The historical film 12.12: The Day was unanimously voted by the Korean Film Council as Korea’s entry for the 97th Academy Awards International Feature Film Category. Would they be able to make a name for themselves and continue the glory of their predecessors, Minari and Parasite?
12.12: The Day Plot
12.12: The Day follows the story of the Coup d’etat on December 12, 1979, after the assassination of President Park, wherein martial law was declared. Security commander Chun Doo-Gwang, played by Hwang Jung-Min, and the officers who follow him stage a coup. It is up to Lee Tae-Shin, played by Jung Woo-Sung, a stubborn commander of the Capital Garrison Command, who takes the mantle and fights against the former.
As someone who believes soldiers shouldn’t take political action, the conflict between two military men grows, leading the military leaders to postpone their decisions. In this chaos amid the long-awaited spring in Seoul, things take an unexpected direction. Kim Sung-Su directed the movie, which followed and dramatized the grueling nine hours of negotiation on December 12.
The Critical Acclaim
12.12: The Day, released on November 22, 2024, garnered over 13 million moviegoers. The movie ranked 9th in the all-time box office chart for cumulative viewers in Korea. The film, which dramatized the coup d’etat in South Korea that brought totalitarian president Chun Doo-Hwan in power, won the Grand Prize in the film category at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards this year, including the Best Picture and Best Male Actor Award.
It also performed well in North America, grossing over $1 million. By February 2024, the movie had grossed $97 million worldwide. The film, set 40 years ago, resonated with viewers below the age of thirty, making an impact that led to young people’s interest in Korean history, especially the coup d’etat of December 12, 2024.
Unanimously Chosen For The Academy Awards/Oscars
In the press release on Wednesday, a judge explained that 12.12: The Day gave dramatic enjoyment, showing the directing ability to amplify its mise-en-scène from the actors’ outstanding performances and its exceptional insight into history all come together seamlessly. The film’s portrayal of the illusion of charisma and the satire of evil deeply resonates with the Academy Awards’ thematic aspects. Hence, there was little room for disagreement in the film’s entry, explained the KOFIC judge.
Final Thoughts
Korea achieved unprecedented success in the past Academy Awards with Minari and Parasite; however, Korea didn’t win in 2022 and 2023, with their bets Concrete Utopia (2023) and Decision to Leave (2022). 12.12: The Day’s international acclaim and blockbuster success excite people about how it will perform in the upcoming 97th Academy Awards. According to the Korean Film Council, The Academy Awards will announce the shortlisted list of nominees by the end of this year.
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