A Taxi Driver is a 2017 South Korean drama film directed by Jang Hoon and written by Eom Yu-na. Starring Song Kang-ho in the lead role, the film also features Thomas Kretschmann, Yoo Hae-jin, and Ryu Jun-yeol. The story is based on the real-life events of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, where a Seoul taxi driver becomes inadvertently involved in the historic protests through his interactions with German journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter. However, much of the taxi driver’s personal life and his experiences outside of Gwangju are fictionalized due to the limited information available at the time of the film’s production.
A Taxi Driver - Release Date, Trailer, Songs, Cast
Book Your Tickets: Not availableAvailable On OTT Platforms: Not available| Movie: | A Taxi Driver |
| Genre: | Action,Comedy |
| Language: | Korean |
| Director: | Hun Jang |
| Main Cast: | Song Kang-ho ,Thomas Kretschmann |
| Release Date: | 2 August 2017 |
| Banner: | The Lamp |
| Music: | Jo Yeong-wook |
| Budget: | Not available |
| Runtime: | 2h 17m |
Released on August 2, 2017, A Taxi Driver was met with critical acclaim for its emotional depth and unique approach to portraying the Gwangju Uprising. The film’s powerful storytelling, along with Song Kang-ho’s standout performance, earned it a spot as South Korea’s official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 90th Academy Awards. It was also a major commercial success, becoming the second highest-grossing film in South Korea for 2017 and ranking among the top-grossing South Korean films of all time.
The film was shown internationally, premiering at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, where Song Kang-ho received the Best Actor award. It was then released in North America, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and several Asian countries, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan.
A Taxi Driver was also recognized by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who watched the film with Edeltraut Brahmstaedt, the widow of Jürgen Hinzpeter. Following the screening, President Moon praised the film for shedding light on the uprising and its connection to South Korea’s democratization efforts, emphasizing the ongoing need to reveal the full truth of the event.
The film was praised for its ability to balance the intense drama of the uprising with lighter, more peaceful moments, allowing for an emotional range that captivated audiences. Cinematographically, the film was noted for its impactful scenes, such as the checkpoint and mountain-road chase sequences, where the visuals heightened the tension and made the characters’ decisions more compelling. Some critics, however, pointed out certain formulaic elements, including the use of slow-motion and melodramatic scenes, which occasionally disrupted the narrative flow.
A Taxi Driver Movie Screenshot
A Taxi Driver Movie Story
In 1980, Kim Man-seob, a widowed and debt-ridden taxi driver in Seoul, overhears another driver bragging about a lucrative 100,000-won fare to transport a foreigner to Gwangju. Seizing the opportunity, Man-seob steals the client, unaware of the escalating civil unrest in the city. The foreigner is Jürgen “Peter” Hinzpeter, a German journalist intent on covering the growing protests in Gwangju. As they approach the city, they are stopped by soldiers but manage to pass through with Peter posing as a businessman.
Once in Gwangju, they meet a group of college students who take a liking to Peter and invite him into their pickup truck. Man-seob, reluctant to get involved in the unrest, decides to turn back. Along the way, he stops to help an elderly woman, taking her to a local hospital in search of her son, who turns out to be one of the students from the group. Peter confronts Man-seob about abandoning him, offering to pay part of the fare, but the students and local taxi drivers refuse to let him pay until Man-seob completes the trip.
Man-seob, Peter, and a student named Jae-sik head to a protest at the Provincial Office, where they are welcomed with food and gifts by the protesters. Peter captures footage of the violent crackdowns that follow. The group narrowly escapes an attempted arrest by plainclothes officers from the Defense Security Command (DSC).
That night, Man-seob’s taxi breaks down, and a local driver named Tae-soo offers to repair it, allowing the men to stay at his home. During dinner, news reports reveal the bombing of a television station, prompting the group to head there so Peter can film the chaos. The officers soon recognize Peter, chasing the three men. Man-seob is beaten, and Jae-sik is captured, shouting for Peter to share his footage with the world before being taken away.
A Taxi Driver Movie Review
This movie brilliantly depicts ordinary people doing extraordinary things, capturing their emotions in a way that resonates deeply. It’s a film that deserves much more recognition and discussion. Despite a few inaccuracies, which I’ve come to understand through research, the film still shines as one of the best in its genre. The men and women who stood up against oppression during those dark times are heroes, both then and now. My heartfelt condolences go to the people of Gwangju who lost their lives, as well as to the taxi driver and the reporter—may they all rest in peace. To those who still live with the memory of these events, I wish you peace and happiness beyond words. Your bravery and dedication to your country will never be forgotten.
A Taxi Driver Movie Trailer
FAQ About A Taxi Driver Movie
Q1 – Who Directed A Taxi Driver Movie?
A -Hun Jang
Q2-What Genre Is A Taxi Driver Movie?
A-Action,Comedy
Q3-Lead Cast In A Taxi Driver Movie?
A-Song Kang-ho ,Thomas Kretschmann
Q4- Rating Of A Taxi Driver Movie?
A-16+
