The Spy Gone North

This is a fairly slow moving film. It can somewhat tense scenes but its certainly not one for someone after a lot of quick action scene. I liked that there was some historical context provided at the start of the film and it gives you a feel for what people in authority in Korea may be like. I thought it was interesting seeing the typewriter with Korean letters - I suppopse I hadn't considered a non roman alphabet keyboard/typewriter but of course such things must exist. Its a fairly interesting film, in terms of seeing how more lowly figures judge those in higher authority and what happens in terms of the politics of things. I wouldn't say this is a particularly exciting or even an entirely fascinating film but it is pretty interesting and perhaps somewhat insightful..it has some witty dialogue too and not too many special effects (including battle/fights and the like). It's still interesting in terms of showing how people can try to read others motives and try to outwit the others. I suppose it's a 'who will blink first?' kind of a film. I'd only watch this if your particularly interested in Koreans and the time this depicts, so overall I wouldn't especially recommend it, no.

Hwang Jung min's best work. Tight pacing. Engrossing true life story. All work seamlessly together to tell the story of a Korean spy whose true story could have been buried in lies.

The best Korean movie.

بعيدا عن نمط أفلام الجاسوسية الأميركي المتكرر والذي يعتمد على الأكشن والخدع البصرية والأساطير التقنية، يقدم هذا الفيلم الكوري تجربة فريدة تنقلك إلى تفاصيل صراع العقول المخابراتية بين المعسكرين الشرقي والغربي في الكوريتين الشمالية والجنوبية بل والصراعات السياسية الداخلية في الأجهزة الأمنية وفي التيارات والأحزاب داخل كل بلد منهما، وكيف تنتج وتتداخل مع الصراعات النفسية والتنازع بين الطموح الشخصي مع المصلحة الوطنية والإنسانية. (تحفة مقتبسة عن قصة حقيقية).

An extraordinary story that is inspired by extraordinary real-life events. What starts out as a spy operation fascinatingly evolves into something far more complex, dangerous and compelling. It is a layered story full of depth and relies on this over any action it may contain. The Spy Gone North is an excellent and exciting dramatic thriller that notches up another high quality production from South Korea.

Super fascinating story of a piece of history in a part of the world we don't often get to hear too much about in the United States. Superbly acted and executed.

Not a typical spy movie with action scenes, it's more like a political drama which teaches you how rotten is politics and how politicians manipulate people with building deep hate on enemy countries and yet they benefit them in behind

Excellent, intelligent & compelling...how many movies can you say that about now?

2019-2-6 This is so good that I watched it again right after I finished watching the 1st time. Also, I got so many questions after 1st watch, but those were all cleared after the 2nd watch even though I'm not familiar with Korea's history. Politicians are supposed to serve people, to do things for people, but it seems most of them forgot what they were here for after few years, and are afraid of losing power and money. Is the situation better nowadays? I don't know, and there are still many bad politicians everywhere. Still a long way to go. What we can do is to do our best. Maybe we need to try harder to have faith and keep doing the right things, and we will meet some people doing the same things one day even they are hostile. That could change the world. Highly, highly recommend this one.

excellent Korean thriller!