1987: When the Day Comes
Short description
Set in South Korea in 1987, when the country was still under military rule, the film follows the death of a university student during questioning by state investigators. Officials move quickly to cover up what happened and to have the body cremated, but a prosecutor asked to approve the cremation is unconvinced by the explanation offered for the young man's death. His refusal to let the matter close sets off a wider struggle, drawing in journalists, police officers and ordinary citizens who push to expose the truth while the authorities try to contain it.
The film is directed by Jang Joon-hwan, his third feature after Save the Green Planet! in 2003 and Hwayi: A Monster Boy in 2013, from a screenplay by Kim Kyung-chan. Kim Yoon-seok plays Park Cheo-won, Ha Jung-woo appears as Prosecutor Choi Hwan, and Yoo Hae-jin, Kim Tae-ri, Park Hee-soon and Lee Hee-jun are among the large credited cast of sixty, supported by a crew of sixty-three. The production had a budget of about 14 million dollars and took roughly 55 million dollars worldwide.
On IMDb it holds 7.7 out of 10 from around 7,900 votes, while on TMDB it stands at 8 out of 10 from 186 votes. A critics' rating of 8.3 out of 10 from 11 reviews places it above the audience scores, though all three measures point to a broadly positive reception for this historical drama.
What's left behind the scenes
- On January 14, 1987, student activist Park Jong-chul of Seoul National University was tortured to death during a police interrogation. The causes of his death were attempted to be concealed by falsifying the death certificate, but the truth nevertheless became public, serving as a catalyst for even more massive protest demonstrations known as the June Democratic Movement. The result was the holding of the first democratic presidential elections in December 1987, when South Korea rid itself of a dictatorial regime.
- The film is banned in China.
- Filming took place from April 20 to August 27, 2017.
- The film was cited as a source of inspiration by protesters in Hong Kong in 2019, where it was shown on the streets in makeshift cinemas.
- The film's release is timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the first democratic elections in South Korea.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
