Directed by: Park Shin-woo (박신우) Starring: Han Suk-kyu (한석규), Son Ye-jin (손예진), Go Soo (고수), Lee Min-jung (이민정), Park Sung-woong (박성웅) Release Date: November 19th, 2009
“White Night” is a unique and disturbing drama film adapted from the novel “Journey Under the Midnight Sun” by acclaimed mystery writer Keigo Higashino. Part police procedural and part Shakespearean tragedy, “White Night” is a film of contrasts as the film’s title suggests. There’s a bright and beautiful exterior to the film that attempts to mask a dark malevolence. Far from being light popcorn fare, “White Night” challenges its viewers with themes of obsession, trauma, greed, and revenge. And like a bewitching nightmare, the film uses its exquisite visual aesthetic to keep eyes fixed on its cold and unforgiving narrative.
Detective Dong-soo (Han Suk-kyu) leads an investigation surrounding the peculiar death of a man aboard an abandoned ship. With the victim presumed to have been murdered by his extra marital lover who also turned up dead shortly thereafter, the case is forced shut. But several abnormalities regarding the respective victims’ school-aged children, Jia and Yo-han, push Dong-soo to pursue the case on his own. When mysterious and tragic circumstances arise, Dong-soo is left with unanswered questions that haunt him for years.
14 years later, now washed up and apathetic to the world, Dong-soo is contacted by a young detective who sees a connection between a recent murder and his old case. With the possible involvement of a man named Yo-han (Go Soo), the son of his old murder victim, Dong-soo becomes intrigued and resolves to see the investigation through. But the situation appears more complex than he ever could have imagined when he discovers an aspiring fashion designer named Mi-ho (Son Ye-jin), who is also under investigation in regards to her fitness to be married to a powerful business tycoon (Park Sung-woong), to be mysteriously entwined in his pursuit of the killer.
It’s hard to write about the characters in “White Night” without giving away any spoilers. This has to do with how each character’s past and motives slowly unfold as the movie ramps up. It’s safe to say that each of the three main characters is damaged in their own way, and the time the film spends a lot of time revealing the various dimensions of each character’s personality. This is the meat and potatoes of “White Night.” The mystery is as intriguing as the page-turning novel its based on, and the jumping back and forth through time in regards to the two investigations allow for the clues to reveal themselves in clever ways.
The procedural side to “White Night” is very strong. Carried hard by the incredible Han Suk-kyu (Christmas in August, Shiri) as detective Dong-soo, the police work and investigative scenes are portrayed very well in both time eras. It was interesting to see the crude tactics and brash attitudes of the past alongside a more refined and methodical modern approach to dissecting a crime scene between the time shifts.
The film also has a secondary investigation lead by Lee Min-jung’s (Cyrano Agency) character who’s tasked with following around Mi-ho (Son Ye-jin) to make sure she’s fit to marry her boss. When the proverbial skeletons in the closet start popping up left and right, it makes for a double procedural of sorts as it coincides with the murder investigation. The two investigations then ultimately cross paths in pretty spectacular fashion, making for some of the film’s best moments.
But the most interesting part of “White Night” is how it presents itself as a love tragedy. While not exactly clear on my first watch, it became the highlight on my subsequent viewing. The light versus dark nature of the two lovers is boldly portrayed in the lighting of settings they occupy (bright vs dark cafes & bedrooms), their clothing (white dresses vs black hooded jackets), and even their lovemaking (tender vs rough). Mi-ho (Son Ye-jin) is delicate and distant while Yo-han (Go Soo) is visceral and intense. The death of their parents has them bonded in a kind of twisted dark fate that prevents their union. From both a narrative and visual standpoint, this movie goes for broke and is rather unique in its broader ambitions.
The main disappointment I have with “White Night” comes with some of the characterizations and their questionable motives. While childhood trauma could explain some of the film’s odder moments with its characters, both Son Ye-jin (The Classic, My Wife Got Married) and Go Soo (Love 911, The Fortress) don’t get a lot of opportunity to show much acting range. Both actors come across as very distant and rigid in much of their scenes. While this helped to enhance the mystery surrounding their characters, it was not fun to watch at times.
Overall, “White Night” is one of the rarer intense dramas whose script doesn’t come with all the built-in regular beats of a commercial movie. Much like 2017’s “Heart Blackened,” the pacing feels much more like a novel. It can move slow at times and with little action but remains engaging like a good page-turner should, holding true to its roots in this way. “White Night” has been criticized and called confusing for its complex structuring, and it is probably true that it takes at least two viewings to fully grasp and appreciate. But those up to the challenge should be in for an experience not likely to be forgotten any time soon. SCORE: 7/10
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