Action Film ‘Kill Boksoon’ Makes World Premiere at Berlinale

Netflix today debuted action film Kill Boksoon at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival to an appreciative crowd and glowing reviews.

Attending the world premiere were director Byun Sung-hyun, along with cast members Jeon Do-Yeon and Kim Si-A. “Tonight was also the first time I’m watching the film on the big screen, it was certainly very special to do so together with so many people,” said Byun.

The film was invited to be screened at the event’s Berlinale Special section, which is for films that “elevate cinema as an art form, that reconnect the audience with very beloved characters or people and that explore the dark side of the night.”

The story follows ace assassin Gil Boksoon who is renowned throughout Asia for her ruthless skills and 100 percent success rate. Although she can turn any object into a lethal weapon, the single mother is struggling to parent her 15-year-old daughter through those tricky teenage years, while also trying to keep her real job a secret from her. 

Film critics and media lauded the action film, with Screen Daily describing that Kill Boksoon “knows how to land a punch.” Praising the collaboration within the team, The Hollywood Reporter adds, “Byun smartly builds the film around Jeon and she never fails to deliver, whether her character is cutting a guy up or trying to cut to her daughter’s heart.”

Acclaimed Korean actor Jeon, who was crowned best actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her performance in the 2007 film Secret Sunshine, takes on the challenge of portraying Gil’s double life in her first action movie.

When finding work-life balance involves the impossible extremes of snuffing out lives while nurturing a child, it’s clear that something’s got to give. But when Gil sets out for one last assignment before quitting her life as a killer, she breaks a crucial rule and becomes the target of not just the agency that employs her, but also the entire hitman industry. What’s a harried mother to do now?

Award-winning filmmaker Byun sums up the film with one word: contradiction. He points to a line in the show that explains all the characters’ actions, “We wage wars in the name of peace. We want to believe lies over the truth. And killers gather and make rules.”

‘Kill Boksoon’ will be available only on Netflix from March 31.