Memories of Murder

Memories of Murder
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Memories of Murder is a gripping, but violent Korean crime drama, directed by Bong Joon-ho, with adult themes and images that could potentially upset viewers. There are few positive messages or role models, with even the detectives -- headed up by Detective Park Doo-man (Kang-ho Song) -- who are chasing a violent murderer and rapist, resorting to reprehensible acts. These include forcing statements out of potential suspects with violence and torture, one of whom is disabled. There are a number of upsetting images of female corpses, sometimes covered in blood. Some of the crimes themselves are depicted, including women being gagged and strangled. The nature of the crimes is openly discussed, and a scene in a morgue includes items being recovered from inside the dead victim's body. There is a graphic shot of a man being hit and killed by a train and one man stabs another in the leg during a bar fight. Two characters are seen having sex, but the camera remains behind them and there is no nudity. In another scene, a man is shown masturbating in a public place, over women's underwear. The language is strong, with several uses of "f--k" and explicit threats such as "cut your d--k off." The derogatory term "retarded" is also used. People can be seen smoking and drinking throughout the film, and in one sequence a man is so drunk he seems to pass out before waking up and throwing up.
Community Reviews
Riveting, quiet, and desperate...
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What's the Story?
MEMORIES OF MURDER is set in a small Korean province in 1986, where multiple women are found killed. Detective Park Doo-man (Kang-ho Song) is heading up the investigation, and is joined by Detective Seo Tae-yoon (Kim Sang-kyung) to help find the elusive murderer. But the brutality extends into the investigation itself, as the desperation of the police force sees them torturing potential suspects as they strive tirelessly to find the killer -- before he strikes again.
Is It Any Good?
This crime drama from 2003 is one of Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho's (Parasite) most accomplished pieces. Memories of Murder is an unsettling production with an atmosphere that lingers long after the credits roll. Now this may sound like a deterrent, but it's far from it, as this film offers a rewarding watch to the patient viewer, and a fascinating, albeit candid and pessimistic study of the human psyche.
The movie harps back to classic film noirs of old, while there are shades of David Fincher in there too. In films of that nature often comes an antihero; the troubled cop, a loose cannon with outdated methods -- a familiar cinematic portrayal. Yet while Bong implements this conventional protagonist, he still manages to layer the character with nuance. And so, despite everything, you find yourself rooting for this very detective, in spite of his often vile behavior. This is of course in large part thanks to actor -- and regular Bong collaborator -- Kang-ho Song. A good performance will do that, and this performance is a great one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Memories of Murder's violence. Did you find it difficult to sit through? How did it make you feel? Which scenes did you find most shocking? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Discuss the strong language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How was sex portrayed in the movie? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Detective Park is a flawed and brutal cop who lacks a moral compass at times. Despite this, did you find yourself rooting for him anyway? Why do you think that was?
Have you seen much Korean cinema? How did this movie compare?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 15, 2005
- On DVD or streaming: July 24, 2017
- Cast: Kang-ho Song, Roe-ha Kim, Sang-kyung Kim
- Director: Joon-ho Bong
- Studio: Palm Pictures
- Genre: Thriller
- Run time: 132 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: July 18, 2022
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