The Client (2011 South Korean Film)
The Client (Korean: 의뢰인; RR: Uiroein) is a 2011 South Korean courtroom thriller directed by Sohn Young-sung. The film explores the legal and psychological complexities surrounding a murder trial where the body of the victim is never recovered.
Plot
Han Chul-min (Jang Hyuk) returns home on his wedding anniversary to find his apartment swarming with police. He is arrested for the murder of his wife, despite the absence of a body. Attorney Kang Sung-hee (Ha Jung-woo) takes on the case, challenging the prosecution's reliance on circumstantial evidence. The case becomes increasingly complicated as Prosecutor Ahn Min-ho (Park Hee-soon) reveals that Han was previously a suspect in a serial murder investigation, casting doubt on his innocence and raising questions about whether he is a victim of a miscarriage of justice or a calculated killer.
Production
The film was directed by Sohn Young-sung, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Lee Choon-hyung. Principal photography commenced in late November 2010 and concluded on April 1, 2011.
Cast
- Ha Jung-woo as Kang Sung-hee, a defense attorney
- Park Hee-soon as Ahn Min-ho, a prosecutor
- Jang Hyuk as Han Chul-min, the murder suspect
- Sung Dong-il as Jang Ho-won, a legal broker
- Yoo Da-in as Seo Jung-ah, the murder victim
Reception and Festivals
The Client was screened at several international film festivals, including the 15th Shanghai International Film Festival in 2012, where it was nominated for the Asian New Talent Award. It was also featured at the 3rd Korean Film Festival in Australia in 2012.
