BELIEVER
Korea, 2018, 123 minutes, Colour.
Seung-woo Cha, Jin- Woong Cho, Jun- Ueol Ryu.
Directed by Haeyoung Lee.
There are some themes of belief mentioned in the film, and belief in oneself, a belief in one’s mission.
This is a police investigation film, a remake of the Hong Kong film, Drugs, by renowned Dir Johnnie To. Everything is transferred to Korea and its atmosphere, the cities, the business world, the world of drug deals, police investigations and undercover activity.
The focus of the film is on a middle-aged detective, long committed to uncovering the drug cartels but failing. He is given a last chance and works with a team, of men and women, in investigations as well as his going undercover and meeting with the various drug lords.
There are a number of deaths, the warehouse being burnt down but a young man surviving. He is a quiet young man, well-dressed, an underling go-between in the dealings. He is persuaded to help the detective and becomes very involved – but, he is key to the revelation about the mysterious Mr Lee who is never seen, organises the deals, the manufacture of the drugs, gives orders to underlings. A number of people claimed to be Mr Lee but eventually he is unmasked. Very surprisingly. Although, many audiences may have built up suspicions throughout the film.
1. A Korean thriller? Gangster thriller? Police investigations, undercover? Remake of the Hong Kong film, Drugs?
2. The Korean atmosphere, the cities, police precincts, offices, warehouses, socials, apartments? The musical score?
3. The focus on Mr Lee, the arch criminal? The mystery of his identity? The various claimants to his identity? Not seen, people accountable to him, his instructions, deals, drugs, manufacture, the go-betweens? His empire?
4. The portrait of the detective, his age, experience, the long quest to uncover the criminals? His ingenuity? Discussions with his superiors? Their questions, their trust? His character, infiltration, his acting style and skills?
5. The team, his assistants, the bonds between them, their work, the raids, the dangers? Deaths and injury? Men and women in the team?
6. Mysterious deaths, the millionaire and his alleged suicide, his assistant, her glamour, style, talking to the police, her being poisoned?
7. The fire in the warehouse, the destruction, the young man surviving, his mother, in hospital, going to see his mother? His story, adopted, his skills, injuries, the discussions with the detective, his being willing to help?
8. The young man, his character, personality, quiet, well-dressed, subservient, issues of trust, obeying orders, the detective using him, his activities, investigations?
9. Park, the go-between, an underling, violence, his smirk, his treatment of the young man, his suffering violence, misled?
10. The industrialist, his empire, his sons, the son who went to the US, his return, eliminating his brother, his manner, with the detective, whether he was Mr Lee or not? The violence?
11. The young man, his emerging, his presence, always helping, but… The revelation of who he was, his managing of everything, his escape?
12. The detective, opening with the driving in the snow, finishing in the snow, the road, the house, the confrontation with the young man, the camera going outside, withdrawing? Hearing shots? Who was shooting, shot?
