New movie "The Show Must Go on", at a glance, may look like just one of those old-fashioned gangster films that dominated the local cinema a few years ago.
But there are no stylish action scenes, no heroic achievement, no slapstick comedy and no rosy romance in it. The movie rather sheds light on an individual gangster who suffers from "general" problems just like others in his life.
Despite his professional peculiarity, the film's main character shares a lot of things in common with ordinary fathers in this country. The film tells a story of a man who leads a life of burdens and fatigue, which you can easily empathize with.
Directed by Han Jae-rim, the film revolves around Kang In-gu (by Song Kang-ho), who is an ordinary forty-something Korean man, except that he is a second boss of a criminal gang involved in dirty business.
Perhaps in his early 20s, he was a fearless man one might have seen in other gangster films. But now he is often scared of his uncertain future and dangerous situation.
Most importantly, he has a family to take care of, and he is tired of his criminal "career". Now he dreams of getting out of the business after a big one good, and retiring to a peaceful life in the country with his family.
Another big problem is, at home, he is alienated from his family. They first hate his job and now him. Especially, his teenage daughter writes in her dairy that she wishes her father's death.
He is perplexed. He earns money for his family, doing everything he can, but he is never welcomed in the two different worlds. He doesn't know what to do. What In-gu does is to buy a lottery every week and hope to win in order to change his life.
As the days pass, his situation worsens. He is threatened by ruthless gangsters and his wife wants a divorce.
But he simply leads a life of the same old days as he has no other choice and knows that his life must go on even if it's not a big show that will get big applause.
Director Han made a successful debut with his 2005 hit "Rules of Dating", where he talked about a couple's romance and love in his own twisted yet interesting way. And his efforts to look into the ordinary from a different angle continue in his new film.
The film is a story of a gangster, but it is free from the typical formats of gangster movies. It rather twists them to show the agony and sufferings of an ordinary father and husband in a contemporary family, who works hard for his family.
This satirical gloomy drama is successfully delivered thanks to actor Song. His brilliant acting lets his character look alive and shows a gloomy side of life.
English 
US$5 off (order min. US$5)
