The Classified File ~ Busan 1978, a Child Was Kidnapped
“The Classified File” is a 2015 Korean film, categorized as Police procedural, Crime, Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense; based on a true story and streaming on Viki and Tubi TV.
SUMMARY: This film is based on a true event that happened in Busan in 1978. A child was kidnapped, and the ransom demanded was $50,000.
♦ Sweet Jelly Sticks and a Whistle
In “The Classified File”, a child was kidnapped, and for 33 days her parents did not know if their daughter was dead or alive. The kidnapper took 15 days before even contacting them. The mother especially experienced AGONY + ANGUISH. She tried methods that her husband and the police would never even consider. She consulted Kim Joong-San, a spiritualist (fortune-teller), who told her that her daughter was still alive and the exact date the kidnapper would contact her. He also told her that a specific detective, Kong Gil-Yong, had to be the one who worked on the investigation because only he would be able to bring her child home alive.
Was the spiritualist a con man, or did he really believe what he told the mother? It seems he believed what he said because he had visions or dreams, and he knew how to read certain signs (???). Because Kim Joong-San was able to provide details, of course, the police immediately suspected him. They tortured him to get the truth. But he only told them what he knew. You’re either a believer or you’re not. The mother was a believer and told the detective, “In this world, we need more than power and money.” She begged him to stay on the case to the very end.
Detective Kong Gil-Yong was not a believer, yet he had Kim Joong-San accompany him to Seoul to work with the investigation team. It was a secret investigation, comprised of law enforcement officers from both Busan and Seoul. The team even included Seo Jung-Hak, the man who served as an expert advisor for the famous Kdrama TV series, “Chief Inspector”. Kong Gil-Yong also had a reputation for being a stellar officer. Seo Jung-Hak welcomed him to Seoul and said he was honored to be able to work with him.
- NOTE: “Movie is based on a true story. An elementary school-aged daughter from a wealthy family in Busan, South Korea, was kidnapped two separate times for ransom. The first kidnapping occurred September 15, 1978 and the second kidnapping occurred April 14, 1979.” (Source: Asianwiki)
Main Characters:
- Detective Kong Gil-Yong (played by Kim Yun-Seok, “Noryang: Deadly Sea”, “Escape from Mogadishu”, “The Thieves”, “The Frog”)
- Kim Joong-San (played by Yu Hae-Jin, “Exhuma”, “The Night Owl“, “A Taxi Driver”, “The Pirates”)
- Seo Jung-Hak (played by Jung Ho-Bin, “Gangnam Blues”, “The Huntresses”, “Commitment”)
(Also watch free on Tubi TV)
Viewership and Rating:
My personal rating is the same as the Viki viewers.
“The Classified File” is based on a true story about a child who had been kidnapped and a such it was hard not to watch. The thing that struck me was how easy it was to entice the young girl to get into the car.
LINKS OF INTEREST:
VIFF 2015 Review: The Classified File (극비수사) | Jon The Blogcentric
[Herald Review] Two unsung heroes remembered in ‘Classified File’ | The Korea Herald
The Classified File (Geukbisusa) | MIB’s Instant Headache
Critic Reviews for The Classified File | Moviebuff.com
TRAILER/TEASER:
KoreanFilmBiz KoBiz. (2015). The Classified File (2015) [Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPDo_aU_3lo.
♦
