12.12: The Day: KIM Sung-soo’s thriller is a recreation of the military coup in Korea at the end of 1979; it is a very competent and exciting procedural of the events before and during the day of the attempt. The film focuses on the revolt’s ringleader and his main opposition, but it includes a huge number of other characters; it can be hard, at times, to know who is on which side, but then again, that seemed to be an issue with the coup itself, with very fluid allegiances throughout the day. In any case, the film brings Samuel Johnson’s quote, “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel”, to mind. JUNG Woo-sung plays the general who was trying to play by the book and respect the rule of law, and he is quietly dignified and convincing in the role; HWANG Jung-min plays the somewhat vulgar but charismatic (among his peers, at least) ringleader, in a somewhat more colourful but equally solid performance. Aesthetically, the film is dark, metallic, and cold in its visuals and sports a fine period recreation; editor KIM Sang-beom moves the film quickly and keeps it constantly at a thrilling pace.