User Reviews

Hope is not a flame but an ember before spreading. little spoiler: These happened, I mean just 30 years ago in Korea which is a country with the 10th greatest GDP nowadays. Since the government was formed by a method of Coup d'etat, people have suffered serious mistreatment from the government. Actual a student in the top 3 universities in the country dies by police's torture, and another student also in other top 3 university dies while protesting. Even if you are not Korean, you'll get a heart-breaking feeling in the end. This movie isn't a masterpiece, but for sure, it's a well-made movie.

This film is suspenseful, touching, thrilling, and at one point, it is so sad that I highly recommend you have a box of tissues prepared. However, there are three major flaws that even director Jang Joon-hwan would not be able to deny: supporting character arcs are painfully boring; reusing the same actors in all South Korean films based on the 80s coup is confusing and ineffective; and the movie feels too much like political propaganda. I prefer historical films that allow the audience to understand both or all perspectives, rather than force them to support one side. Yes, South Korea had a decade of terror under martial law, but this film portrays and victimizes far too many citizens inaccurately, unlike 'A Taxi Driver'. I cannot blame South Koreans for having so much political conflict over this movie. Watch '1987: When the Day Comes' with a box of tissues and a grain of salt.