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Coin Locker Girl
차이나타운
2015 110 min South Korea 18+
★7.0
Drama, Thriller
Director: Han Jun-hee
Trailers
Description
Il-young tries to get away from her adoptive mother because she does not want to get involved in her mother's criminal activities.
Starring
Kim Hye-su
Actor
Kim Go-eun
Actor
Park Bo-gum
Actor
Awards
Asian Film Academy 2016
— Best Actress
Cannes Film Festival 2015
— Caméra d'Or
Key opinion
Coin Locker Girl is a dark, atmospheric South Korean crime drama that explores themes of fatalism and the cycle of trauma through the lens of an unconventional criminal family. While critics praise its strong performances, visual aesthetic, and emotional intensity, others find the narrative cold and the characters' actions overly detached or puppet-like.
| Acting | The film features powerful, commanding performances from its female leads. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography is visually striking, effectively utilizing darkness and framing to establish a heavy, oppressive atmosphere. | |
| Emotion | The film succeeds in delivering a deep, unsettling emotional impact that probes the origins of human cruelty and the necessity of attachment. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on character development and plotting are divided; some praise the tight, focused narrative, while others find the characters to be inert, puppet-like, and the plot predictable. | |
| Score | The aesthetic approach to violence and sound design is polarizing; some find it creates a unique, authentic dread, while others find the musical score abrasive and the narrative tone overly grim. |