The film revolves around autism and the social issues surrounding the people with the condition. The movie was directed by Lee Han, who also directed, and stars Jung Woo-Sung, Kim Hyang-Gi, Lee Kyu-Hyung, Yum Hye-Ran, Jung Young-Nam, and Park Keun-Hyung. Oh, and why is it that it seems like Jung Woo-Sung is getting even better looking as he ages? 0_0Ĭontrary to what the trailers made it out to be, the movie wasn’t overly sad, and had frequently funny scenes to keep it from being too serious. Seeing her blossom into a beautiful young lady, and starring in a feature film alongside one of the top Korean actors was definitely a treat. I mean, look at the two main actors! Jung Woo-Sung and Kim Hyang-Gi are not only amazing actors, but the two are reuniting after 17 years! The duo was on a TV commercial back in 2003, when Kim Hyang-Gi was just a little girl. It is suffused with a warmth that is not just added on, but feels earned.I had pretty high expectations for. The end result is a film that is effortlessly comfortable to watch, but becomes steadily more emotional as it reaches its final act. And Kim Hyang-gi is convincing as the autistic Jiwoo, whose idiosyncratic means of expressing emotion masks a determined intelligence within. His rival attorney in the case, played by Lee Kyu-hyung, is a charismatic blend of willpower and inexperience. He has a natural generosity of spirit that, in a very human way, can sometimes cross into overconfidence, leading him to overreach or say the wrong thing. Jung Woo-sung’s Soon-ho comes across as much more than simply a lawyer torn between idealism and material success. More than anything, Innocent Witness succeeds because of its memorable, well-drawn characters. His most recent work before Innocent Witness was the ambitious A Melody to Remember (winner of the Audience Award at FEFF18), which is based on a true story about a children’s choir formed during the Korean War. Beginning with his breakout hit Punch (2011), he has specialized in works that are centered around well-drawn, three-dimensional characters while also gently introducing a contemporary social issue, like multiculturalism or (in the case of his well-reviewed low-budget drama Thread of Lies) teen suicide. In the hands of another director, it might have been a chore to sit through.īut over the course of his career, director Lee Han has clearly established himself as a gifted storyteller. In addition, the setup and overall plot structure of this film looks suspiciously predictable. In recent years a number of Korean movies have depicted autistic characters, but not all of them have handled these depictions with sensitivity. Innocent Witness could easily have been a forgettable, or even a very bad film. Hoping to find some way to discredit her testimony, he starts coming to her school each day at the time she gets off, and walking home with her. The girl, obviously traumatized by what she has seen, has given a statement to the police that supports the murder charge. It seems like a straightforward case, but with one complication: the incident was witnessed by a school-aged autistic girl (Kim Hyang-gi, Along with the Gods) who lives in the same neighborhood. A housekeeper has been accused of murdering her employer, but she insists that she was simply unsuccessful in preventing a suicide. Soon-ho’s first major case at his new job is one that the firm takes on for the sake of its image, rather than a big payoff. But now that Soon-ho has, in effect, gone over to “the other side,” she no longer feels as comfortable with him, either. The one close friend he has is a former colleague at the legal association who is raising a school-aged daughter. Meanwhile outside of work, Soon-ho leads a quiet life with his elderly father. “You need to get some dirt on you,” the boss suggests. His new boss admires his talent and skill, but is concerned that Soon-ho’s squeaky-clean image will make his rich corporate clients uncomfortable. After years of defending ordinary citizens against large corporations, he has decided to accept a well-paid job at a leading firm. Soon-ho (Jung Woo-sung, Steel Rain) is a lawyer who, in the early part of his career, established his reputation working for a progressive legal association.
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