A Taxi Driver
Based on true events, an untold story of a taxi driver.
Overview
May, 1980. Man-seob is a taxi driver in Seoul who lives from hand to mouth, raising his young daughter alone. One day, he hears that there is a foreigner who will pay big money for a drive down to Gwangju city. Not knowing that he’s a German journalist with a hidden agenda, Man-seob takes the job.
Backdrop
What makes this movie Worth Watching
The film is based on a true story about Jürgen Hinzpeter, a German journalist who risked his life to report on the Gwangju Uprising in 1980, a pro-democracy movement brutally suppressed by the South Korean military government. The movie serves as a tribute to the civilians who fought for democracy and the journalists who helped expose the truth to the world, a particularly sensitive topic in South Korean history.
- Powerful performances, especially from Song Kang-ho and Thomas Kretschmann, bring the characters to life and make their experiences deeply resonant.
- The film provides a compelling and accessible portrayal of a significant historical event, the Gwangju Uprising, offering a human perspective on a politically charged period.
- The unlikely friendship that develops between the taxi driver and the German journalist adds heart and humor to the otherwise serious subject matter, showcasing the power of human connection in the face of adversity.
- The film explores universal themes of courage, empathy, and the importance of bearing witness to injustice, making it relevant and thought-provoking for audiences worldwide.
Fun Facts
- The real Jürgen Hinzpeter, although he died before the film's release, saw a rough cut and praised Song Kang-ho's portrayal of Kim Man-seob, the taxi driver.
- While the film is largely accurate, some elements were fictionalized for dramatic effect, including the specific interactions between the taxi driver and the students, which were pieced together from various accounts.