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12.12: The Day

By-
Farhad Dalal
Rating
4 Star popcorn reviewss

Introduction

I still remember watching the incredible South Korean film A Taxi Driver that dealt with a heartfelt relationship between a taxi driver and a German journalist against the backdrop of the riots of Gwangju city in 1980. And while that film just used the real events of the riots as a backdrop, I was quite keen on understanding the political situation in South Korea that lead to the riots. And the new Korean film 12.12 : The Day allowed me to have a sneak peek into events leading up to the political situation showcased in ‘A Taxi Driver’. 12.12: The Day, a clear indicator of a date that turned the history of a nation by pushing it in a dark phase, is South Korea’s official selection to the Academy Awards this year. The audacity of sending such a political film that did not really reflect well of the nation is truly commendable, given how feeble we have been with the nominations this year (and only time will tell if sending Laapataa Ladies over a Cannes Grand prix winner like All We Imagine As Light is a wise decision. And while I was read about the film and how it was set in the late 70s and early 80s, which would basically be a nightmare to folks in their late 40s or 50s who were witness to the coup, the film actually was lapped up by folks in their 20s and 30s which is a sign of maturity amongst the viewers too, in imbibing the flaws of the nation and trying to learn from the mistakes. Thus, it hardly was a surprise that the film did become the fourth highest grossing film of all times in South Korea, something that naturally made me curious on what the film had to offer.

Story & Screenplay

12.12: The Day is by no means an easy film to comprehend given how complex the situation of a civil war is. Moreover, the politics back in the day had drawn lines even between the army and the infantry which had further complicated the issue. So, it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to read about the Seoul Spring incident which would give you a handy context to the drama. And here, I shall try and lay out a few facts for your reference – On 26th October 1979, the then President of South Korea Park Chung Hee was assasinated by his own security chief Kim Jae-gyu which led to the end of the dictatorial government. And what seemed like the rise of the democracy in the country, soon resulted in a rather complicated situation with the chief of the Defence Security Command (DSC), Chun Doo-hwan being tasked with the investigation into the death of the President. This while, Choi Kyu-hah, the Prime Minister was tasked to succeed the President in a bid to preserve the power center of the Government. But the quest for power and authority had Chun go rogue against his own nation, and build a reformist force to seize control in the form of a coup on 12th December 1979. And hence, the screenplay here standing at a length of 140 odd minutes, does highlight the prospects of the fateful night that changed the course of history for the nation, and not in a good way leading to many deaths.

Unless you are aware of the context, following this film might be slightly tricky while trying to gauge the political landscape of South Korea and the shifting dynamics of power through the narrative. Hence, while you are introduced to the characters and more importantly the traits that they indulge in, the writers seep in a rather grim political backdrop by setting its tone very early on in the film with the news of the assasination of the President. Almost immediately, the power mills are churned out even as the game of one-upmanship begins with the lines slowly being laid out between the chief of the DSC and the government officials. The tone here is cerebral and understated so much so that you need to read between the lines to get a context of which way the power is shifting, even while the writing maintains a degree of intensity and intrigue throughout its runtime.

The proceedings are engaging particularly with respect to the world building and the events leading up to the eventual coup. The minefields set along with the ever shifting political landscape of Korea were summed up in quite an intriguing set of events leading to that fateful night wherein all hell did break loose for the worse. The drama expertly navigates through various POVs and their sentiments with respect to the coup even with the disappearance of the Defense Minister that not only created chaos in the country but also successfully managed to impose martial law through illegal set of activities.

Almost the half of the second act and the entire third act is solely dedicated to the coup which left very little room for emotions to set in with respect to any character. As a result, despite the writing showcasing tender moments, the emotional connect with slightly missing. This, was compensated by a cerebral layer of tension that created so many moments of intrigue even as the military units were segregated and divided on the coup, which was one of the biggest reason for the coup succeeding. Everyone was hungry for power even as a few noblemen fought till the very end but to no avail that eventually lead to a black mark in the history of the nation. In the moments of chaos, I could feel my heartbeat plunge with the degrees of tensions mounting in the narrative. This for me was the biggest victory of the writers in simulating an infuriating real event in a screenplay that was expertly penned and made for a solid impact.

Dialogues, Music & Direction

The dialogues are conversational but the important aspect of the lines is the different modes of intensity. So the dialogues start on a lower note but slowly adapt to the levels of chaos while adding a solid layer of intensity throughout the narrative. The BGM is sparingly used while the focus remains on the sound design that is terrific while providing a rather immersive experience. The cinematography comprises of frames that brilliantly stage the drama coupled with an immaculate production design featuring grim lightingband surroundings that are an epitome for the state of the country in trying times. The editing is crisp and one of the biggest accomplishments here lies with the fact that the levels of intensity are nicely maintained throughout the narrative. Director Kim Sung-soo does a fabulous job in focusing on the world building and the internal politics of the state in the lead up to the coup before unleashing fury. One thing that he could have tapped into a little more was the emotional connect with regard to the characters but he must be credited for adding layers of intrigue in the drama. The direction is excellent here.

Performances

The performances are stupendous by the ensemble cast. Jeong Dong-hwan as Choi is very dignified and does a tremendous job. Park Hae-jun as Roh, Ahn Nae-sang as Han and Lee Sung-min as Jung are superb and both have their moments to shine. Jung Woo-sung as Lee is sincere in his act and he has a stunning presence onscreen that helps him traverse through various emotions of righteousness. Hwang Jung-min as Chun will make you infuriated with anger which means he was excellent in his character. His scheming and cerebral approach to his character worked in his favour, and made for a pretty solid performance.

Conclusion

South Korea’s Official Submission to the Academy Awards of 2025, 12.12: The Day is an intriguing and cerebral portrayal of politics and power while recreating the events of one of the darkest chapters in the history of the country that makes for a brilliant watch. Available on Amazon Prime and Highly Recommended.

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