Film ′Harbin′ Traces An Jung-geun′s Path of Suffering

▲ This still image of the Korean spy film "Harbin" is provided by CJ ENM on Dec. 19, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- Director Woo Min-ho, known for his hits Inside Men (2015) and The Man Standing Next (2020), takes on a monumental story with Harbin, centered on Korean independence activist An Jung-geun.

The film has sparked mixed reactions, with some questioning the need for another retelling of An’s well-known story, which has already been explored in musicals and films like Hero (2022).

The success of Harbin hinges on presenting a familiar narrative in a fresh and compelling way. Woo adopts a stark, unembellished approach, eschewing dramatic storytelling to vividly portray the struggles An endured before assassinating Ito Hirobumi.

Unlike the fiery and impassioned An Jung-geun often depicted, the film presents him (played by Hyun Bin) as a cold yet deeply human soldier. The story begins with a brutal clash between An’s Korean Independence Army and the Japanese forces led by Major Mori Tatsuo (Park Hoon) on the snowy plains of Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province.

The combat scenes are harrowing, highlighting the gritty reality of survival rather than heroic grandeur. An’s decision to spare Mori later leads to a retaliatory attack, costing many lives. Refusing to give up, An joins forces with comrades like Woo Deok-soon (Park Jung-min), Kim Sang-hyun (Jo Woo-jin), and Choi Jae-hyung (Yoo Jae-myung) as they plan their ultimate mission in Harbin. They are supported by female independence fighter Gong Bu-in (Jeon Yeo-been).

▲ This still image of the Korean spy film "Harbin" is provided by CJ ENM on Dec. 19, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Shot in locations resembling Manchuria, such as Mongolia and Latvia, the film captures the journey of independence fighters with striking realism. With a production budget of approximately 30 billion KRW, Harbin features grandiose sequences, including An crossing the frozen Tumen River under -40°C conditions in Mongolia’s Lake Khuvsgul and traversing a desert filmed in the Mongolian wilderness.

The visual spectacle is elevated by drone cinematography from XM2, a studio involved in 007: No Time to Die and Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning. Harbin is also the first Korean film to use the ARRI Alexa 65 camera, previously employed in Hollywood hits like Dune and Furiosa. These high-resolution visuals are optimized for IMAX screens with a 1.90:1 aspect ratio.

The soundtrack, recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios with the London Symphony Orchestra, adds further polish, underscoring the film’s meticulous craftsmanship.

Despite its visual and technical achievements, the film’s somber tone and subdued direction detract from its entertainment value. It struggles to fully engage viewers emotionally, falling short of eliciting powerful reactions of inspiration or exhilaration. Extended dialogues and a lack of close-ups may make the pacing feel sluggish compared to dynamic predecessors like Assassination (2015) or The Age of Shadows (2016).

▲ This still image of the Korean spy film "Harbin" is provided by CJ ENM on Dec. 19, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Woo Min-ho, who masterfully combined history and suspense in The Man Standing Next, faces heightened expectations, making Harbin’s shortcomings more noticeable. While An Jung-geun is an inherently revered figure, a commercial film about him need not rely solely on solemnity and reverence.

Still, the film’s closing scene—An’s poignant narration over the frozen Tumen River—resonates with today’s turbulent times, striking a chord with audiences longing for leadership and heroism.

As of December 18, with six days to go before its release, Harbin has already surpassed 150,000 advance ticket sales, positioning itself as a highly anticipated year-end blockbuster.