A Taxi Driver (Korean Movie, English Sub, All Region DVD)

great movie, based on true event

I have found, that as I've gotten older, it's easier for me to be moved to tears. Never have I felt that this was more true, more accurate, than watching this fantastic movie. And it's a good thing; it's because the movie manages to touch on what makes us human in a variety of ways. I can't say that the movie is 100% accurate, because I'm sure that there are embellishments or characters developed to make us connect more easily to the film. And that's okay.After all, the better that you can connect to people, the easier it is to more relate to the situation. The better you can relate to the situation, the more impact that can be derived from it. As such, if the main character really was selfish, focused on himself and his daughter, that's okay, because it makes it easier to recognize that character as having flaws. In a lot of ways, I hope that the true Kim Man-seob, regardless of what his real name was, started out as focused on the day-to-day living as he did, because if so, it makes the changes that happened all the more poignant.It also makes him a foil to all of the students, other taxi drivers, etcera, that protested at the Gwangju Uprising events. Because with having a character who feels realistic and short-sighted makes it easier to relate to the others in the events, and the fact that they would also have to, to a greater or similar degree, go through similar changes and recognize what is right, rather than what is easy. It's far easier to provide no protest, to not provide any help, when a majority - especially a majority that have weapons, and a will to use those weapons against you - are telling you to not do something. However, this movie highlights just how many people did rise up not only to fight for rights beyond what they currently had, but also the people who rose up to help them when the going got not only rough, but dangerous.Is this a perfect movie? No, but I personally of the opinion that it will help you relate more to your fellow humans, and to recognize that horrible things have happened, are happening, and will continue to happen. It's up to us to ensure that what is right is what wins out in the end, rather than doing what is easy.

Great movie. Even greater story. I never knew that this event in 1980, South Korea even took place until I seen this movie. Democracy in action. Open the subtitles and enjoy the ride. Pun intended!

This movie is based on what happened in Gwang Ju South Korea during the Spring on 1980. A new hard line military regime was trying to squash a pro democracy demonstrations in the city of Gwangju. This is a story of how a German reporter and his "Taxi driver" went to the city to capture what was happening and to tell the world about it.To this day, most of pictures and videos are from this German reporter as the military blocked all access to the city while they massacred innocent people. There is a commentary at the end by the reporter(the real person) which was somewhat sad.I've read the real taxi driver died in 1984 from liver cancer. The son( he had a son not a daughter as in the movie) said his father started to drink heavily after the incident which he thinks was cause of his illness. What he witness and went through in Gwang Ju was too much for him.Great acting and great story. The story is very relevant now as similar thing is happening in Myanmar.I highly recommend it.

When the events of this movie happened, I was wandering the US, fresh out of high school and out of touch with the world. By the time I got back and saw any news sources I don't think anyone was talking about this. Learning about it from this film was a deeply moving experience. I literally broke down in tears at one point, and had to stop and go get a cup of coffee before I could go on. Having served in the US military, I can't imagine what the soldiers in this situtation were thinking to follow the orders they did, in the manner they did. On the other hand, here in 2021 I see far too many people who are willing to go along with whatever narrative the government chooses, and I fear for our own future. I hope many people see this film and learn something from it.

Great direction, script, editing, and acting by Song Kang-ho.

Wow talk about an epic film. I won’t give the plot away but this was based on a true story. This is A film made from the heart.. I guarantee you will find yourself laughing, Crying and a times holding on to the edge of your seat. Definitely a story that will linger in your heart even days after watching. A Winner!

This inspiring film is like Tiananmen Square meets "The Killing Fields" where a foreign journalist hires a local Asian everyman to help record atrocities by a military regime. The star of the Oscar winning film "Parasite", Kang-ho Song, plays the everyman, a widowed father struggling to support his young daughter by driving a taxi in Seoul. One day he thinks his luck will change. All he has to do is drive the foreign journalist to the site of a student protest and he will be paid handsomely. Well, things don't go as planned. He becomes a reluctant hero.This film is based on a true story involving the 1980 Gwangju massacre in South Korea. "A Taxi Driver" puts a very real human face to the horrors of May 1980. And Kang-ho Song captures the everyman perfectly, interjecting occasional and much needed humor along with much heart and sadness.A film worth seeing more than once. Highly recommend.

Eine Schande für den deutschsprachigen Heimkino-Markt. "A Taxi Driver" ist ein Weltklasse-Film von 2017 und hat noch immer keinen Verleih. Und gerade bei diesem koreanischen Film, dürfte es doch hierzulande zumindest auch hier ein reges Interesse geben, weil der Film nicht nur koreanische Geschichte porträtiert, sondern auch ein Stück weit deutsche Geschichte. Der Hauptdarsteller Song Kang-ho ist auch für uns kein unbekanntes Gesicht, spielte schon Anfang des Jahrhunderts in international erfolgreichen Filmen wie "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" und "Memories of murder" die Hauptrolle, hatte auch eine tragende Rolle im Oscar-Gewinner "Parasite. Einen genauso wichtigen Part spielt Thomas Kretschmann, der nach "Stalingrad" national nicht mal so bekannt wurde, dafür oft in internationalen Produktionen wie "King Kong" oder "Der Pianist" zu sehen war.Der Film basiert auf wahre Begebenheiten, dabei ist vom Taxi Fahrer sehr wenig bekannt, dass die Hintergründe seiner Biographie erfunden werden mussten, damit man einen stimmigen Film aus den wahren Ereignissen inszenieren konnte. Song Kang-ho spielt den erst naiven und unbeholfenen Taxifahrer anfangs sympathisch mit albernem Humor, im Verlauf der Geschichte gewinnt sie jedoch auch an tragischer Tiefe.Thomas Kretschmann spielt den deutschen Auslandskorrespondenten Jürgen Hinzpeter (Lübecker), der im Jahr 1980 währen politischer Unruhen durch einen Militärputsch das Massaker in Gwangju filmte und der einzige Reporter überhaupt war, der Filmmaterial aus Südkorea über die Grenzen schleusen und später veröffentlichen konnte. Diese Aufnahmen wurden international gezeigt und wegen der Bedeutung für den Demokratisierungsprozess des Landes wurde in Gwangju später ein Denkmal für ihn errichtet.Obwohl diese Stadt bereits militärisch abgeriegelte Sperrzone war, brachte ihn ein Taxifahrer von Seoul aus in die Krisenstadt. Dieser Taxifahrer ist durch das Risiko, das er einging, ebenfalls ein Held, aber seine Identität wurde der Öffentlichkeit nie bekannt. Jürgen Hinzpeter versuchte immer wieder den Taxifahrer ausfindig zu machen, was ihm Zeit seines Lebens aber nie gelang.Der Film verbindet allerdings die tragischen, historischen Ereignisse mit einer Geschichte zweier sehr unterschiedlicher Menschen, die in diesen Tagen zu Freunden wurden. Während der Taxifahrer anfangs eher schon verzweifelt nach Kommunikation sucht und von der eigentlichen Fahrerei nicht gerade begeistert ist, wirkt Jürgen noch unnahbar, fast schon auf arrogante Weise. Den dramatischen Ereignissen, die auch im Film manchmal auf den Magen schlagen, wird damit ein, vor allem in der ersten Hälfte, mit der Entwicklung der Figuren dann ein heiterer Kontrapunkt gesetzt. Was diesen Film so besonders macht, ist dass er somit kein trockener Geschichtsunterricht ist und den Menschen eine Seele gibt und das Publikum mitfühlen lässt.Von dem Film habe ich schon öfter positives gehört und habe auf seine deutsche Veröffentlichung gewartet, nach über 3 Jahren kaufte ich dann die US-Blu-Ray. Der Film ist in koreanischer Sprache mit englischen Untertiteln zu sehen. Wer der englischen Sprache mächtig ist, sollte sich dieses Juwel ansehen. Der Film gehört für mich zu den 20, wenn nicht gar 10, besten Filmen des letzten Jahrzehnts und bittet neben auch einer oft unrühmlichen Vergangenheit unseres Lande, ein Stück positiver Geschichte eines wahren Helden.Außerdem möchte ich an die kleinen Labels in Deutschland einen lauten Appell aussprechen, dass dieser Film endlich auch bei uns würdig veröffentlicht wird.

Ich habe es gut bekommen und ich danke Ihnen für die Versand

Film poco pubblicizzato ma emotivamente molto coinvolgente, l'ultimo lavoro di Jang Hoon ricostruisce la vera storia del giornalista tedesco J. Hinzpeter che, grazie al coraggio dell'inconsapevole eroico tassista Kim Sa-Bok, riuscì ad accedere nella città di Gwangju ove nel 1980 vi era una feroce repressione da parte della Dittatura al potere. Il film spazia in fatti storici e particolari di un rapporto realmente esistito tra i due protagonisti che, pian piano si è tramutato in un rapporto umano assoluto. Il tutto in una sceneggiatura ammaliante che spazia con garbo tra un compiacente Humor, tratti di poesia ed impegno sociale.

Der Film zeigt auf wie wichtig politische Berichterstattung aus dem Ausland ist und wie autoritäre Regime mit der Bevölkerung umgehen, wenn Sie nicht nach ihrer Pfeife tanzen. Hochaktueller Stoff, der auf wahren Begebenheiten beruht.

Had high expectations but A Taxi Driver did not deliver. Historical accuracy, I'm quite confident, is accurate but is NOT the movie driver.Main driver is the taxi driver's struggle in his personal life. He gets involved in the event due to personal, financial & political circumstance, but there is little 'character' to latch onto. Thomas Kretschmann is a good actor but he is under utilized. Most of his expression is static and seem impersonal. His role should have been bigger and engaging. As for the event itself, it was a horrific demonstration of a military dictator in brutal control of power & information but the delivery of the actions in the movie lacks punch & desperation compared to movies such as 'Zero Dark Thirty', '13 Hours', or 'Blackhawk Down'.Overall, the movie does not carry the same weight as the pivotal event itself. It is a missed opportunity for the director. OK to watch once but not really worth watching multiple times.Barebones blu-ray. English only subtitles. No extras.