'A Taxi Driver' Is a Beautiful, Masterful Film Based on an Incredible True Story

A Taxi Driver is about a down-on-his-luck, single father cabbie named Kim Man-seob (Song Kang-ho) who is commissioned by a German journalist named Peter (Thomas Kretschmann) to bring him to the city of Gwangju, wherein government troops and student protesters are clashing.  It’s based on the true story of how Jürgen Hinzpeter, the real-life “Peter”, was able to capture footage of what was happening during the bloody Gwangju Uprising in 1980 and get the real story out to the world, overcoming the heavy censorship and military cordon existing then, with the help of taxi driver Kim Sa-bok, the real life “Kim Man-seob.”

The film’s narrative is so interesting and stirring that I was compelled to look into the real-life story behind it.  After doing so, I gained more respect for the film, as I found the actual events that happened to be as riveting and incredible as how the film made them appear.

This movie easily reminded me of Ordinary Person, for both share some themes and are set during the same time period – in the 1980’s, when South Korea was under a fascist junta.  Both are equally powerful and thoughtful in their use of the themes and setting.  Both are terrific movies.  Nevertheless, I thought A Taxi Driver is more polished, better written, and tighter.  The cinematography is superior, too.

I really like Song Kang-ho ever since I saw him in The Host and The Good, the Bad, and the Weird (two of my all-time favorite Korean movies).  So it’s a treat to get to see him in two movies this year (the first being The Age of Shadows).  And, once again, he delivered another exceptional performance here.  On top of that, he shared terrific chemistry with his co-star, Thomas Kretschmann.  I enjoyed the interaction and rapport of their respective characters – two individuals from different countries who have difficulty communicating with each other and don’t easily get along, but who eventually become friends united in one noble purpose.

A Taxi Driver is simply a beautiful, masterful film.  Another gem from Korean cinema.