Korean Film Festival flick: Innocent Witness

Lee Han’s contribution to this year’s Korean Film Festival, Innocent Witness, is an immensely poignant story about morality and the acceptance of self. Centred around Sun-Ho – a human rights lawyer turned defence attorney – who is one winning case away from gaining a promotion, which would enable him to pay off his family’s history of debt. However, as his newest case arises, it is clear that nothing is as it seems. 

His lead witness, Ji-Woo, an autistic teenager with acute hearing and communication difficulties, struggles with clear-cut answers throughout the trial. As Sun-Ho continues to investigate the mysterious circumstances around his client, he finds himself growing closer to the girl, and is soon conflicted with their confrontations in court. 

As a general consensus Innocent Witness is extremely well-written, and an exceptionally directed film. While it has that familiar Korean flair in terms of editing and music, the storyline is truly where this movie shines beyond the rest. When I initially heard the premise, I was truly unprepared for the touching and enigmatic ride that I was about to go on. The slow development of Sun-Ho’s character as he delves further into the case, and his budding relationship with Ji-Woo throughout the film’s 129-minute runtime, is a soft crescendo that allows viewers to fully enjoy the quirks of their relationship. 

At its core, it is the extraordinary acting by both Jung Woo-Sung and Kim Hyang-Gi as the protagonists that breathes life into this movie. Kim’s depiction of Ji-Woo’s sensitive but highly intelligent personality is utterly mind-blowing. Subtle eye movements, the way she holds her body, the inflection of her voice and the many other traits she embedded into the character, allows us as the audience to better understand the distinctive design of her personality. While this film does place its attention predominantly on Sun-Ho’s redemptive journey, it’s the juxtaposition between his hyper-focused attitude and Ji-Woo’s endearing clumsiness that provides viewers with such a charming tale. 

Overall this movie doesn’t garner much outside of its plot, or within its technical realms for audience members. As previously stated, Innocent Witness has a distinctive Korean vibe to its cinematography and aesthetic. Airbrushed skin tones, pastel colour boards, and blue skies all around are usually the go-to in these types of movies. Although I would usually prefer more involved technical skills with other films, I found myself happily enjoying the basics with this one, and instead investing myself more in the storyline.

Innocent Witness at a glance might seem like your stereotypical Korean crime drama, but after a closer viewing is a wonderful, and elegantly told tale about two rare individuals. Sun-Ho’s charming, but pragmatic approach to life, along with Ji-Woo’s immaturity and childish innocence, blend together delightfully in this story of unlikely friendship.

For those looking for a movie with joy, pain and tension, Innocent Witness is the one that has it all.

The Innocent Witness
Screened at the Korean Film Festival 2019
View Trailer