← Back to results
The Berlin File
베를린
2013 120 min South Korea PG-13 16+
★6.3
Action, Thriller, Crime
Director: Ryoo Seung-wan
Trailers
Description
When an illicit arms deal goes bad, North Korean spy Pyo Jong-seong finds himself targeted not just by the South Koreans but also his own bosses.
Budget:
$9M
US Gross:
$665,210
Worldwide:
$48.97M
Starring
Ha Jung-woo
Actor
Han Suk-kyu
Actor
Ryu Seung-beom
Actor
Awards
12 wins & 8 nominations total
Key opinion
The Berlin File is a technically proficient and stylistically polished spy-thriller that excels in its dynamic, expertly choreographed action sequences. While the film impresses with its physical staging, it is frequently criticized for relying on a conventional and somewhat stale plot that mimics familiar international spy tropes.
| Direction | The film features impeccably staged, visceral hand-to-hand combat and shootout sequences that serve as its primary highlight. | |
| Originality | The narrative relies heavily on derivative, 'Bourne-style' Cold War clichés that lack genuine novelty. | |
| Screenplay | The plot is a source of contention; some appreciate the tension and complex, twist-filled web of betrayal, while others find the story routine and uninspired. |