The continuous invasion of South Korean film and drama is believed to have

built a good name and reputation to the film industry worldwide. This has
embarked the success of Miracle in Cell No. 7, a South Korean film starring
Ryu Seung-Ryong, Kal So-Won and Park Shin Hye. It was released last
23rd of January 2013 and was produced by Kim Min-Ki and Lee Sang-Hun
under the direction of the prominent, Lee Hwan-Kyung. The movie depicts a
tactical combination of comedy and melodrama which makes it appears to be
more distinguished and popular among local and international viewers. Even
though the movie was only composed of only few famous and highly paid
stars, it garnered a total number of 12.32 million admissions making it the 6th
highest-grossing film in South Korea.

The movie revolves to the unfair judgment or injustice that an individual with
low social stability receives from a person with much power and authority.
Laws were followed in an unjust way. The movie denounces the legal system
in South Korea which could be seen and reflected throughout the movie. In
addition, the unconditional love between a father and his daughter is shown. It
described the essence of a father and daughter love and how it could be a
tool for the creation of happiness and contentment in the world. With the
movie’s heartwarming and heartbreaking scenes together with its unique
blend of genres, it might be one of the greatest dramas of all time.

There are two time periods that the movie, Miracle in Cell No.7 follows. First is
the modern storyline. It is where Ye-sung is already a grown up lawyer who
and tries to clean his father’s name and prove his innocence with all her might
in court. Second is the flashback to 1997 where the six-year-old Ye-Sung and
his mentally impaired father were introduced. This kind of flow in a film could
easily create confusion with the viewers since there are more flashback
scenes than modern one. Also, there are parts assembled to a whole that
actually don’t fit together, asking pretty much of the viewer to get along with it.

Another, the tragic ending was very unpleasant since viewers have waited
until the end of the movie, just to end up howling in agony. The execution of
the father wasn’t shown and it left viewers uncertainty whether the he is dead
or not.

There are only few well-known artist in the movie which matters a lot specially
if a viewer would scan the movie for screening in order to decide whether to
watch it or not. If he or she won’t be satisfied with the casts of characters in
the movie, then, there might be a possibility that the movie won’t easily
capture the interest of a viewer.

In addition, the cinematography of the movie didn’t really have high quality.
Each scenes were very bright and colorful as if it was flooded by sunlight.

On the contrary, the movie introduced new and different artists which is a
good thing because it opens door of opportunities to discover precious talents.
The chosen artists could portray a character in respective to the
characteristics of the role that was given to them. Like what Ryu Seung-
Ryong or Yong-Gu did with his acting. He enhanced the quality of the movie
with his realistic acting. He could easily get the interest and mood of the
viewers.

The movie also shows traditions that are always done in South Korea. First is
the forced demonstration for the crime Yong-Gu was accused at. Second, Ye-
Sung had a seaweed soup during her birthday. Lastly is the culture where
elders have the right to eat first before the young ones.

Despite the manipulative tears, the movie also shows balanced emotions
since there are rooms for heartaches and insertions of funny jokes. Scenes
are humorous enough to show the intelligence of the movie’s main idea.

It was a clement summer evening when nostalgia drives up and a golden

memoir came running all again. Ye-Sung is an eight-year-old pretty and clever
girl whose father, named Lee Yong-Gu is mentally ill. Despite the fact, her
father possesses the attitude, perspective and feelings of a normal person
and attributes of a father who truly loves his daughter. They live in a small
run-down house yet with an ambiance that welcomes visitors to its humble
abode. She was raised alone by Yong-Gu. However, she hasn’t complained
for the limited things that her father could provide her and the wants she
couldn’t easily have. She would rather help his father by means of doing
simple household chores, paying bills and by just being a good daughter. With
love, kindness and diligence, contentment fulfills the inadequacy between
them.

Yong-Gu is saving up money to buy his daughter the last Sailormoon bag they
have desired to see every day in a store throughout the window. Yong-Gu and
his daughter always visit the store to check if it is not yet sold. One day, he
had a small conflict with a Police Commissioner regarding the purchase of the
last Sailormoon bag. Yong-Gu thoughtlessly entered the store due to the
reason that he couldn’t accept the situation easily. He told the cashier that the
Sailormoon bag that that was just purchased by the Police Commissioner for
his daughter who is with him truly belongs to Ye-Sung’s belongings. Due to
Yong-Gu’s panic to the situation, he touches the Sailormoon bag that was
already worn by the police commissioner’s daughter and accidentally had a
contact with her. The Police Commissioner hits him and neglects his disability.

One cold day, Yong-Gu received a paycheck from his work. To his surprise,
he saw the Commissioner’s daughter outside his workplace and told Yong-Gu
that she found a store selling the same Sailormoon bag. Yong-Gu followed
the girl with joyous and excitement feeling. As he follows the girl on their way
to the store, he did not expect what happened next. The girl was lying
unconscious on the ground with blood coming from the cut in her forehead.
Since the situation is associated with Yong-Gu’s work, he is familiar to what
he needs to do. He opened the girl’s pants leaving the zipper undone for
blood circulation, then, he immediately performs Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR) to the girl. The scene was misunderstood by a woman
who witnessed it. The woman shouted right away. Unjustly, he was accused
for a crime he never committed.

Yong-Gu was brought to the nearest police station for interrogation. He was
accused of the abduction, murder and rape of a minor. He was considered not
guilty because there were exonerating evidences for the case. However, the
truth did not stop the case over. The police took advantage of his disability.
He was forced to sign a sworn statement to make the fabrication more
convincing. He was tortured and threatened before he was sent to the jail.
Without a word, he did not have a chance to say goodbye to his daughter.
Without a word, he left his daughter without any clues of what is going on.

The Cell No.7 is where Yong-Gu was assigned to stay inside the prison. At
first, it was indeed hard to build friendship between his co-prisoners. But with
trust and boldness, everything would be possible. His mates were not kind to
Yong-Go after reading in his file that he murdered and molested a child. but
when Yong-go saves Yang-ho from being fatally stabbed by a rival gang
leader, Yang-ho repays the favor by smuggling Ye-sung into Cell No. 7. Over
time, they come to believe in his innocence, and make it their goal to help
reverse the verdict at Yong-go’s retrial.

The presence of Ye-Sung brought hope and miracle to the people inside the
Cell no. 7.She didn’t only make her father happy, but also the people around
her. They get a little family going, with all the cellmates acting like uncles to
her and hiding her, but the charade only lasts for so long. Days later, the Chief
found out that Ye-Sung is staying inside the cell with his father. This made
Yong-Gu tied up in a dark dungeon. There was a fire in the prison which
made Yong- Gu released from the tie. During the fire, he saw the police officer
he had once a conflict with. He immediately offer him help. After the scenario,
the police officer was touched by what Yong-Gu did. He decided to
reinvestigate his case and found out that he is really innocent.

Everyone must be thinking at first that criminals in cell with Yong Goo are bad,
but they aren’t. In the end, all bad person in cell, including prisoner chief, are
helping Yong Goo. There was a last chance that was given to Yong-Gu. But
before the hearing, Yong-Gu was threatened by the Police Commissioner
saying that he would do the same to Yong-Gu’s daughter if he won’t be
sentenced to death. Yong-Gu did what he was told to do. Agitation took him
yet he’s willing to do everything for his daughter.

The movie wants to tell the viewers that there is nothing stronger or more
sincere than love. Love is indeed, everywhere. It might come from our family,
someone we know or from someone we don’t have connections with. Like the
love Yong-Gu had with his daughter. Even though the man may have been
mentally disabled, his affection for his daughter was honest. He genuinely
loved his daughter and that was why he did not hesitate to take the death
sentence for his beloved daughter.
Miracle in Cell No. 7 is film that possesses the ups and downs of a person
could possibly experience. It also portrays humorous realities of life. Despite
its success, there are still points that should be considered in order to produce
a film better than what is presented. The brightness of the video should be
lowered. Another point is that they should have let the viewers saw a sign that
Yong-Gu was executed. Overall, still, the movie is successful.