Harbin is making waves at the box office, setting a new record for the highest December opening for a Korean film since the pandemic. The collaboration between director Woo Min Ho and Hyun Bin certainly generated a lot of initial hype, but what is it about Harbin that’s truly resonating with audiences?
Director Woo Min Ho has explored Korea’s complex modern history through his film characters in past works. This time, he ventures into the early modern era, focusing on Ahn Jung Geun, a historical figure well-known to all Koreans. While the story of Harbin might feel too familiar to some, the director has clearly worked hard to offer a fresh and engaging perspective on this historical figure.
Harbin captures the tense atmosphere of its era, much like Inside Men and The Man Standing Next, while adding the gripping tension of a spy noir to create cinematic intrigue. Rather than simply listing the events leading up to independence activist Ahn Jung Geun’s assassination of Ito Hirobumi in Vladivostok, the film uses restrained depictions to deliver a solemn and urgent portrayal of the historic operation conducted amidst a heavily surveilled environment. Furthermore, the film not only highlights Ahn’s peers, such as independence fighter Woo Deok Soon (played by Park Jung Min), but also introduces fictional characters like Kim Sang Hyun (Jo Woo Jin), Madame Gong (Jeon Yeo Been), and Lee Chang Seop (Lee Dong Wook) to enrich the narrative and bring the independence movement of the late Joseon Dynasty vividly to life.
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The film’s attempt to examine historical events from various perspectives extends to its portrayal of characters as well. It avoids describing Ahn Jung Geun and his fellow independence fighters as purely heroic figures, instead presenting them as deeply human, which makes their conflicts and struggles all the more poignant. As the pivotal moment of the operation draws near, the film intimately explores the growing burden and anxiety they face. This respectful depiction inspires profound admiration for the independence fighters who risked their lives for their country. Notably, Hyun Bin leaves a lasting impression by delivering a heartfelt and moving performance as the historically renowned Ahn Jung Geun. His cry of “Carea Ora!” in the latter part of the film resonates with Korean audiences as more than just a line. Additionally, Jo Woo Jin and Park Jung Min excel in heightening the film’s tension, while Lee Dong Wook and Jeon Yeo Bin bring fresh dimensions to their roles, offering an unexpected yet invigorating dynamic.
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Harbin follows the agonizing decisions of Ahn Jung Geun and his fellow independence fighters with a cold and solemn tone but also ignites a deep emotional warmth as the story progresses. This resonates even more in December when South Korea finds itself in a particularly turbulent time. By the film’s end, Hyun Bin’s narration leaves a strong impression as he speaks each word with clarity and weight. The film is created with such sincerity by the director and actors that it leaves you with a full heart as you exit the theater. (8/10)
Edited by Hwang Hong Sun
Translated by Yu Jin Kim
Editor Hwang Hong Sun: A Korean movie buff who wishes that the warm messages in good works will warm up this world at least by one degree Fahrenheit.
