Man on High Heels (2014) directed by Jang Jin, is a film that encompasses teenage love and loss, murder, revenge, crime and even one coming to reality with who they really are, in a heartfelt 2 hours and 4 minutes.
This Southern Korean noir film is set in the heart of Seoul following homicide detective Yoon Ji-wook, played by actor Cha Seung-won, as he struggles with the memories of his past and his hard hitting (quite literally) reality.
Bored already? Fear not, myself not being your typical crime movie lover, this film not only plays up to impressive fight scenes, perhaps some of the best I’ve seen in Korean cinematography, but also appeals greatly to my aesthetic side; with some truly stunning mise en scene. From blood splattered cotton to rainy alleyways, with dimly lit faces and neon bar lights, my artistic appreciation for this film is heightened in nearly every scene. Described officially as an action comedy, the film begins, to a questionable degree perhaps, light-hearted with a comedic and gory fight scene; it’s true that the gore continues throughout the film, but undeniably with an intense seriousness as the plot thickens.
Tied in with young love, flashbacks and busy modern day Seoul, this film brought me to tears. You cannot help feeling attached to certain characters, whilst always being on the edge of your seat with the uncertainty of actions taken by main character, Yoon. This film is certainly not cliché, but rather moving with each character becoming their own.
I highly recommend this film to those who enjoy Korean movies with a slightly darker tone and dramatic fight scenes that are not for the faint-hearted. To describe this film in summary, it is a gripping action crime thriller, mixed with a saddening romance plot that fuels a lot of the emotion you can expect to feel from this brilliant film. (Currently available on Netflix).
-Moiku
Moiku's Reviews 