“Memories of Murder” (2003) is a renowned South Korean crime film directed by Bong Joon-ho, based on a true story of serial murders in Hwaseong, South Korea, from 1986 to 1991. Here’s a brief summary of the film:

Set in the 1980s in a rural area near Seoul, the film depicts a series of brutal murders and rapes. Detectives Park Doo-man (played by Song Kang-ho) and Cho Yong-koo (played by Kim Roi-ha) are assigned to investigate these crimes. They face significant challenges due to their limited investigative experience and resort to rough methods to gather evidence and interrogate suspects.

As the number of unsolved murders rises and no clear suspect emerges, the lives of both detectives are upended amidst pressure from public opinion and the media. The arrival of detective Seo Tae-yoon (played by Kim Sang-kyung) from Seoul brings a fresh perspective and more advanced forensic methods. However, competition and conflicts arise between the local detectives and Detective Seo due to their differing approaches and personalities.

The film explores the psychological tensions during the investigation and the impact of the case on the community and victims’ families. It portrays authentically the struggles and difficulties in solving a series of heinous crimes in a society unfamiliar with such atrocities.

“Memories of Murder” has been highly acclaimed for its artistic merit and received widespread international recognition for its performances, screenplay, and direction by Bong Joon-ho.