The film "Assassins" is extending its global run, drawing attention at the Singapore International Film Festival after the Toronto International Film Festival. The film ranked fourth among Korean films at the domestic box office this year, and the praise from overseas audiences is being seen as further proof of its competitiveness.
"Assassins" screened as the opening film of the 37th Singapore International Film Festival, which began on the 21st. It is the first time in 22 years that a Korean film has been selected as the festival's opening title. The film follows the pursuit of the suspicions and hidden forces behind the shooting of the first lady on Aug. 15, 1974, an incident that shocked South Korea. It was directed by Hur Jin-ho and stars Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho.
Local reaction praised Hur's delicate direction, the tension of the narrative and the solid ensemble work of the cast. Audiences in Singapore posted on social media that it was by far the best opening film they had seen at SGIFF, that they were completely absorbed and unable to look away, and that the music, cinematography and acting were all excellent. Others said the film kept them on the edge of their seats biting their nails, applauded the courage behind making it, and described it as enormously tense, with the aftereffects still lingering in their minds.
The relentless pursuit of a historical event and the dense storytelling are credited with drawing audiences in. Combining genre tension with a deeper drama around its characters and events, "Assassins" is gaining attention abroad for its artistic merit following its domestic box-office run.
The festival also pointed to the film's craftsmanship and timeliness. Festival Director Jeremy Chua said earlier that "Assassins" has everything one would want in an opening film, calling it a crowd-gripping epic that still carries the vision of an auteur and a timely reminder of why press freedom and truth matter.
Earlier, "Assassins" sold out every public screening at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival and was named runner-up for the international audience award. Following that response in Toronto, its run as the opening film in Singapore has further raised its profile at overseas festivals.
"Assassins," which is sustaining a long domestic box-office run alongside successive interest from overseas festivals, is now playing in theaters nationwide.