Running time


I watched a version of Pluto that said it ran for 107 minutes. But I swear it seemed longer than watching The Godfather Trilogy back to back.

My usual gripe with Korean films is that in general they are too long, at least the ones that appeal to me. Much as I love them, it's rare that one comes in under the two hour mark.

So I looked forward to watching this comparatively short Korean film before I went to bed. As it staggered on, I started to worry that, if I watched to the end, I'd probably be very late for work tomorrow.

But I stayed with it and my watch confirmed it had indeed only been on for the advertised 107 minutes.

I don't know why this film seems so long. On paper it's a decent story and, I've found out since, with some points to make about the South Korean education system.

But there doesn't seem to be any urgency about the storytelling. OK, most of my experience is with Korean crime thrillers, but they rattle along. This had no momentum behind it and turned out pretty dull.

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But there doesn't seem to be any urgency about the storytelling. OK, most of my experience is with Korean crime thrillers, but they rattle along. This had no momentum behind it and turned out pretty dull.


It is dependent on what you want to receive of a viewing experience. You mentioned crime thrillers, which are generally action-packed with continuous tension and/or intriguing mystery. Myeong-wang-song is not a film which fits this description, rather it is a character-driven narrative focusing on a cultural critique. Therefore the momentum is in studying the human aspect of education within South Korean culture, instead of the drama within the detective's investigation.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.

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