Review of Han Gong-ju (2014) by Jluis_001 — 25 Jul 2020

“I didn’t do anything wrong,”.

Daunting and enraging, Han Gong-ju is a South Korean film based on a terrible true story. A painful story that unfortunately happens all over the world and most of the time you don't even know anything about“I didn’t do anything wrong,”.

Daunting and enraging, Han Gong-ju is a South Korean film based on a terrible true story.

A painful story that unfortunately happens all over the world and most of the time you don't even know anything about it.

This film is inspired by the Miryang gang rape case. A crime that occurred in Miryang, South Korea in 2004, in which 41 male students raped several high school and middle school girls.

The case became highly controversial due to the favorable treatment the criminals received and the police abuse suffered by the victims, which is something unfortunately recurring in South Korea.

This story is a survivor's tale, before and after the events. Although the story also focuses on pointing out the culture that prefers to shame the victims and defend the perpetrators.

Despite the fact that it was released 7 years ago, the message is still relevant because it continues to happen.

It's clear the film through its narrative sought without explicit methods, to accuse and criticize the deplorable attitudes that are taken towards victims of sexual crimes in South Korea and also how the system, like it happens all around the world, protects those who have the means and influences to get away with it.

Dealing with an issue like this and the consequences experienced by the victim, melodrama was something that could be expected but , Han Gong-ju is at the same time sober as it is painful.

The film never tries to be exploitative, nor does it try to make you feel sorry for the protagonist.

What it does very well is that it seeks to make you understand the problematic of the situation and more than anything, that is important to have empathy and consideration for the person and that you need to understand their pain and the suffering they receive from a society unable to react properly.

Leading actress; Chun Woo-hee carries with the full weight of this drama and she does it in a very good way. Her performance is both strong and heartbreaking.

Han Gong-ju is not a simple film, but it never becomes abrasive or impossible to digest, however it's worth noting that it's not a film that will make you feel good after watching it.