The movie “The Book of Fish,” directed by Min Kyu-dong, which was released on the 30th, is an action drama depicting the intense confrontation between the legendary killer Jo Gak (played by Lee Hye-young), who has been active in an organization that deals with human beings like cockroaches for over 40 years, and the mysterious killer Tu Woo (played by Kim Sung-cheol) who has been chasing him for a lifetime. Based on the novel of the same name by author Gu Byung-mo, this film is directed by Min Kyu-dong, known for directing films such as “Antique” and “Herstory,” with actors Lee Hye-young, Kim Sung-cheol, Yeon Woo-jin, Kim Moo-yeol, and Shin Seung-hwan adding credibility to the cast. The film earnestly portrays a message about the usefulness of aging through the 60-year-old killer Jo Gak. Moving back and forth between Jo Gak’s past and present stories under a non-linear structure, the film gradually builds up its overall tone, manner, and emotions. However, unlike dealing with highly realistic themes, the film’s tone does not stick closely to reality. The film is somewhat burdened by elements such as dialogues that seem directly lifted from the novel, exaggerated characters, and a strong genre color in the killer theme that are not well balanced. The overlapping of past and present in the direction may divide opinions. While some may find it refreshing, to those who have encountered many works in the same genre, it may not seem particularly sophisticated. Furthermore, due to the frequent occurrences of overlapping, the charm diminishes as the film progresses towards the latter part. Nevertheless, what makes one want to give a high score to “The Book of Fish” is the power of the actors. If you are a fan of the original work, Lee Hye-young’s performance, which seems to have directly transferred Jo Gak from the novel to the screen, is impressive. Lee Hye-young’s ability to convincingly portray Jo Gak’s past lives through wrinkles, eye expressions, facial expressions, and aura alone is remarkable. Just Lee Hye-young’s acting is reason enough to watch “The Book of Fish.” Kim Sung-cheol, who plays Tu Woo, is also impressive. He shows a presence that does not pale in front of senior Lee Hye-young. In particular, he adds depth to the emotional line where Tu Woo’s mysterious resolve gradually builds up with rough yet raw energy, culminating in a powerful ending. The strong impact of Tu Woo’s ending is thanks to Kim Sung-cheol’s performance. In addition, Cynthia, played by Shin Seung-hwan, as Jo Gak’s childhood character, and Kim Moo-yeol as Master Ryu, Jo Gak’s mentor, also complete the past narrative of Jo Gak with stable performances, leaving a strong impression. In this way, the overwhelming performances of the actors in “The Book of Fish” partially offset its shortcomings. Fans of the original novel should also be somewhat satisfied and enjoy the film.
