Movie Digest
After her father’s mysterious accident, Hae-Young who was otherwise a troublemaker is now put in a position of responsibility. She is now expected to be the guardian of her younger sibling. The mysterious circumstances of the accident cause her to investigate and force her to fight the world that is responsible for her misery.
The Feel-Good Part
The Girl on a Bulldozer is a crime thriller that is also an excellent character study of a young teenager dealing with loss and grief. The story provides a strong critique on capitalism, weaving Korea’s real problems of debt and poverty to create a robust and compelling backdrop for the film to be set in; this provides a sense of realism for the audience to hold onto. The sibling relationship gives the story so much heart; it is hard to not root for the protagonist, and to feel for her family during these trying times. The thriller is interesting to watch because of its layered characters that reveal their true selves little by little, through the course of the film.
The Disappointing Factor
The film promises a lot of action and grit through the trailer and poster that misleads the audience into thinking this is purely a revenge-based crime thriller. The supposed revenge-based plot is left for the last few minutes of the film which may leave the audience bored, or cause them to lose interest in the film quickly. The emotional aspects of the film are present but do very little to move the plot forward, apart from adding angst to the protagonist’s story and hence, justifying her actions. Everything gets increasingly predictable as the plot progresses which may lose the audience midway.
In-Depth Analysis
The film’s creative choices fit the story perfectly; it balances the popcorn flick plotlines with indie filmmaking techniques which ensures that more number of people enjoy this. The editing is also well-done, especially during the flashback scenes which helps the film transition from different timelines quite smoothly. The montages and parallels that are drawn between Ha-Young and her father are very intriguing and add a unique layer to the story.
Star Power
Kim Hye-Yoon who was previously seen in Sky Castle and Extraordinary You is the star of the movie and carries the film on her shoulders flawlessly. The complexity of the character really shines through her performance. Her anger that is just a projection of her grief, translates incredibly well on screen. Her acting is what really make the audience care for the characters and hence, the film.
Overall Opinion
This film is quite engaging and entertaining, it may not be the most memorable piece of media that deals with these elements, but it’s well-made, especially for the director’s debut feature. The audience should go in expecting good performances and layered characters instead of an action-packed film with intricate stunts. All in all, it makes for a good time and is an admirable attempt of delivering cultural critique through the crime and revenge lens.
