Memories of Murder: The Day of the Sunshine

The end scene of "Memories of Murder”: 10 years later, the golden rice paddy remains the same, the sky is still blue. After inspector Park talks to the little girl, he stares at his blank face with a realization. There is darkness. There is Music. There is also the ever-changing sky.

At this moment, it's not just anger that's swirling in the audience, as director Bong Joon-ho clearly didn't want to recreate or describe the sensational murder case of the past. Therefore, "Memories of Murder" has an ambiguous yet thought-provoking ending where some are trying to figure out who the murderer is, some are still trapped in helplessness, and some have noticed that the murderer has always been intentionally concealed by the director.

Bong Joon-ho did not intend to point out the culprit, nor did he want to slap himself in the face to create such an ending. "Memories of Murder" was adapted from a real serial murder case and has remained an unsolved mystery for a long time. The reality of life has been restored, but the film itself is limited by reality itself.

The intricate coincidences and unexpected twists lead the police to repeatedly miss clues; turbulent social situations bear witness to the silent pain in the movie.

If reality mirrored the structure of movies, every time we faced adversity or solved a mystery, daring criminals would conveniently vanish. Imagine if every movie unveiled the killer at the end, providing a satisfying resolution – in such a scenario, "Memories of Murder" would merely be an average emulation of Hollywood thriller crime films. However, thanks to its wealth of details and its exploration of the 1980s Korean political landscape and real cases, "Memories of Murder" transcends typical movie conventions. It elevates itself to become a national collective memory, earning a place among the top 100 Korean films.

Not every movie has to reveal its answer at the end, even if you repeatedly ask and rewind. Just like "Memories of Murder" did not delve into more details about how the high-IQ criminal would challenge the police, since the crime method was already considered flawless from the start. The story progresses so leisurely that even the last few police officers can foresee the murder happening, but fate plays a role, and the culprit remains unpunished.

Helpless Pain, Authentic Powerlessness

The tragedy of an individual's fate and the turbulent times are perfectly combined in "Memories of Murder," making it like a heavy shadow. On a cold rainy night, everyone can witness the tragedy happening in front of their eyes, but they can't reach out to touch it. When all the blame points to one person, hope is shattered in an instant, leading to extreme depression, and even Detective Seo almost collapses.

The scenery of the farmlands in South Korea during the 1980s, with the restless outskirts of the county, is very vivid. It turns out that the golden rice fields symbolize harvest and hope hide an astonishing crime, and it's even surprising that such a warm opening transitions so abruptly into a shocking murder scene that makes one feel sick to their stomach.

The most heart-breaking scene in the film is when Detective Park's wife and a girl pass by each other on a dark road at night. The criminal's gaze keeps wandering between these two innocent and weak women, and it's clear that he is also weighing which one to attack.

The film starts and ends with yellow-tinted warm colours, creating a connection throughout, while the other parts have darker, duller tones. The music used in the film, which is quite minimal and appropriate for the situation, creates a cold and oppressive atmosphere due to the use of matching colour schemes. This tone creates a creepy and eerie atmosphere, especially around the nearby farmland paths at night and the factory not far from the murder site. There is a sense of dark and sinister fear that creeps in.

Perfect Balance Between Business and Art

Bong Joon-ho has showed remarkable ambition in business and art, striking a perfect balance between the two. The film can be categorized as a thriller and mystery to attract audiences for box office success while also delving into immersive themes of time and space that leave a lasting impact. "Memories of Murder" has a clear and rational main storyline without the typical confrontation between police and criminals, but still contains ups and downs and emotional fluctuations.

In addition to its tightly woven plot, the movie features numerous black humor elements, particularly the torture methods employed by Park and Choi, as well as their hunch-driven deductions, which are both crude and humorous but also deeply rooted in the era. Despite their best efforts, the detectives were unable to solve the case, and Park and Su had to go through a parallel journey of personal reflection. In the end, Park prevented Su's destructive revenge, which was completely opposite of their initial styles.

"Memories of Murder" continues to have a devoted fan base, with enthusiasts repeatedly watching the film in an attempt to unravel the mystery of the killer and derive satisfaction from the clues embedded in the narrative. However, some viewers question the necessity of relying on DNA testing from a distance for the breakthrough in the case, prompting reflection on what the local detectives might have missed or gained. Bong Joon-ho himself has acknowledged not knowing the answer; a genuine unsolved mystery persists. The perpetrator remains concealed among the diverse individuals in the small town, a fact that might disappoint fans who relish the resolution of detective mysteries.

Still the azure sky, and that ditch. The terror of nearby rice fields back then, a chaotic memory of time and space. However, unlike the innocent little boy who didn't know anything and only repeated what others said, the cute little girl was quite curious about this middle-aged man's actions. She told him that someone had been there recently looking for something just like him, and immediately Detective Park saw that it was the perpetrator returning years later.

Detective Park asked: What did he look like?

The little girl replied: Nothing special.

Detective Park asked: Not special?

The little girl nodded her head: Just ordinary.

As the camera focused on Park’s face, which was filled with a sudden realization but also confusion, the ending theme music began to play. Although there was a hint of sadness, there was also a sense of regret and unfulfilled curiosity.