Staff Picks: Memories of Murder
Fox Theatre
Sunday, Sep 13, 2026 8:00 PM
Based on the true story of South Korea’s first serial killer, Bong Joon Ho’s "Memories of Murder" offers a unique and haunting take on the police procedural, focusing on themes of failure and existential despair rather than typical crime thriller conventions.
Set against the political backdrop of the 1980s, the film follows two detectives—a small-town investigator and a young hotshot from Seoul—as they attempt to catch a serial killer targeting women on rainy nights. As their investigation leads to dead ends, they confront the harsh realities of their limitations.
While rooted in real events, the film is more than a documentary; it explores anti-heroism and human fallibility with quirky humor and strong performances from an exceptional cast, including Song Kang-ho, Kim Roi-ha, and Kim Sang-gyeong. "Memories of Murder" solidified Bong’s reputation as one of the leading directors in contemporary South Korean cinema.
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