Reading Log #6

The korean film “Miracle In Cell No.7” is a heart gripping story of a strong bond between a father and his daughter. As the father is falsely accused of assaulting and killing a young girl they are separated but it doesn't stop the daughter from seeing her dad.

An important scene in the film is when Yeseung, the daughter, is refusing to eat, drink or sleep as she stands for the right for her to see her father, ending up in hospital with a cold. Chief Jang Min-hwan, visits, getting notified the child is out of control and only one orphanage in the countryside can take her. Yeseung, begs the chief to not send her further away from her father, quoting ‘Mister? I don't want to go far away. Can't you just arrest me, too? Please?’. This scene is important as it gave the Chief second thoughts on Yong-Gu being a bad person or not, being able to kill a girl or not. He gives permission for Yeseung to visit him in prison. This also links to the famous award-winning film, “The Green Mile”, as Paul Edgecomb doesn't believe himself that John Coffey could kill nor harm anyone, not a child after realising what he is truly like. Quoting, ‘I just can't see God putting a gift like that in the hands of a man who would kill a child’.

Another important scene in the film is when the father of the victim who is also a very high ranked commissioner, threatens Yong-Gu to confess he killed and raped his own daughter or he would do the same to Yeseung, abusing him to scare him more. Quoting, ‘Accept your punishment. If not I'll do the same to your daughter’. I think scene was important as Yong-gu changed his original statement in trial, to stating he did kill and rape the victim, giving him a death sentence just to save his very own daughter, Yeseung. This showed the audience that Yong-gu would sacrifice his own life just to save his own daughters. This is linked to the film “Harry Potter: The Half-Blood Prince” when Harry tells Professor Slughorn to be brave and help Harry. Also telling him how his mother was so brave that she sacrificed her life for his because of her strong love for her son. Quoting, ‘Be brave, Professor. Be brave like my mother... Otherwise, you disgrace her. Otherwise, she died for nothing. Otherwise, the bowl will remain empty... forever”.

An intense and important scene is placed year's later, when Yeseung is grown up and is in court prosecuting about the case of her own father, claiming it needs to be re-investigated and re-charged. Explaining to the court that the trial was unfair and bias as they took advantage of her father's disability. Quoting, ‘They abused the defendant's mental disability and the love for his daughter to force him to give up on everything’. This gives the audience an emotional scene as she displays her strong love for her father and frustration with the court's verdict as they overlooked the evidence and ruined the life of an innocent man and a father of a daughter.

The film “Miracle In Cell No.7” is a twist turning story that leaves you in tears. I recommended this film to show that people can not judge easily, without carefully looking.