Movie Review The Spy Gone North (2018)

 

The Spy Gone North (original title: Gongjak) | 2018 | 2h 17m
Genre: Drama/Thriller | Country: South Korea
Director: Yoon Jong-bin | Writers: Yoon Jong-bin, Park Myeong-chan, Kwon Sung-hui
Cast: Hwang Jung-min, Lee Sung-min, Cho Jin-woong, etc.
IMDB: 7.3
My Rating: 10/10

Black Venus is tasked with investigating nuclear development in North Korea, only to realize he's being used and that the political turmoil in his country is partly due to North Korea's manipulation.

Warning:

Contains violence and strong language.

 

Synopsis of The Spy Gone North:

Park Suk Young (Hwang Jung Min), aka Black Venus, a military officer, is assigned to be a spy investigating nuclear weapons development in North Korea. Suk Young pretends to leave the military and becomes a heavy gambler and alcoholic to change his image and hide his identity from those around him. After successfully changing his image, Suk Young transforms into a businessman who wants to sell North Korean goods. This becomes his way to enter North Korea.

Turns out, meeting with North Korean officials isn't easy. With the help of South Korean officials, they trap one of the relatives of a North Korean official involved in the sale of Chinese goods and label them as if the goods were from North Korea. As a result, North Korea contacts Black Venus and asks for financial assistance. In return, Black Venus will get goods that can be traded.

Black Venus then meets Ri Myung Un (Lee Sung Min), who represents North Korea, along with Jung Moo Taek (Ju Ji Hoon), who works as a security force. Jung Moo Taek is very cautious and continues to distrust Black Venus. Despite this, Black Venus can handle the critical situation very well.

On the other hand, Choi Hak Sung (Cho Jin Woong), Black Venus's superior in the NIS organization, is pressured by South Korean officials who dislike the results of the presidential election survey, where the underdog candidate receives significant support from the public. Manipulation is carried out by creating conflict between South Korea and North Korea. Black Venus, unaware of what's happening in his country, worries that this will affect his mission.

Will Suk Young succeed in carrying out his mission properly?

 

Review of The Spy Gone North:

The Spy Gone North is adapted from the true story of Park Chae Seo, a former spy who was tasked with investigating nuclear facilities in North Korea. The film is presented very well, with a systematic story that is easy for viewers to understand. Character development and the background of each character are done well. Camera movement, cinematography, image composition and color, music selection, and sound effects are all done very well.

The acting from the cast is also very good, from the main actors to the supporting actors. This even earned them wins from several award ceremonies. The acting looks natural in terms of dialogue, expressions, attitude, and the chemistry between the actors is built very well. Even actors with small roles give their all.

Another impressive thing is how realistic the location backgrounds feel. There's a scene where Suk Young goes to North Korea to offer an advertising proposal to introduce North Korea and increase North Korea's income. Viewers will surely be confused and wonder because it's impossible for them to actually shoot in North Korea. It turns out all those scenes were filmed in several locations in South Korea, and they really paid attention to all the details to make it look real.

This dedication makes this film a very worthy watch. Especially the tense scenes will surely attract filmmakers who like spy-themed films. Overall, this film is highly recommended.

 

Memorable Scene:

Park Suk Young is invited to visit Guryonggang Market, which is close to the nuclear site. There, he sees the hidden barbarity. There's a scene where corpses are piled up, and children play on top of them, some even eating the hand of one of the corpses.

From this scene, we see that this sad sight has become commonplace for children who seem not to understand the situation around them.

 

Memorable Dialogue:

"Why did I become a spy?"

"But also put all of us, including myself, in an extremely dangerous situation."

 

Ending:

Happy Ending

 

Recommendation:

Must Watch!

 

(Aluna)"