The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review. For a watching world, it was an inspiring moment during an age of international anxiety and uncertainty. This high quality drama is an edgy political thriller throughout, and directed brilliantly by Yoon Jong-bin. While this means The Spy Gone North has no gun battles or car chases, it doesn’t mean the film lacks excitement. The Spy Gone North may prove to be a little too slow for some, but for those willing to stick with it, they will be rewarded with a thriller that draws you in with political intrigue and a dangerous, powder-keg atmosphere. © 2014-2020 Cinema Escapist, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Though ideologically, this film’s closest sibling would be Kim Ki-duk’s recent The Net, which turned a disapproving eye to the shadier corners of the South’s intelligence agencies. There’s something in The Spy Gone North for everyone, Korean or not. There is no monopoly on common sense on either side of the political fence, Great movie with excellent cinematography. Gongjak, internationally known as The Spy Gone North, is a gripping mixture of a drama and a thriller based upon historic events. “Shoot ’em up” style spy movies often use action to artificially inflate the stakes of the espionage game; The Spy Gone North requires no such pageantry. Hwang Jung-min, having a good year what with this and THE BATTLESHIP ISLAND, is fine as the lead, well supported by an able cast of experienced Korean actors who really invest you in their characters. Realism is The Spy Gone North’s biggest selling point. User Reviews Summary: In 1993, former military officer Suk-young Park is recruited as a spy by South Korea's National Intelligence Service, and given the code name "Black Venus". The Spy Gone North is a 2018 South Korean spy drama film directed by Yoon Jong-bin.It stars Hwang Jung-min, Lee Sung-min, Cho Jin-woong and Ju Ji-hoon. Awards It's rare a movie is topical, authentic, and also entertaining-and 'The Spy Gone North' checks all three boxes. Set in what is probably the most intriguing cold war of all time. Hide Spoilers. The plot is too long, the front part of the mattress is slightly redundant. Park’s motherland turns on him even after the NIS’ scheming is exposed, punishing him for his years of unfathomable sacrifice. Don't have an account? User Ratings Awards Maybe we need to try harder to have faith and keep doing the right things, and we will meet some people doing the same things one day even they are hostile. We only know about the real-life Black Venus’ story because his identity — Park Chae-seo (박채서) — was leaked in 1998 in response to reports describing something called “Operation North Wind” . Wending his way through this enemy territory, Park proves particularly adept at a job that made Leo DiCaprio stress-vomit in The Departed, a picture that similarly raised audience pulses with clandestine meetings and narrowly avoided exposure. Poem of the month: jay by Robert Macfarlane. |, August 8, 2018 North Korea has always sought foreign currency to fund its leadership’s lifestyle and military ambitions (notably nuclear weapons)—especially during the 1990s (amidst massive famine). Sort by: Filter by Rating: 8 /10. The film was released in theaters on August 8, 2018. It's a spy thriller that keeps me glued off the seat, like if I were reading the Korean version of a Le Carré novel. Though South Korean espionage thriller The Spy Gone North is set in the 1990s, it barely feels dated.. Based on the true story of a South Korean spy who infiltrates North Korea, the film expertly captures 2018’s zeitgeist through its focus on North-South Korea relations, riding atop a wave of renewed interest in the wake of the recent inter-Korean and US-DPRK summits. After all, isn’t the country supposed to be devoutly communist and completely sealed from the outside world? Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. External Reviews. Based on 6 critic reviews provided by Metacritic.com. In a way, Black Venus feels like a Korean version of the sympathetic Stasi officer from Germany’s Oscar-winning The Lives of Others—a cinematically compelling character who questions draconian higher-ups in the name of the greater good. Park became an unintentional cause célèbre for South Korean liberals, and his fortunes mirrored the country’s political landscape. Supplementing a refreshingly authentic narrative with compelling characters who deal with very real stakes, The Spy Gone North will please anyone who enjoys thrillers with an enlightening and dramatic flair. In reality, North Korea is rather pragmatic. Perhaps there’s a subtle message for Korean audiences: “even an intelligence officer from Gyeongsang can support inter-Korean reconciliation, why can’t you?”. The Spy Gone North (Korean: 공작) — South Korea. Get a list of the best movie and TV titles recently added (and coming... Music title data, credits, and images provided by, Movie title data, credits, and poster art provided by. He is then sent to infiltrate a group of high-ranking North Korean officials based in Beijing, with the ultimate goal of acquiring information on the North's nuclear program. Interesting but too long and too slow. A taut, slowly engrossing, effectively old-fashioned Cold War thriller. In this sense, The Spy Gone North feels thematically closer to recent political dramas like A Taxi Driver and 1987: When the Day Comes — both of which are based on actual historical moments that have become rallying points for South Korea’s liberals (who support better relations with the north) and annoyances to its conservatives (who take a hard-line stance to Pyongyang). Please enter your birth date to watch this video: You are not allowed to view this material at this time. | A South Korean army major poses as a businessman to infiltrate a North Korean nuclear facility in 1993. Two countries that act as proxies of the superpowers and coldly face off to maintain influence in the region. Combined with thoughtful storytelling, this high degree of relevance makes The Spy Gone North one of this year’s most standout spy films worldwide. The movie is not what I expect. FAQ Cinemark The North Korea dictatorship led by Kim Jong-Il has increased the political tension of his neighbors with the news that the country may already have nuclear weapons… |