives set up a trap in order to forestall another murder. The next day however, yet another woman is found murdered - with an umbrella speared through her pubis. The solution to the murders grows fainter and drives the detectives to ever greater despair.

Facts

1986 to 1991 In a small town outside Seoul, over the course of six years 10 women were raped and murdered in a 2km radius. Korean society's first serial killer took the lives of 10 victims, ranging from a 71 year-old grandmother to a 13 year old schoolgirl.

As time went on, the methods of the killer grew more bold and well-planned. One victim was stabbed 19 times in the chest, while another victim was found with nine pieces of a peach embedded inside her. Other than the victims, the killer left not a single shred of evidence. Over 3,000 suspects were interrogated. At least 300,000 police took part in the massive investigation. But not a single person was indicted for the crimes.

Characters

Detective Park Doo-Man Whenever a new case breaks, Park starts off the investigation by calling in the usual suspects and cracking some heads. He uses his knowledge of the personal situations and relationships of the neighborhood people to conduct the case. He believes that looking at a person's face can tell you whether the person is good or evil and claims to have once been called a shaman for this ability. His personal philosophy is that commitment is more important than brains in being able to doggedly chase down a criminal.

Detective Seo Tae-Yoon A member of the Seoul metropolitan police department, he volunteers for the task force assignment when he hears about the serial murder case. Because of his peculiar personality ticks such as insisting on noodles with sauce on the side, and only using tissues straight from the box, he quickly earns the dislike of the other task force members. However, from time to time he presents a compelling argument. Believing that the truth can be discovered in the evidence, he meticulously examines and analyzes the documents related to the case in order to find some pattern.

- The Special Investigative Taskforce -

Sergeant KOO Hee-bong The leader of the taskforce, a country policeman with a genial demeanor who quickly finds himself in over his head. Eventually, he is fired in disgrace.

Sergeant SHIN Dong-chul KOO's successor, he's a hot-blooded man who still knows how to manage his temper. His aggressive leadership revitalizes a stagnant investigation.

Detective CHO Yong-koo Detective Combat Boots. He firmly believes in the persuasive powers of his combat boots rather than wasting his breath talking. Though it took him an extra year to finish high school, his martial arts skills got him his job as a cop. Officer KWON Kwi-ok The team's lone female officer, her main duties involve the copy and coffee machines. She is often reprimanded for her habit of listening to the radio on duty.

KWOK Seol-yung PARK Doo-man's girlfriend and unlicensed village doctor who administers illegal injections. The nature of her work keeps her in on all the local gossip.

- The Prime Suspects -

The village thugs One at the 9 o'clock news, another at the midnight wrap-up, another as the national anthem plays, and another during the night when static crackles on the air. Rapes happen regularly in the rural village. Whenever a crime strikes, the usual suspects are rounded up and their alibis checked out.

The potential husband Another prime suspect, the man who had been arranged on a blind date with the first victim, PARK Bo-hee.

The village idiot BAEK Kwang-ho The "special" youngest son of the "Go get 'em" BAEKs. He reportedly had a crush on LEE Hyang-sook (the second victim) and followed her around everywhere

Confirmed perv CHIO Byung-soon Caught masturbating near a crime scene wearing pink floral panties. Porn mags and clippings of the murders are found in his home.

Factory technician PARK Hyun-kyu The only thing that the sole survivor of an attack remembers is that the man had unusually pale and slender hands-just like PARK Hyun-kyu's.

Production Notes

Based on a true story, "Memories of Murder" is a rich blend of a year's research, visits to the crime scenes, and interviews with key detectives and reporters that distinguishes itself from typical crime movies. "Memories of Murder" is a special recollection of the nightmarish events during those rough times with compelling, true-to-life characters that bring death and laughter together.

The rural village and its surrounding fields of the late '80's is another central character of "Memories of Murder." The production team traveled to all corners of the country in search of remnants of the era. They eventually came to call themselves "The Traveling Minstrels." Since most of the scenes had been planned to be shot in overcast weather, the crew's patience was tested regularly while they waited for clouds. For the final crime scene, they ended up waiting two weeks for rain while the rest of the shooting had wrapped. Their persistence and dedication resulted in capturing the distinctive images onscreen.

Even though it was only about fifteen years ago, things in Korea were quite different then.

  • Sirens would announce the frequent practice air raids and the country would sink into the darkness of blackouts, and schools conducted biochemical warfare evacuation drills.
  • The police lacked the resources for DNA testing and had to send their samples to the U.S. or Japan. Once, during the investigation, they were notified two months after submitting a sample that the lab was too busy to carry out the testing.
  • In the countryside, people usually sought treatment from unlicensed practitioners who would make house calls for illegal injections instead of going to the hospital.
  • People tuned in to watch "Head Detective" and "Pastoral Diaries" on television, and Lee Moon-sae's songs ruled the airwaves.

Cast

Trailer

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Awards

  • Best Film Grand Bell Awards
  • Best Actor (Song Kang-Ho), Grand Bell Awards
  • Best Director (Bong Joon-Ho), Grand Bell Awards
  • Silver Seashell San Sebastian International Film Festival
  • Fipresci Prize San Sebastian International Film Festival
  • Best New Director (Bong Joon-Ho), San Sebastian International Film Festival 2003
  • Asian Film Award Tokyo International Film Festival
  • Grand Prix Cognac Festival du Film Policier
  • Premiere Award Cognac Festival du Film Policier
  • Prix Mediatheques Cognac Festival du Film Policier
  • Special Prize of the Police Cognac Festival du Film Policier
  • Best Screenplay Award, Audience Award Torino Film Festival (Italy), 2003.



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