“Ballerina” is a 2023 South Korean action-thriller movie that was both written and directed by Lee Chung-hyun. Known for his earlier psychological thriller The Call, director Lee crafts this film as a stylish and emotionally driven tale of revenge. He has produced Ballerina under the banner of Climax Studio and has distributed it worldwide through Netflix. The film’s duration is approximately 93 minutes, and it rapidly gained attention as one of the most discussed Korean releases of the year owing to its intense direction, fight choreography, and a captivating lead performance.
Following the death of her close friend Min-hee, a former elite bodyguard named Jang Ok-ju receives a misleading message. Her friend, a ballerina, was previously manipulated by a trafficker named Choi Pro. Min-hee’s suicide note includes a message to avenge her life stating, “to find and destroy the man who ruined her life.”
Ok-ju, cold and calculating, starts to hunt down Choi Pro. Years spent in high-profile security detail shaped her into a masterful instrument of retribution. Along the way, she infiltrates his inner circle, rescues another potential victim, and uncovers an unsettling cache of videos linked to his trafficking ring. As she progresses, she now must confront not just Pro’s violent henchmen and dangerous underworld figures, but also emotionally laden flashbacks of her time with Min-hee.
The last act brings us to a merciless showdown in a nightclub and an underground trafficking hub, where Ok-ju comes to blows with Pro’s men. With grim and unyielding conviction, she exacts brutal, symbolic justice, annihilating evidence and silencing the perverse culprits. Having completed her mission, she departs—though solitary, she is at peace—having avenged her friend.
Main Cast and Characters:
Jeon Jong-seo as Jang Ok-ju: An operative turned into a recluse who seeks solace in silence, until calamity demands she resorts to violence. Jeon brings to life an unforgettable character who threads together stoicism, profound grief, and a smoldering rage.
Kim Ji-hoon as Choi Pro: The calm, cruel, scheming trafficker with charm enough to disguise his vile nature that he hides behind. He represents the primary antagonist, becoming the face of the insidious malignancy that the film seeks to expose.
Park Yu-rim as Choi Min-hee: Although she has died before the events of the film, Min-hee’s emotional connection with Ok-ju keeps her alive in spirit. It is her death that compels the entire narrative.
Supporting Cast: These include a teenage girl whom Ok-ju saved and teamed up with for a short time, along with various elements of the criminal underbelly that broaden the world of crime and exploitation that Ok-ju must contend with.
Direction and Visual Style
The film has been described as having a “clean-sharp aesthetic” which fits perfectly with the film’s distinct style. In addition to the intimacy of memory and the brutality of revenge, the film’s color palette shifts from neon hues to cold steel greys. Cinematography is often characteristically tight and fluid, alternating between long takes during fight scenes and quick cuts that capture the chaotic intensity of close-quarters combat.
While the action sequences retain a sense of realism, they are stylish. Unlike the grandiose choreography typical of action films, the fight scenes in Ballerina are visceral, short, and savage. Gunfights, knife battles, and hand-to-hand combat are all teeming with energy. For its atmospheric dread and precision, the motel scene in which Ok-ju silently executes an ambush set to a haunting music box tune stands out.
The soundtrack is minimalistic yet effective and tends to focus on silence or ambient noise to build tension rather than music.
THEMES AND SYMBOLISM
- Revenge and Redemption
Ballerina features the classic revenge motif at its center. Still, Ok-ju’s quest goes beyond mere vengeance: it is about restoring dignity to her friend and purging the guilt of survival. Her struggle is thoroughly intimate.
- Grief Transformed Into Action
The film does not linger on sobs. Rather, grief shows itself through Ok-ju’s cold focus and determination. Every strike she delivers bears the weight of inconsolable sorrow, which renders her path of destruction tragic rather than senseless.
- Women’s Empowerment and Feminity Bond
Ok-ju’s actions embody Min-hee’s voice. Ok-ju, in saving yet another victim, aids in perpetuating the protective and resistant cycle. The film thus serves as an emblem of female solidarity against predatory systems.
- Justice Outside the System:
The film makes a statement about the lack of formal justice systems that serve women. Ok-ju performs the tasks that the system utterly fails to do: seek out a monster and kill him. While her choices are violent, the film positions them as morally permissible in the context of a rotting society.
Reception and Reviews
Ballerina’s success on Netflix can be attributed to the Korean cinema market, as well as action-thriller aficionados. Reviews praised Jeon Jong-seo’s performance, describing it as intense, while also commending the sharp direction and emotional depth that accompanied the action sequences.
Visually, viewers appreciated the film’s choreography and dialogue, while the pacing also received accolades. However, some critics noted that the story arc was overly reliant on templates of revenge narratives and shallow exploration of the supporting characters’ emotions.
Regardless, the overall view is that the film achieves its goal as a revenge film with substance, style, and heart.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
Lead Performance: Jeon Jong-seo anchors the film with a commanding, nuanced performance.
Action Sequences: Brutal yet elegant, the action is both believable and stylized.
Visual and Tonal Consistency: The film maintains a clear mood, blending melancholy with explosive violence.
Moral Clarity: The black-and-white morality of revenge is complicated by layers of emotional grief and justice.
Weaknesses:
Predictable Structure: While effective, the narrative doesn’t reinvent the genre.
Minimal Character Development: Beyond the protagonist, other characters lack sufficient complexity and backstory.
Sparse Dialogue: Some scenes may be too reliant on silence or visual storytelling, which might not appeal to all audiences.
Conclusion
Ballerina vividly enhances South Korea’s legacy of revenge cinema. It is not only a tale of revenge but also a profound exploration of grief, love, and unwavering determination. Str executing a vision does not break ground in terms of plot; The film showcases Lee Chung-hyun’s growing confidence as a director.
The film serves as a showcase for Jeon Jong-seo, a rising name in international cinema. With its blend of emotional undertones and razor-sharp action, Ballerina carves its own space in the genre: elegant, ferocious, and unforgettable.
Ballerina offers something for everyone, whether it be the action, emotion, or stunning visuals. The film provides an engaging experience that endures well after viewing.
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