A Taxi Driver
A Taxi Driver

Movie spotlight

A Taxi Driver

2017
Movie
138 min
Korean

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.

Insights

IMDb7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes91%
Metacritic78/100
Google Users96%
Director: Jang HoonGenres: Drama, Action

Plot Summary

In 1980 Gwangju, South Korea, a humble taxi driver named Man-seob takes a wealthy German journalist to the city, unaware that it's a politically sensitive area. As they navigate the city, they witness the brutal suppression of a pro-democracy uprising by the military government. Man-seob finds himself increasingly drawn into the students' struggle, risking his own life to help the journalist document the truth.

Critical Reception

A Taxi Driver was a critical and commercial success, lauded for its powerful storytelling, strong performances, and historical significance. It resonated with audiences for its portrayal of ordinary citizens caught in extraordinary circumstances and its depiction of a pivotal moment in South Korean history. The film achieved massive box office success in South Korea.

What Reviewers Say

  • A deeply moving and historically significant film that highlights the courage of ordinary people.

  • Praised for its compelling performances, particularly from Song Kang-ho, and its sensitive handling of a tragic historical event.

  • Viewers found the film to be both heartbreaking and inspiring, effectively conveying the brutality of the Gwangju Uprising.

Google audience: Google users overwhelmingly praised 'A Taxi Driver' for its emotional impact, historical accuracy, and the powerful performances of its cast. Many highlighted the film's ability to educate audiences about the Gwangju Uprising while also delivering a compelling human drama. The bravery of the characters and the film's ability to evoke strong emotions were frequently mentioned positive points.

Awards & Accolades

Won numerous awards in South Korea, including Best Film and Best Actor (Song Kang-ho) at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. It was also South Korea's submission for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the true story of German journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter, who was the first foreigner to report on the Gwangju Uprising and was secretly driven there by his Gwangju taxi driver, Kim Sa-bok.

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1 reviews
Arnab.854

Arnab.854

# More than just a Historical Movie ## Intro The film is set in the Spring of 1980 Seoul and is based on a true story related to the [Gwangju Uprising](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwangju_Uprising) which according to this movie, Uni...

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