The Berlin File

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Movie: The Berlin File
Revised romanization: Bereurlin
Hangul: 베를린
Director: Ryoo Seung-Wan
Assistant Director: Park Noo-Ri
Writer: Ryoo Seung-Wan
Producer: Kang Hye-Jung
Cinematographer: Choi Young-Hwan
Assistant Director: Kim Jun-Sik
Release Date: January 29, 2013
Runtime: 120 min.
Genre: Action / Suspense-Thriller / Spy / North Korea
Distributor: CJ Entertainment
Language: Korean, English, German
Country: South Korea

Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

South Korean NIS agent Jung Jin-Soo (Han Suk-Kyu) and his team stake out the Grand Westin Hotel in Berlin, Germany. They watch as an illegal weapons deal is about to take place between a Middle Eastern buyer, an unidentified North Korean seller and a Russian broker. At the moment the transaction is about to be consummated, the South Korean NIS team set out to raid the hotel room. Before they are able to enter the hotel room, something unexpected occurs and the North Korean man is able to flee up to the hotel rooftop. NIS agent Jung Jin-Soo and the North Korean man have a physical struggle on the rooftop, with the North Korean man able to escape. They will cross paths again.

Meanwhile, the North Korean man is Pyo Jong-Sung (Ha Jung-Woo), a North Korean agent who is known as "the Hero of the Republic" back home. Pyo Jong-Sung then learns from the North Korean ambassador (Lee Kyoung-Young), that Dong Myung-Soo (Ryoo Seung-Bum) is on his way to Berlin. Dong Myung-Soo is the son of a powerful North Korean official and also a lethal killer. The North Korean ambassador knows that with Dong Myung-Soo's appearance in Berlin something ominous will happen.

Dong Myung-Soo arrives in Berlin with the intent to take out Pyo Jong-Sung, his wife (Gianna Jun) and the North Korean ambassador. Dong Myung-Soo will replace the ambassador with himself and have his father's men take over the Berlin operation. His plan begins with the revelation that Pyo Jong-Sung's wife, who works as a translator at the North Korean embassy, is a traitor. Soon, Pyo Jong-Sung and his wife find themselves the targets of several powerful organizations as they desperately try to get out Berlin alive.

Notes

Filming began April 16, 2012 at Namyangju Studio Complex in South Korea. The first scene shot involved Jung Jin-Soo (Han Suk-Kyu) and his team keeping watch on an illegal weapon distribution site. Filming in early May then moves to Berlin, Germany and Latvia.
"The Berlin File" opens in North America on February 15, 2013. Movie screens in Atlanta (AMC Colonial Atlanta), Chicago (AMC Showplace Niles), Dallas (AMC Grapevine Mills), Houston (AMC Studio 30), Los Angeles (CGV Cinemas/Regal La Habra/Edwards University Town Center), Las Vegas (Regal Village Square 18), New Jersey (AMC Ridgefield Park), New York City (AMC Empire/AMC Bay Terrace), New Orleans (Zeitgeist Arts Center), Philadelphia (AMC Plymouth Meeting), San Diego (AMC Fashion Valley), Seattle (Century Federal Way/AMC Alderwood), Washington D.C. (Fairfax Towne Center 10), Montreal (Cineplex Odeon Forum) & Toronto (Cineplex Odeon), Vancouver (Cinplex Silvercity Coquitlam). Movie also screens in San Francisco (Century 20 Daly City) beginning February 22, 2013.

Movies



Ha Jung-Woo	Han Suk-Kyu	Ryoo Seung-Bum	Gianna Jun
Pyo Jong-Sung	Jung Jin-Soo	Dong Myung-Soo	Ryun Jung-Hee

Additional Cast Members:

Lee Kyoung-Young - Lee Hak-Soo (North Korean ambassador in Berlin)
Kwak Do-Won - NIS agent
Choi Moo-Sung - NIS agent
Yoon Jong-Bin - NIS agent (computer specialist)
Kim Seo-Won - NIS analyst 1
Kim A-Ram - NIS analyst 5
Kim Seo-Hyung - North Korean embassy official
Bae Jeong-Nam - North Korean agent
Ji Gun-Woo - North Korean agent 1
Jo Ha-Suk - North Korean agent 2
Dong Bang-Woo - Dong Jong-Ho
Kwak Jin-Seok - NIS disguised agent 3
Baek Seung-Ik - security department agent 1
Park Ji-Hwan - security department agent 2
John Keogh - Marty
Numan Acar - Abdul
Tayfun Bademsoy - Ahsim
Werner Daehn - Uri
Yang Ji-Soo

Trailers

Image Gallery

Film Festivals

2013 (37th) Hong Kong International Film Festival - March 17 - April 4, 2013 - Gala Presentation
2013 (15th) Udine Far East Film - April 19-27, 2013 *European Premiere
2013 (5th) Terracotta Far East Film Festival - June 6-15, 2013 - Current Asian Cinema
2013 (12th) New York Asian Film Festival - June 28-July 15, 2013
2013 (12th) Asian Film Festival of Dallas - July 11-18, 2013
2013 (4th) Korean Film Festival in Australia - August 14-September 11, 2013 - Crime and Punishment
2013 (19th) L'Etrange Festival - September 5-15, 2013
2013 (18th) Busan International Film Festival - October 3-12, 2013 - Panorama

Awards

2013 (34th) Blue Dragon Film Awards - November 22, 2013
- Best Cinematography Choi Young-Hwan
- Best Lighting Kim Sung-Kwan
2013 (50th) Daejong Film Awards - November 1, 2013
- Best Lighting Kim Sung-Kwan
- Best Cinematography Choi Young-Hwan
Best Actor (Ha Jung-Woo) - 2013 (49th) BaekSang Arts Awards - May 9, 2013

Comments

KDramaRoom Jun 13 2021 12:45 pm My ratings for this film will not be that excellent, as I watched this film just now, meaning I have seen numerous korean films that are considered as best already, maybe if I have seen this during its run, I might've given this 10/10 rate as the action stunts in this film is sooo daebak like, it will make you speechless. And I am speechless right now, like I don't know how explain this. Maybe just one word, incomparable. Just the story maybe I can say that, it disappoints me a bit as the title says 'the Berlin File" so I was expecting something on it, like some kind of a minority report kinda encrypting code for the bomb or what not with those high end mathematics code, if you know what I mean, but apparently it isn't. It's just me maybe that is thinking of something else. And also since I already highlighted the stunts in this film like kudos to Ha JungWoo and Han Suk Kyu with those high quality actions scenes I think I got disappointed to the fact that Jun Ji Hyun was part in this film, so I was again expecting on something from her character since we all know she ace those Angelina Jolie kinda action in "The Thieves" but in this film she is just a wife of a north korean officer, a simple wife. So here, you will see a Jun Ji Hyun that dont even know how to fire a gun and scared with those gun fires and all those stuff. I thought we will be able to see a girl crush Jun Ji Hyun here since they casted her here, I thought she will do those action stuff, but it's fine she is still Jun JiHyun she still ace her character in here specially the ending part wherein she is dying, I admire her acting on that scene, she really acted like a dead person with a dead weight, she dont care as to what will Ha JungWoo do to her compare to the other dead or dying or unconscious acting I saw in some actresses that, you can tell that they are still protecting their self (if you know what I mean, I hope you get what I am trying to picture). So anyways, overall it is still a good film to me, recommendable as for the cinematography. Ratings 8.9/10

mt1982 Jul 07 2017 8:49 am There will be the berlin file 2 ??? i'm so impressed.. hope with the same main actors and of course jun ji hyun should be in the movie ...

red Dec 03 2015 6:29 pm Generally I'm not a big fan of this kind of movie but I like this one so far ! The suspense during the movie makes it really awesome. The main actor played his role so well

Mitch Jun 21 2015 9:04 pm I'am looking forward to have this movie a series.. The movie is not yet done..:)

hamis Mar 21 2015 3:37 am i look forward to what is to happen in vladvostok!!!!!

comment Dec 26 2013 9:36 pm What's up with all these North Korea films? I'm just saying...it's awesome!

xino Jul 01 2013 10:48 pm an alright action movie. Fighting was good and music excellent. First 25mins was very hard to follow and understand but things starts to self explain afterwards. The actors were nice and believable but if only there was more emphasis on character development. The only problem with the movie is, it tries to be too much Americano-action movie with a taste of Korean. 7/10

Sa.Ho Jun 30 2013 2:04 pm Watched it today , It was good but not perfect . BUT the actors were AMAZING . I can not find the right words to explain it . As expected Ha Jung Woo is just I don't know ......... perfect totally incredible , fabulous ah I LOVE his acting .

Bronte Jan 31 2013 10:14 am @Ki : big thanks dude. I found your review very helpful.

Ki Jan 29 2013 11:14 am Watched "The Berlin File" here in South Korea on opening day. I had really high expectations for the film and it actually surpassed those expectations by several orders. It was that great! The story gets more intense with every scene and just leaves you breathless by the final scene. The violence is also extreme but done in a spectacular manner. Ha Jung-Woo's fight scenes were just crazy impressive. Also, all of the four main leads were just so good with Gianna Jun (Jun Ji-Hyun) standing out for me, because with this film and "The Thieves" she has really stepped up her game and just shred her past image of a sweet face needing to play sweet characters. "The Berlin File" is also director Ryoo Seung-Wan's best film ever and that's not degrade to any of his past works. Stylistically and even conceptually, "The Berlin File" seems like a cross between "City of Violence" and "The Unjust," but just amped up to crazy heights, with the end result being a masterpiece. Simply put, "The Berlin File" is the best Korean action film I have ever seen. You can also place your bets when Hollywood comes calling for remake rights or becomes interested in Ryoo Seung-Wan. "The Berlin File" is a film that will blow you away. Boom!

Iris Dec 11 2012 10:40 pm I so look forward to it...

moo Dec 13 2011 12:55 am Can I redeem those points on AMWiki, maybe for some Kimchi Ramen? xD Gianna's good for them in Asia, but you know if she drops the ball even slightly it'll be "Ko so-young in Double Agent"-talk all over again. Do beauties mix with dreary spy stories? *palms together* Some fans' fantasy casting was Gong Hyojin, and I wouldn't have minded a bit!

Anne Nov 24 2011 8:52 am moo are you Nostradamus or Ha Jung-woo himself?

Let's see if the Kim Ok-Bin guess works.

By the way, I'll probably sell a limb if that means I could watch this movie right now.

Ki Nov 16 2011 2:29 pm There's also the leading actress to be announced which is the NK agent's (Ha Jung-Woo's) wife. I think Kim Ok-Bin would be a nice choice though she just played a NK solider in The Front Line.

TOK Nov 16 2011 2:15 pm +10 for moo, You got it right! even though it was predictable guess.

Yeah, Ha Jung Woo is the one to play North Korean!

Three Great Actors in one movie, so it should be Great one!

Ki Nov 15 2011 6:27 pm +1 for you moo ... you just nailed that perfectly.

moo Oct 29 2011 9:13 pm mmkay, so HSK exposes the spy, RSB is sent to kill the spy. Who plays the spy? Would any bankable leading man play North Korean in a big movie, unless they're Ha Jung-woo? xD

The Berlin File

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