12.12: The Day

This 1970s-set South Korean military thriller, based on real events, provides a conspiratorial, personalised, and masculinised vision of the workings of high politics.

Republic of Korea military personnel plan the defence of Seoul from a coup d’état in 12.12: The Day (Hive Media).

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This post is part of the ‘One Take’ weekly series analysing the politics of a film currently showing at the cinemas.

Note: Given that, at time of writing, 12.12: The Day is still showing in UK cinemas, this analysis only lays out as much of the film’s scenario as is necessary so as to avoid spoilers. It is therefore suitable to be read either before or after watching the film, while hopefully still enriching the viewer’s appreciation of it either way.