‘Revolver’: Is the new Korean thriller starring Major Ji Chang Wook and the very cunning Lee Jung Jae worth watching?

Jeon Do Yeon is a chameleon actress. She started her career with light melodramas and romantic comedies, but has recently started to surprise with the depth of her heroines in action films and dramas. Do Yeon, 51, is not only attractive in appearance, but also professionally: her ability to act with only her eyes is perfectly suited to the main character of “Revolver”: former policewoman Ha Soo Yeon, who went to prison at the request of her lover. But! That’s not all.

She and her man, police captain Lim Seok-young (Lee Jong-jae), were about to buy a new apartment and share happiness-joy-love, when suddenly a bribery scheme began to fall apart. Then, Lim Seok Yeon and the other participants in the crime asked Ha Soo Yeon to take responsibility. In exchange, the woman was promised a substantial reward from the Eastern Promise company, which was also involved in the case. A certain Andy (Ji Chang Wook), either the brother or the lover of the company’s leader, had to compensate Soo Young for her “loss.” Naturally, not everything in this story went as planned.

After leaving prison, Ha Soo Young decides to get her money back, no matter the cost. Scolded, abandoned and forgotten, the woman, step by step, tries to join those who live in peace thanks to her sacrifice. Armed with a police baton and offended in her dignity, Soo-yeon rushes no matter what, all the while remembering the time when she was happy.

Director Oh Seung Wook, known in Korea for his unique approach to the detective genre, has made a harsh satire, almost a black comedy, about how people try by all means to avoid responsibility for their actions. His “Revolver” is a dark parable about the delay in punishment and justice, which can take the craziest forms. And of course, it is a ballad about a woman and her fatigue, capable of moving any mountain and defeating a man’s offended ego – and, as we know, this can be very destructive.

The character Ha Soo Young is that same tired woman for whom there seems to be no future. But her past forces her to move forward in the present, while thinking about her mistakes in her relationships with people. Her story reminds us that trust is an invaluable resource and that a respected word can save a person’s life.

The chemistry between Soo Yeon and Jung Yoon Sun (Lim Ji Young) was one of the highlights of the film. Their strange, seemingly baseless friendship shows us how women can help and save each other, even when there is a conflict of interests. Ms. Jung dated Captain Lee Seok Young while Soo Young was in prison, and she becomes an echo of the love he once shared with the main character. Lim Ji-yeon’s bold and slightly naive performance can’t help but endear the viewer to her heroine.

The film’s other star, Ji Chang Wook, will be a real revelation to many viewers (and die-hard drama watchers) here. Known for his roles as heroic lovers and ideal boyfriends, Chan Wook here plays the spoiled, vile, and ridiculous Andy, a smug major who tries to pretend to be the ruler of this world. This hero is a walking illustration of an insecure and traumatized person trying to shut down his gestalts by humiliating others. And yes, he is responsible for many of the film’s funny moments!

Speaking of which. There is not as much blood and violence in “Revolver” as in Korean crime films, but it is still appropriate. Besides, it sometimes makes you laugh, which is another particularity of South Korean cinema. One of the final scenes involving Andy, Soo-yeon and Jung Yun-sung could be considered one of the best in recent years: all thanks to the excellent script and the teamwork of the characters.

Visually, the film will delight fans of Kim Ki-duk and Denny Villeneuve: interiors, open locations, color palette and camera decisions complement the plot, slightly separating the story from the modern, dynamic world. It’s as if the viewer is shown a fairy tale for adults, in which there would be no happy ending, but there would be enough time to reflect and admire the sophistication of luxurious apartments and rural Buddhist temples.

Don’t let anyone spoil the ending for you: it may seem too simple to you, but due to the richness of the plot, it becomes a breath of fresh sea air that not only the viewer, but also Ha Soo-yeon, felt. so thirsty. Back to the main question: is this movie worth watching? Maybe yes. Especially those who love justice and life itself, with all its crazy punishments and rewards for work.