Set in the late 1920s, during the height of the Japanese occupation of Korea, Jee-woon Kim's The Age of Shadows is a beautifully photographed, inter-tangled web of deceit, uncertainty, and alliances, detailing the complex cat-and-mouse game which unfolds between resistance fighters attempting to bring explosives in from Shanghai to destroy Japanese strongholds, and the Japanese special police force, hellbent on crushing the threat before they can carry out their mission. Centered around a Lee Jung-Chool, a Korean-born Japanese officer who finds himself stuck in the middle of these opposing forces, The Age of Shadows delivers a powerful study of selflessness and the importance of sovereignty, detailing one man's personal struggle to stand up for what is right in the face of adversity. Working with the Japanese, Lee Jung-Chool is a man who has choosen personal gain and profit over what it right, only beginning to recognize the error of his ways through the men he meets in the resistance, each of which has abandoned their personal fears for the greater cause of independence. Lee Jung-Chool is s character who finds himself forced to choose between his career and his conscience, with The Age of Shadows delivering a powerful portrait of the courage and bravery these resistance fighters exhibited, men who sacrificed themselves for the greater good. The Age of Shadows unfolds in a way where allegiances remain vague and uncertain, exhibiting the commonplace deceit which took place in an era where true intentions and true self were rarely shown on the exterior. Throughout this film's running time, The Age of Shadows rarely tips its hat to the true intentions of its characters, painting a tense portrait of Japanese occupied Korea where no one can be trusted and danger lurks around every corner. Early on in the The Age of Shadows the narrative itself is convoluted, a conscious decision which effectively brings the audience into the environment of its characters, a place where alliances feel like they are constantly shifting and the way characters present themselves never feel absolute. The Age of Shadows is not an easy film to experience, as Jee-woon Kim never shys away from showing the brutality of the era, forcing the audience to witness the brutal violence and torture which took place under the Japanese occupation. The film is a celebration of the sacrifices of these brave individuals but it never glamorizes nor romanticizes their struggle, pensively detailing the great loss of life and brutality bestowed on these individuals who stood up for their independence. Taut, suspenseful, unpredictable, and impeccably well-made in every way, Jee-woon Kim's The Act of Shadows is a harrowing look into the fight for an independent Korea, a film that never romanticizes the struggle and violence while still managing to offer a poignant portrait of the courage and selflessness of the few who fought for the rights of the populace.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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