[REVIEW] 'THE MAN STANDING NEXT' - The Story Behind the Assassination of the Third President of South Korea

Kapanlagi.com - The people of South Korea have a dark history regarding the assassination of their third president, Park Chung Hee, by his own colleague, Kim Jae Gyu, on October 26, 1979. It is this tragic event that serves as the basis for the making of the film THE MAN STANDING NEXT.

This political drama by Woo Min Ho highlights the forty days leading up to President Park's assassination by Kim, who was a director at the Korea Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA). Apparently, there were many factors behind the shooting incident that ultimately led to Kim being sentenced to hang on May 24, 1980.

South Korean actor who has successfully made a name internationally, Lee Byung Hun, was chosen to portray the character of Kim. Meanwhile, the role of President Park falls on Lee Sung Min. Although this is an adaptation of a true story, it should be noted that the full names of the characters have been intentionally changed, except for their nicknames.

1. Review THE MAN STANDING NEXT

As with any film adaptation of real events, as a viewer, at least you already know how it ends. However, the key to enjoying this type of entertainment is to see how closely the people behind the scenes visualize the characters and the process leading to an interesting ending.

THE MAN STANDING NEXT follows a fast-paced narrative with a progressive storyline. Make sure to stay focused while watching because if you miss any dialogue or scene sequences, you might get a little confused.

2.

THE MAN STANDING NEXT © Showbox

Fortunately, this film is filled with actors whose quality is beyond doubt. The duo of Lee Byung Hun and Lee Sung Min can grip the audience to stay seated and enjoy the well-executed and detailed political intrigue.

The film, also starring Kwak Do Won, Lee Hee Joon, and Kim So Jin, achieved financial success upon its release in South Korea earlier this year. For its distribution in Indonesia, the film will be shown in non-XXI cinemas starting from February 26, 2020.

(kpl/abs/pit)