Director: Shim Sung Bo.
Starring: Kim Yun Seok, Park Yoo Chun, Han Ye Ri, Lee Hee Joon, Moon Sung Geun, Kim Sang Ho, Yoo Seung Mok.
Running Time: 111 Minutes
Synopsis: A desperate group of fisherman take on a job of transporting illegal immigrants, but things go from bad to worse during the lengthy voyage.
Shim Sung Bo, who wrote MEMORIES OF MURDER over ten years ago, returns to the big screen for his feature film debut as a director. He’s brought MEMORIES OF MURDER director and co-writer, Bong Joon Ho, along as co-writer and producer for his first effort, and Bong’s influences can be felt throughout. Fortunately Shim has enough of a voice not to be drowned out by his more familiar counterpart, but this still very much feels as though it takes place in the darkly humorous and bleak world the famous Korean serial killer flick.
Opening with a montage of a failed fishing excursion, Shim sets the scene for a bunch of fisherman living through difficult times. It’s a fast paced opening that quickly juxtaposes with the quiet and bland lives the men live on shore. With money a hard commodity to come by, Captain Kang (Kim Yun Seok), decides to take on a job transporting Korean-Chinese immigrants, without informing his crew until they are already out at sea. The drama that arises and social themes may be obvious to begin with, but the film takes a number of surprising turns throughout that truly start to question characters’ and audiences’ values.
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