Review of A Taxi Driver (2017) by Tal G — 08 Apr 2018

A competent, although predictable film about an issue that's close to the hearts of South Koreans.

This film takes the events of the Gwangju uprising and tells us its story in a very Hollywood-y style. The story beats are very formulaic, the big tense moments feel wholly unoriginal and completely predictable. Some plot details were even so Hollywood-esque that it kind of took me out of the movie, like the main villainous plainclothes cop, the martyr singer, or the heroic fat kid. Just blatant character cliches.

It's like there is a basic formula for historic 'based on a true story' movies, and this Korean film followed it to a t.

Now despite these things, it was still made rather well. The acting from the main character carried the film, the visuals were mostly striking and interesting. But, speaking of the acting, the German actor was really stiff and unnatural in contrast to the lively acting of the rest of the cast. I wonder if that's an issue with the director. There were good colours throughout the film. It treated the events with respect, and had a nice tribute at the end of it to the actual taxi driver the main character was based on. It was good, but still not great, and the problems I mentioned before really drag it down a bunch.

Overall it's definitely one of the weaker Korean movies I've seen.