← Back to results
White Night
백야행: 하얀 어둠 속을 걷다
2009 135 min South Korea 18+
★6.8
Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Director: Park Shin-woo
🎭 Based on
«Journey Under the Midnight Sun»
byKeigo Higashino
Trailers
Description
A pawnbroker is found murdered in a remote town in a derelict building. Three people come under suspicion but all of them have perfect alibis and the investigation comes to a standstill. Almost fifteen years pass and the lead inspector decides to re-investigate.
Starring
Han Suk-kyu
Actor
Son Ye-jin
Actor
Go Soo
Actor
Awards
2 wins & 1 nomination total
Key opinion
White Night is a complex, atmosphere-heavy neo-noir that polarizes viewers with its demanding narrative structure and dark, melancholic tone. While some critics find the central performances and emotional gravity compelling, others criticize the film for being overlong, confusingly plotted, and lacking a cohesive authorial voice.
| Acting | Han Suk-kyu delivers a grounding performance that serves as the film’s emotional anchor. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative relies on non-linear jumps and interwoven subplots that many viewers find initially disorienting or unnecessarily confusing. | |
| Pacing | The film’s tone is subject to debate, oscillating between a sophisticated, dark atmosphere and a perceived lack of dynamism that some viewers experience as monotonous. | |
| Acting | Opinions on the lead female performance are divided, with some praising the depiction of a complex, cynical character and others finding the portrayal weak and unappealing. | |
| Screenplay | The ambitious blending of detective, romance, and thriller genres results in a polarized experience where some admire the complexity and others view the narrative as bloated or feeble. |