Thursday, July 2, 2015

Whistleblower (2014) NYAFF 2015


Whistleblower is one of the best films at NYAFF. Its rapidly become one of my favorite films of the year.

The reason that the film scores so highly with me is that it’s a film that grabs you from the opening instant and quietly drags you along to the end, daring you not watch. This isn’t because it’s dark and gruesome, simply because it would seem, on the face of it to be dull and run of the mill. The film is basically reporters trying to get a story and take out a well-loved and well respected doctor who is blowing smoke up the world’s ass.

Based on the true story of Hwang Woo-suk (here called Dr Lee),. Whistleblower follows the TV news team that was tipped off that the good doctors research into stem cell is either deeply flawed or outright nonexistent. Having to walk a fine line since Dr Lee has lots of friends in high places. They also need to protect their source, a well-placed scientist on Lee's team whose wife is also working for the good doctor. It’s one hell of tale.

I wish I knew what sort of magic director Yim Soon-Rye used to put this film together but she should bottle it. Somehow she has managed to make a film about people in offices and regular locations exciting from the get go. I’d say its perfect casting and the right selection of dialog to peek you interest from frame one. Minutes into the film I wanted to know how this was going to play out and what was going to happen to all of the characters- this despite knowing how it all came out in real life.

This is a great great film.

A must see- trust me- I’m hunting down a DVD copy for myself.

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