Yeoldu beonjjae yong uija

The 12th Suspect takes place in a post-war Seoul where tensions still linger and spill into the Oriental Tea House. The murder of a teahouse regular draws both the attention of a military inspector and the silence of the artists and intellectuals who frequently gather there. Something doesn’t feel quite right as casual conversation piques the curiosity-turned-interrogation of a military inspector from special operations. As the characters piece together aloud what might have happened to the poet, the plot paces towards its underlying premise: how are everyday people supposed to live under the rule of any government? In The 12th Suspect, the truth might resemble a ball of yarn, but in reality, it’s razor wire wound tight. (San Diego Asian Film Festival)