Memories of Murder 2003

“The US probably generates more serial killer thrillers than any other country, but decades have passed since it produced one that – like this South Korean film – uses the subject matter to form a societal and political indictment… An award-winning box-office smash in its homeland, Bong Joon-ho’s suspenseful and ultimately haunting movie connects a series of unsolved rape-homicides to the sexism and brutality in a village’s police department, and to the prejudice and suspicion that ran rampant during the late-80s military dictatorship of Chun Doo-hwan. The superb cinematography by Kim Hyung-ku… and a trio of strong performances fuse in the climax, where good guys and bad guys remain hard to tell apart and a truth sought for years seems to vanish into a darkened tunnel.” — Johnny Ray Huston, San Francisco Bay Guardian 

“Fundamentally serious – and achingly moving, especially in its closing scenes – the film is also grimly funny and quite deeply shocking. A triumph, it places Bong at the forefront of Korean cinema.” — Tony Rayns