Tassista (2017)

Before you even consider watching this movie, be prepared to have your heart moved beyond return.

Where do I even begin with the beautiful movie? I watched this movie in the cinemas without any idea what I was going to be watching, no trailer and no synopsis at all. But the movie captivated me from the beginning. On surface level, it seems like a light-hearted, slice of life type movie revolving around a loving father and his daughter, but little did I know it was so, so, so much more than that.

There’s so much to say about this movie, but I’ll start with entertainment factors. If you enjoy plotlines that are based of real-life stories, tackle the human experience, explore history and how they shaped the world today, all whilst mixed with comedy here and there, then this is for you. If you have no idea whether or not you like any of the just mentioned, then this movie essentially follows the experience of a normal human stuck in a political revolution. Now, some of you might hear politics and cringe instantly, but A Taxi Driver manages to convey the whole plotline and context effortlessly without delving deep into the political history at all, making it a foreigner friendly film if you don’t know much about Korean political history.

A Taxi Driver also really does an amazing job at capturing human emotion. There are parts of the movie that are just so raw, sometimes you hate the main character, sometimes you love him, but despite whatever his actions, we could still understand and sympathise. Of course some of the situations are probably dramatized for effect from the true story, but in terms of the overall context of protests and uprising, it definitely conveys the aspects involved in these parts of history.

I would definitely recommend a packet of tissues and some social justice warrior spirit to watch this. Overall I think it’s a very important film because it really sheds light on some issues that we take for granted today (e.g. a free media!). So if you’re not really into this type of entertainment, I would still suggest you watch this just to learn a little more about things like protests and democracy.

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Some films are made to entertain and some are made to educate and inform. There is a reason "A Taxi Driver" has become the 15th film in Korean history to surpass the ten million ticket milestone. The story it shares with audiences is one surrounding a dark period of unrest  in South Korean history.

"A Taxi Driver" gives us a glimpse into the true horrors surrounding the 1980 Gwangju Massacre. Fired upon and beaten, some 600 people were killed in an unprecedented attack by the Chun Doo-hwan government. Civilians who rallied to build a democracy for their country were falsely labeled by authorities as "communist sympathizers and rioters," all in an effort to cover up and hide a gruesome truth. This event went on to spark a decade of revolution in South Korea, and eventually led to a transition from military rule to democracy.

The film follows taxi driver Kim Sa-Bok as he transports foreign reporter Hinzpeter into Gwangju. There goal is to unveil the truth to an ignorant world, and their journey is extraordinary.

If you are curious about this film, please watch. It is a story that deserves your attention and recognition. I find it hard to express it's importance in word and can't recommend it enough.

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Wow. Just wow. I went to watch A Taxi Driver blind. All I knew was Sang Kang Ho and Ryu Jun Yeol are in it. And it's based on real events. But that's it. I don't know anything about the Gwanju Uprisings nor Jürgen Hinzpeter, the German journalist which Peter is based on. But I left the theatre in tears and in awe.
A Taxi Driver is an incredibly moving, inspiring and brave film. It's a film that honours the bravery of ordinary people, the unsung heroes that battle in the face of fascism and brutality. Taxi drivers, students, journalists—coming together to do one thing: tell the world.

As a journalism student, I have a romanticized view of the type of journalist I want to be—journalists like Peter. Those who risk their life to tell stories that are undiscovered and that are censored. That's the type of journalist I aspire to be. If that's what I'm going to end up becoming is another story. Perhaps that's one reason why the film shook me to my core. Given the political situation in Hong Kong as well and the tension between press freedom and self-censorship here, I feel that, as an aspiring journalist, I have the duty to tell the world things like this—just like Peter, just like Mr. Hinzpeter. And just like Mr. Kim (Sang Kang Ho), who feels that he has the responsibility to his taxi customer—and eventually, to his people.

This is an inspiring film given that to some, especially in a capitalist society (where I'm living), taxi drivers are not seen as honourable jobs. Even today, the reputation of journalists is diminishing. Yet, we have Mr. Kim, a widower who makes-end-meet to provide and care for his 11-year-old daughter as a taxi driver. And despite having to leave his daughter behind and in the face of danger and even death, he owned up to his responsibility.
I will take you to the airport no matter what.

A father that his daughter will forever be proud of.

Perhaps, if you too, see the horror and the brutality that he's seen in Gwangju, you would feel that you have the responsibility to tell the world about it—for a better future for your daughter and future generations. The characters are unsung heroes who are selfless and go through lengths to get the world out there. Jae-sik, a university student (Ryu Jun Yeol) and the taxi drivers.

I have seen many films with Sang Kang Ho in it but to me, this is one of the, if not the best performances of his to date. Sang, a veteran film actor proves his versatility combining comedy and drama and switching between the two with flawless execution. He is the heart of this film. But the soul is the bond, despite short, of the two men: Mr. Kim and Peter. In real life, Hinzpeter tried to search for the real Mr. Kim up until his death in 2016...with no luck. Mr. Kim's son said that his father passed away from cancer four years after the uprising. This film, is a tribute that's too late for the two. And for the other people who helped the two get the word of the Uprising.

Jang Hoon (who worked as an assistant director to Kim Ki Duk) and cinematographer, Go Nak-seon have done a profound job in the film's visuals. The details are apparent and particularly the chase scene between the disguised police and Kim and Peter looks like a sequence out of a dystopian film—a very good parallel to the horror of the fate of the protestors. Its combination of black/red and smoke just produces this eeriness and oozes an apocalyptic mood. That said, the taxi driver vs. military chase scene to me, is an amazing "action" sequence. Not only because of the way it was delivered visually but also emotionally.

Jang and Go makes use of saturated tones to achieve the vintage effect. With occasional slow-motions and close-up particularly during its dramatic sequences (blood flowing out, people getting shot) may perhaps be too sappy for some but it allows not only for drama but also for portraying the horror and a sense of hopelessness. Combine that with hospital scenes and injured protestors of bodies of the deceased—it overwhelms you but it tells you: this is wrong. And that is why we need to tell the world about it.

While A Taxi Driver may be different things like a tribute to the unsung heroes, it also taps on the dangerous roles of foreign correspondents and their local contacts particularly when it comes to war reporting. But this responsibility that we have to tell the world is carried in their heart.
Combining comedy with action is evident in its indoor scene as the characters laugh and cheer only to be swept away by the sound of bombs—looks trying to live normally while caught in the terror of war.

A Taxi Driver is powerful. It is brave. And it is inspiring. Perhaps no words are enough to say how I applaud these people (especially their real life counterparts) on their bravery. No, you don't have to wear a cape to be a hero. You could hold a camera. And you could drive a taxi.

Yup, I definitely cried bucket of tears for this one.

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A very well written and impressive film ...
From narration to performance to performance to presentation: it is perfect in each and every aspect. The change in the tone of the film was extremely well brought. The screenplay is not disappointing, and the film appears as a refreshing and memorable experience. Cinematography is top notch as it does not take much time to present and configure the characters as well as the plot.
Connected  to the characters, the actors delivered extremely excellent  performances, so far as the technical aspects of the film are top notch.  The visuals are breathtaking and the story is well captured by a first-rate cinematography. The  action sequences of the film are another great highlight as they induce  a lot of emotion along with the tension as to what would happen next. The film is not extremely violent and therefore recommended in the family. There is no vulgarity or obscenity in this movie. very good.

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This movie broke me into a million pieces...

This movie broke me into a million pieces. If you want to watch it, be prepared.

The posters for this movie are bright. I think this may symbolize the fact that initially people outside of Gwangju didn't know what was really going on there due to the city being cut off from the outside world and deliberate misinformation. The film started calmly, slowly moving into the serious subject of the Gwangju Uprising. And then we saw the horror of the inhabitants of the city.

I think the events were portrayed very well in the film. The cast and the crew did a great job. This is a title that definitely makes the viewer feel a lot. I cried a lot.

These events really happened and the original footages from Gwangju taken by the reporter (Jürgen Hinzpeter) can be found on the internet.

[real life spoiler]
Kim Sa-Bok (real-life taxi driver) and Jürgen Hinzpeter (real-life reporter) after these events, they never met each other. Both died before they could find each other.

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This is a film that beautifully captures a nation's pride, sorrow, and shame. For someone who does not enjoy political soapboxing and preaching, this movie does not do that, despite being drenched with historical and political motivation. It focuses on the commonality amongst humans - that is, having humanity and empathy. The personalities presented are indeed painted with the biases of the "model Korean", as acted by Song Kang Ho et al. , but it is not a distracting one because it plays well with the central message(s) of the film.

I came into this movie expecting nothing more than a time-kill, but left with a desire to learn more context; I was very satisfied, even when watching a genre I am unfamiliar with. Deep emotional responses are invoked from the general audience, through typical tactics, but that is nowhere near a fault. While some may argue that this film exploded in popularity because of the Korean political climate near and before its release (i.e. Park Geun Hye), it could have easily stood tall without that added fuel.

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I wasn’t expecting much when I first saw the title of the movie. But I knew it was going to be new for me to watch this kind of movie because I’m used to seeing crime and mystery K-Movie and not the drama one. It was also a first time for me to see a movie about the history and politics of Korea and it blew my mind away actually!

The casts and the acting were so incredible and the story about friendships, families, teamwork and love really touched my heart to the core. I heard this movie was made based on a true story so I’m now curious about the real person.

Although this movie was super great, I actually wished Peter would reunite with Mr. Kim. But, all’s well ends well. Without Mr. Kim helping Peter, what would Gwangju be now? ;) 95/100 ⭐️

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movie night gone wrong

I decided to watch this movie thinking it was comedy and action because of the title and the cover of the movie , so I didn't pay attention to the genre nor the description . I didn't think this was gonna be absolutely heart wrenching and that it was gonna make me shead a liter of tears . The story being real and based on the Korean uprising that resulted in a massacre only broke my heart even more because it reminded me of the two Palestinian uprisings and our daily lives as Palestinians .
If you're considering watching this movie prepare yourself to feel heart wrenched and absolutely horrified of what horrible things happened and still happens in this miserable world .
If you suffer from mental health problems and or deal with depression and disappointment of the world's injustice I don't recommend this movie .
The acting , was very genuine and raw . The Cinematography too was very realistic .
All in all this movie was an absolute masterpiece .

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A Taxi Driver

If you've watched this movie you would hate the taxi driver in the first half of the movie. I hated his cowardice seriously. How could someone not feel angry about an issue pertaining to the society where injustice dominates. But later on, you'll realize that Kim Man Sup, the taxi driver embodies us, individuals. Whatever race we're from, we have an innate characteristic such as consciousness. Unless we have the consciousness of the person's situation, we cannot relate to them. We may lack empathy at first but that's because we're clueless about the feeling. The only way to understand is to listen to them and be with them. This also applies in personal situations.

I thought I wouldn't feel the satisfaction in this movie, and I thought wrongly. I was utterly satisfied by it. The storyline was on point. The sequencing of events was chef's kiss. And the acting of the taxi driver was great. My only concern was the one who played Peter.

Before I come to conclusion, I've got to say the nerve Man Sup had to pull away from his comfortable life was sympathetic. He had the choice to stay there and not come back. He had the choice to live a comfortable life but he chose compassion over comfort. Man Sup was disturbed by living with ease while the others were fighting for their life. Goo Jae Shik's death, on the other hand, was the turning point for Man Sup. He was already having second thoughts at that time, and when he finally saw the body, he felt more secured to go full-on in this war against those in authority.

The reporter in the film was risking everything he has, for the news to be delivered to the international media, despite it not being his own country. I don't despise the local reporters though, they did their best but it was meant for Peter and Man Sup to finish the mission. Their strong friendship made it easier for them to trust each other.

Another part I've noticed was when the soldier saw the plate number but still let them pass. That soldier knew his service, for the people not against them.

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This movie will move your heart beyond! This story was a story that needed to showed and I can’t imagine any better way than this. Everything that happened in this movie seem so real and surreal at the same time. Surreal comes because starting this movie I never thought it will take such a turn, because it was all comedic and funny. And at one-point reality shows up and BAM it slaps you in the face. And the fact that THIS IS based on true events hurts more.

Acting/ Cast/Characters:
I couldn’t ask for better acting than this. Every person played there part better than expected. It was so good that at one point I thought I m not watching a movie but I am living with them in the same time and space.

Notes
This story will be carved in my heart and memory really well. And if there is anyone who will ask for any movie recommendation this will be the one.

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A box of tissues is a must!!

I was looking for a good cry and didn't want to watch any long dramas and this movie made me feel anything but disappointed in that aspect. It was heartbreaking to watch, to say the least, but I am so glad to have watched it because this is the sort of movie that has the potential to make you rethink life and look at living in a different light.
The e cast just nailed it, so much so that you won't feel like they are not actually living their life, even for a second. Even the little girl! And the fact that there are actual people that had to go through that is even more heartbreaking.
Also, some might argue that even if they didn't make it out of gwangju and told the whole world about it, someone would have. Yes, they would have and maybe the story would have been a little different but the suffering would not be any less. It's also important to talk about the people who didn't make it out - my heart goes out to them.
I hope everyone involved in that massacre finds peace. And I wish the two of them meet before either of them dies, they both deserve that - the peace.
Overall a great watch!

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Before anything else, I want to just say that I am in pure shock of how absolutely captivated I was with this film. Even within the first few minutes of the movie, I had already thought that I would definitely be in for a ride. There isn't much for me to say about anything negative with this, and I cried a lot in this movie, especially since all the characters were able to move me quickly.

Realizing how important they value not only their own lives, but even those around them and their dedication to their cause absolutely broke me. Seeing the destruction portrayed here left such a deep impression in me, especially since my country had gone through something similar many years ago. Reliving these moments through the movie further deepened those roots and I can't ever imagine how I'd be living through something like that.

Back to the movie though, everything was well put together, but I can definitely feel the dramatization in it. Even so, it's still quite the experience, and now there's just a big space of emptiness in my heart, a tinge of warmth in it because of the conclusion of the film. If you're into something gritty, yet still leaning to the dramatic side, then this is definitely for you.

Lastly, I did wish the two had the opportunity to meet, but I heard that Hinzpeter had passed away, God bless his soul. For Mr. Kim, I really hope that he and his family had survived through the manhunt.

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