Movies

‘The Spy Gone North’: Based on the true story of “Black Venus”

September 8, 2019

‘The Spy Gone North‘, originally released in 2018, was the second movie showing on day 3 of the Korean Film Festival in Australia (KOFFIA) in Melbourne.

Director: Yoon Jong-bin
Cast: Hwang Jung-min, Lee Sung-min, Cho Jin-woong
Genre: Drama

‘The Spy Gone North‘ is based on the true story of a South Korean spy who is sent to infiltrate the North’s nuclear facility. His code name is “Black Venus“. The movie focuses on relations between North and South Korea at the end of the Cold War era, after the USSR disintegrates. The main character, Park, has to put up a front when he meets everyone because of his life as a spy. He even meets the Supreme Leader of DPRK in the movie to discuss cooperating with him. Park proposes filming South Korean advertisements with beautiful North Korean scenery as the background.

Betrayal, trust and loyalty were central themes of the film. It was hard for the audience to distinguish who were the good guys and bad guys. We had to decide based on their interactions with Park. Of course, the movie was packed with suspense and tension. The music helped to enhance the ever-growing suspense. Even the lack of music in some scenes left the audience waiting for something to happen.

Unexpectedly, friendship and comradeship is another theme of ‘The Spy Gone North‘. Park befriends a North Korean comrade and they become close friends. Even though they are supposed to be sworn enemies, they are able to put it behind them. They give meaningful gifts to each other as tokens of appreciation. Their friendship symbolises the idea that North and South Korea can actually achieve peace and the nations can move past the hate and tension. Many of the issues addressed in the film, such as separated families between the two countries, are still relevant today.

Thank you to the Korean Cultural Centre Australia for allowing Officially Kmusic to review this movie.

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Written by Lindsay

Edited by Lindsay