Director Lee Myung-se's 'Rhan 12.3' offers a hopeful, citizen-centric look at the 1980 martial law incident

Director Lee Myung-se, a filmmaker renowned for his unique contributions to Korean cinema, presents his first feature documentary, 'Rhan 12.3.' This film delves into the martial law incident of December 3rd, a period of significant historical tension. Lee focuses on the critical 2.5 hours between President Yoon Suk-yeol's martial law declaration and the National Assembly's vote to repeal it.

“

You can also see it as a hopeful version of 'Seoul Spring.' Or it's 'No Regrets' with citizens as the protagonists.

Employing a montage technique reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock, Lee meticulously reconstructs the events with a focus on minute, and sometimes even second-by-second, details. This approach captures the frantic movements within the National Assembly, the deployment of martial law troops, and the public's reactions, creating a suspenseful narrative even for those aware of the outcome. Lee describes the film as a story about fear and the triumph over it.

“

As someone who lived through the Yushin era of the 1970s and the military dictatorship of the 1980s, the first sentence of Dazai Osamu's 'No Longer Human,' 'I have lived a life full of shame,' has always been in my heart. I wondered if this was the right way to live, if making this kind of film was right, those feelings of shame and being choked up.

The director was inspired by the feeling of unease and fear evoked by the gaze of a soldier he encountered, which reminded him of 'The Twilight Zone.' He deliberately avoids conventional documentary methods like narration and interviews, instead utilizing Hitchcockian montage, animation, AI-assisted dramatic reenactments, and a powerful original score by Cho Sung-woo.

“

The indifferent gaze evoked a sense of unease and fear reminiscent of 'The Twilight Zone.' The bizarre imagery and experimental lighting in the drama create anxiety and fear, making you feel like you've entered a new dimension where dreams and reality intersect.

'Rhan 12.3' also juxtaposes the events of December 3rd, 2024, with the tragic May 18th Gwangju Uprising. Lee connects these events through the question posed by author Han Kang: 'Can the past help the present? Can the dead save the living?' The inclusion of May 18th footage, shot by the late cinematographer Yoo Young-gil, adds a deeply personal layer to the film, as Yoo's habit of rubbing his eyes stemmed from his experiences in Gwangju.

“

There was plenty of video material depicting dramatic reality without needing to create a drama. The footage sent by over 280 citizens, lawmakers, and their aides was enough to show the urgency of that day.