The Last Witness (2001 Film)

The Last Witness (Korean: 흑수선; RR: Heugsuseon) is a 2001 South Korean mystery film directed by Bae Chang-ho. The film is based on a novel of the same name by Kim Seong-jong, which was previously adapted into a 1980 film directed by Lee Doo-yong.

Poster for the film The Last Witness — Theatrical poster for The Last Witness (2001).

Plot

The narrative centers on Detective Oh, played by Lee Jung-jae, who investigates the murder of a North Korean man. As the investigation deepens, Oh discovers a diary written by a nun. The diary reveals a complex history involving the escape of North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) during the Korean War. The detective's pursuit of the truth leads him to uncover the lives of the nun and her partner, bridging the gap between the wartime past and the contemporary investigation.

Production

The film was produced by Taewon Entertainment and distributed by Cinema Service. It features a screenplay written by director Bae Chang-ho. The cinematography was handled by Kim Yun-su. The film was released in South Korea on November 16, 2001, with a total runtime of 106 minutes.

Cast

Lee Mi-yeon as Son Ji-hye
Ahn Sung-ki as Hwang-seok
Lee Jung-jae as Detective Oh
Jeong Jun-ho as Han Dong-ju
Lee Ki-young as Yang Dal-su
No Seung-jin as Detective Choi