June 25th is the Korean War anniversary, and on this day, I watched “Kingmaker”, an interesting film that touches upon various political aspects in the decades following the end of the Korean War (after 1953).

The film is based on real events, yet it is using fictional sets and characters. It is a film about ambitious men who fought for democracy. Seems simple enough, right? In fact, I was taken aback by how convoluted the action was and how I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen in order to not miss an important detail buried in the smart, yet subtle lines of dialogue.

The entire film’s premise is the conflictual relationship between two very different men who both fought to bring about a change in government in South Korea during the decades following the war.

Seo Chang-dae was a dreamer, a man who escaped North Korea and stood against dictatorship. He aggressively fought in the Presidential campaign of Kim Woon-bum by using, at times, questionable tactics, which made Kim Woon-bum the strongest candidate against the opposition. Kim Woon-bum often disagreed with Chang-dae’s methods which eventually led to his demise and him joining the ruling Presidential party.

The film is fast paced and, if you blink twice, you will probably miss a small, yet pivotal twist in the plot.

The film will also serve as a good history lesson summarized in less than two hours about life in South Korea after the Korean War ended. The three decades of conflict and constant fight against dictatorship provides a poignant view on the resilience of the Korean people but also on humanity’s strength and willpower to be better than yesterday. The film ends in 1988, the year South Korea hosted the Olympic Games, which also represented a big turning point in the South Korean democracy and the start of a new age and progression leading to today.

If you get the chance to watch it, I highly recommend it, as it is a complex story with important historical connotations.

 

Thank you to the Korean Cultural Center for making this film available.

 

#koreanculturalcentercanada #kingmaker #kcinema #한국영화

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