Continuing on the theme of movies, me and my partner watched the popular Korean movie 아저씨 (The Man from Nowhere) which released in 2010. The movie was very popular in Korea as it was the highest grossing movie in the country in 2010. The movie starred 김도진 (AKA 원빈/Wonbin) a very popular actor in Korea despite starring in only 5 films.
The film follows Cha Tae-sik, a very isolated and quiet pawnshop owner with a mysterious past, who forms an unlikely bond with his neighbor So-mi, a very young girl. When So-mi's mother steals drugs from a ruthless drug trafficking organization/gang, they become targets. So-mi is then kidnapped while her mother is brutally killed, prompting Cha Tae-sik to unleash his deadly skills as a former covert operative to rescue her. As he delves deeper into the criminal underworld, he uncovers shocking truths about his own past and the extent of the corruption around him. The film is a gripping tale of redemption, revenge, and the power of human connection in the face of adversity. With intense action sequences, compelling characters, and emotional depth it’s very similar to a John Wick movie but with a much more sinister tone and larger character development.
Despite being “just an action movie”, the movie actually highlights an issue in Korea that is not very well recognized as it’s very dark and covered by many other daily issues. This issue is organ trafficking. When the gang killed So-mi’s mother they took out her organs for illegal selling since selling them can generate a huge sum of money. They also kidnapped So-mi in order to use her and other kids like her (“unwanted” orphans) to make and deliver their drugs. As kids, no one, including themselves, would suspect that they would be doing such things under the guise of an innocent delivery person.
Very briefly, organ trafficking in South Korea is actually increasing annually since the demand for organs is so high. Organ donations are significantly lower compared to other developed countries in the Western world. In 2011, there were 20,000 patients waiting for organs but only 2500 were made throughout the year. This attracts gangs like the one depicted in the movie to exploit this and harvest organs illegally and sell them to hospitals and other organizations while they’re disguised as innocent donations.
Despite being a wonderful country, the movie overall just shows the darker side of what is going underneath. It highlights some major issues that many people do not know about and sheds light on their severity. But it also shows that these can be overcome through consistent willpower and determination.
Comments
It's truly commendable that you and your partner chose to explore the depths of Korean cinema with "The Man from Nowhere". Indeed, cinema has the power to both reflect and confront the realities of the world we live in and "The Man from Nowhere" does so with depth. Thank you for sharing your insights and for engaging with such thought-provoking cinema.