Plot Summary
Serve the People follows the story of Mu-gwang (Yeon Woo-jin), a soldier in 1970s North Korea, who is a heavily disciplined and devoted soldier marked as a model laborer in a military farm unit. Even with his dedication, life under the harsh communist regime is joyless and monotonous.
As the film progresses, he receives a summons to the luxurious villa of Division Commander (Jo Sung-ha) where he is made to to do cooking and housekeeping. There he meets the Commander’s much younger and beautiful wife, Soo-ryun (Ji An), who due to the nature of her marriage is very lonely and frustrated.
Initially careful, a secret affair begins with tension and guilt but swiftly transforms into passionate love. Mu-gwang becomes more susceptible to Soo-ryun’s commanding touch and their secret affair encourages her to exploit his loyalty to authority. She ends up pulling him deeper into moral compromise with risk.
Absolute devotion worsens the psychological spiral for Mu-gwang tangled in desire and enforced duty. Betrayal, exposure, and psychological collapse ensue exposing the destruction loyalty and totalitarian regimes bring upon the individual.
🎭 Characters & Performances
👨🌾 Mu-gwang (Yeon Woo-jin)
Yeon Woo-jin’s portrayal of Mu-gwang captures a man conflicted between duty and desire, providing a deeply physical performance that is emotionally multifaceted. His quiet demeanor alongside his tortured expression shows his internalized oppression.
👩 Soo-ryun (Ji An)
Ji An portrays her character, Soo-ryun, with fearless passion, showcasing psychological layers. Her performance embodies the character’s loneliness and anger, revealing the manipulative duality of a victim and an oppressor within the confines of a patriarchal society.
👨✈️ Division Commander (Jo Sung-ha)
Jo Sung-ha as Soo-ryun’s husband imparts to the role a blend of cold authority and haughty, dismissive arrogance as a representation of the state’s impersonal power and exploitative force.
🎥 Themes & Emotional Undercurrents
❤️🔥 Desire vs. Duty
The film examines sexual desire as a subversive tool of self-expression in societies that stifle personal freedom.
⚖️ Power, Class, and Hypocrisy
Soo-ryun’s affair with Mu-gwang critiques the communist elite’s hypocrisy of enjoying luxuries and exploiting underlings while preaching egalitarianism.
🕊️ Freedom and Repression
Mu-gwang’s journey symbolizes the erosion of personal agency under ideological regimes that render even love as perilous.
🔧 Cinematic Style
Jang Cheol-soo (Bedevilled) directed the film, fusing erotic realism with political critique. Warm, saturated lighting used during sensual scenes starkly contrasts the grey-toned military settings.
Close-ups showcase the physical aspects of intimacy while simultaneously peeling back layers of psychological discomfort.
Imagery related to food preparation and household tasks reflects underlying sexual and class power dynamics.
🎼 Sound & Atmosphere
Soundtracks in the film are scarce, consisting of ambient noises like simmering pots, footsteps, and whispers.
During tender moments, traditional Korean instrumentals infuse Korean melancholy while grounding the lover’s sentiments in Eastern culture.
🌟 Reception
🎯 Critical Response:
Mixed to positive.
The bold eroticism, impressive performances, and political layers earned it praise, yet several reviewers pointed out the lack of developed character arcs and a rushed ending.
🏆 Festival Presence:
Screened at international Asian film festivals for its relentless portrayal of desire within the framework of authoritarian repression.
✅ Final Verdict
Serve the People (2022) stands out with its brazen portrayal of forbidden love and moral compromise within a rigid system of Korean society, alongside its striking critique of class hierarchy, sexual politics, and ideological control. It seamlessly weaves eroticism with poignancy and incisive social commentary, making it both provocative and gentle.
Watch Free Movies on yesmovies