Bong Joon Ho’s haunting and darkly humorous police procedural paved the way for his Oscar winning Parasite

The breakthrough film for Bong Joon Ho is a masterful crime thriller infused with social satire. Set in 1980s and based on Korea’s first recorded serial killer, the film follows inept detectives Park and Seo as they bungle their investigation into a series of grisly murders.

Bong’s plot weaves suspense with a sharp critique of the era’s authoritarianism, police brutality, and pervasive misogyny, seen in both the treatment of women and the failure to protect them. The stellar performances - especially Song Kang Ho in the first of many collaborations with the director, most recently Parasite - deepen the emotional tension, while the taut script blends dark humour with chilling realism.

Director: Bong Joon-ho
Cast: Kang-ho Song, Sang-kyung Kim, Roe-ha Kim, Jae-ho Song, Hee-Bong Byun

In Korean with subtitles

This year Cheltenham International Film Festival is celebrating its 6th year of bringing the best of world cinema to its thriving audience.

The Roses are once again participating in Cheltenham International Film Festival, hosting special music related film events with guests and a couple of classic films from this year's country of focus: Korea.