Content:Ī TAXI DRIVER is a Korean movie about a German journalist and a Korean taxi driver who strive to get the word out about a government massacre of citizens during a famous political uprising against South Korea’s new military dictator in May 1980.
A TAXI DRIVER also has a strong, abhorrent humanist, communist worldview that contains some extreme violence, lots of foul language and stereotypes a villain as a rabid anti-communist. The change in tone is well done, but some of the acting and situations are a bit over the top. Then, the movie turns serious as the extent of the oppression in Gwangju come to the fore. What Kim doesn’t know is that they’re headed to a town where a massive student protest against the government’s new military leader is being violently suppressed by government troops.Ī TAXI DRIVER starts off with some funny, touching moments as the title character tries to deal with job problems and his daughter’s feud with their landlady’s son. Behind in his rent, Kim steals the rich fare of another taxi driver, which includes ferrying a German reporter 150 miles south to Gwangju. Kim is having trouble making ends meet, including providing for his daughter. Based on a true story, the movie opens by focusing on the life of a poor widowed taxicab driver in Seoul named Kim Man-seob.