Smugglers (Milsu) movie is a nostalgic ride into 1970s Korea. This female-stars-led action movie takes us back in time to when the smuggling business was expanding its footprints.
The smugglers were one of the most active criminals in the 1970s era across the world. They operated not only in Korea but also in many other countries. It was a different world.
Synopsis of the Smugglers (Milsu) 2023 movie
It is an action crime film set in the 1970s in a small, peaceful village by the sea where two women get unexpectedly caught up in a high-stakes smuggling scheme.
Spoiler Free Review of the Smugglers (Milsu) 2023 movie
The introduction
This fictional tale is set in a small coastal village in Guncheonl which is geographically not very far from Jeju city. It narrates a story about the illegal but thriving smuggling operations in 1970s South Korea. At the same time, the traditional fishing business was struggling to make any kind of decent money. The new chemical factories were coming up, but they were polluting and killing marine life including the precious sea fishes.
As a result, the traditional Jeju Haenyeo (해녀; sea women or female divers in South Korea) who have harvested shellfish and other sea treasures for hundreds of years suffered. Their livelihoods were threatened too. So, given all kinds of extreme circumstances and limited opportunities, some of these women (Haenyeo) became smugglers. It is their stories.
So, what is the basic storyline?
The two leading female characters Jo Choon-Ja (Kim Hye-Soo) and Jin-Sook (Yum Jung-Ah) are Haenyeo in the film. These two along with their friends use their extensive knowledge of marine life, diving, swimming, and other sea experiences to earn illegal money through smuggling of the goods. But everything is not hunky-dory in their criminal life. As they face numerous challenges from their foes, friends, competitions, customs, and others.
In simple words, it is also about the female brain versus the male brawn. In a way, this movie also tells a revenge tale. Wherein, these women overcome personal losses to fight back.
Who gets to win in the end and lead a happy and prosperous life?
That is the basic story.
About its ensemble cast and other aspects
We liked the feisty and strong-willed women characters of Kim Hye-Soo (Jo Choon-Ja), Yum Jung-Ah (Jin-Sook), Go Min-Si (Go Ok-Bun) and others in this film. In this female-centric film, most of the male actors do not have much to do, except perhaps the antagonists like Zo In-Sung (Sergeant Kwon), Kim Jong-Soo (Lee Jang-Chun) and others in the film. All of them have done a fairly good acting job in it.
Its director has done a good job in this nostalgic trip into the past. The dresses, the boats, the set designs, and the cinematography all of them worked well to take us to the 1970s era. We also liked the Korean songs in it. In addition, we liked the action sequences in it. However, a couple of them were too violent for our taste. Especially, the fight scenes which involved knives and other sharp objects. But, the underwater chase and fight sequences were quite good. Not to forget the superb cameo by the dangerous hunting shark.
The conclusion
To be honest, this film does have a few flaws. But, one can overlook them. So, we just sat back, relaxed and watched this adventurous film. We loved those scenes where this bunch of brave Haenyeo women dived into the sea and came out with a fortune. Overall, it is a fun and exciting Korean drama about family, friendship, enmity and of course smuggling. With enough twists and turns, its novelty kept us engaged and entertained. We liked this film.
Ratings of the Smugglers (Milsu) 2023 movie
| FM rating | 3.50/5 |
| FM short comment | The female stars in this 1970s smuggling tale from Korea stole the scenes in the movie. We liked this novel anecdote with fresh and original content. |
Poster of the Smugglers (Milsu) 2023 movie
Key Details of the Smugglers (Milsu) 2023 movie
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Crime |
| Original language | Korean |
| Original title | 밀수 (Milsu) means Smuggling |
| Released | 26 July (Korea) & 15 September, 2023 (World) |
| Duration | 2 hours 9 minutes |
| Director | Seung-wan Ryu |
| Music | Chang Kiha |
| Writers | Cha-won Choi, Seung-wan Ryu, & Kim Jung Youn |
| Cast | Yum Jung-Ah (Jin-Sook), Kim Hye-Soo (Jo Choon-Ja), Go Min-Si (Go Ok-Bun), Zo In-Sung (Sergeant Kwon), Jeong Min Park (Jang Do-Ri), Kim Jong-Soo (Lee Jhang Chun), Park Joon-Myeon (Yang Geum-Ne), etc. |
| Distributor | Next Entertainment World |
Trailer of the Smugglers (Milsu) 2023 movie
Awards won by the Smugglers (Milsu) 2023 movie
| Name of the Award | Award category and the Winner |
|---|---|
| Grand Bell Awards, South Korea | 2023 Winner Grand Bell Award Best Director – Seung-wan Ryu 2023 Winner Grand Bell Award Best Cinematography – Young-hwan Choi |
| Blue Dragon Awards | 2023 Winner Blue Dragon Award Best Film 2023 Winner Blue Dragon Award Best Supporting Actor – Zo In-sung 2023 Winner Blue Dragon Award Best New Actress – Go Min-Si 2023 Winner Blue Dragon Award Best Music |
| Chunsa Film Art Awards | 2023 Winner Chunsa Film Art Award Best Actress Kim Hye-Soo |
Featured Image & Poster of the Smugglers (Milsu) 2023 movie | Pics. Credit: Next Entertainment World