This is not a bad movie, I enjoyed especially that not everybody died in the end, as often seen in Korean movies. But I asked myself most of the time, in what world it takes place. Oftentimes I couldn't really grasp the decision making process of the protagonist, our police-lady. I can not imagine, that Korea works like this. First, is it really not possible to be an officer of the law and be homosexual in Korea? Second, why take the girl into her home and not call the authorities to take care of the situation? Are there no welfare agencies in Korea? How can the girl be left alone in her deserted home after her father's arrest? Highly implausible. Either Korea is a lot more 3rd world than I ever imagined or this movie is just crap story-wise with the typical glossy finish like often seen in Korean and even more Japanese films. Those super-professional film productions often hide very very bad stories in those two countries. And the strange and sad thing about it is, that many of those movies are highly regarded in western festivals and by western critics. A misunderstanding really. The looks of those drama movies tick the right spots for the artsy film critic. There are millions of movies with those production values out there from japan and Korea, this certainly is one of the lesser ones. Watch, but be aware it takes place in fairy tale-land.

A GIRL AT MY DOOR is a slice of filmed misery lit that comes to us courtesy of South Korea. It's a typically controversial little film from that country, featuring some stand-out performances from the lead characters and a whole lot of bad stuff going on. As is usual for this country's film-making, there's a professional slickness to the production, a real feeling of quality to it, that makes it watchable despite the grimness of the subject matter.The film reminded me a little of BREATHLESS except this time around it's a little girl who's getting regularly beaten by her father. Incidentally, the girl is played by the cute kid from THE MAN FROM NOWHERE, looking remarkably grown up. The film chronicles her relationship with flawed cop Doona Bae, who must be playing the most damaged and miserable character of her lengthy career. What follows is dark but humanised, with some nice and touching moments in the mix. The ending has some very controversial and unappetising moments that appear to have alienated some reviewers on this site, but it does end in a strong way. A GIRL AT MY DOOR isn't an easy watch, but then nobody said it was going to be.

I agree with other reviewers that this is an excellent , albeit dark, film that is well acted. I don't think that one can ignore the pathology present in the young girl. She manipulated her stepfather's situation with deliberate intent. I think, too, that she was also complicit in here Grandmother's death. She is also manipulating Young-Nam; whose own personality has defects. Donee is responsible; but the pathology is a product of her abuse. So to say Dohee is an innocent bystander; I feel is not wholly accurate. The subplots add to an understanding Young-Nam's personality point toward her strengths and weaknesses.

Good to be back to a Korean movie and this time I'm happy that I picked the right one. A small budget movie produced by the Korean film board and many actors from the project did for the free. A massive victory for a debutante director July Jung after receiving a standing ovation from the audience at Cannes and the positive response from the critics, media and movie buffs around the world. From this you would know that you must not miss the film and I would say the same, but I also apprise you that it ain't masterpiece.The story follows the police officer Lee Young-nam, who is moving into a quiet small coastal town station to take a charge after the allegation of drinking problem and other personal scandal in the capital city. Her task is to lay low for a while until everything calms down to move back. She succeeds only until a girl knocks her door, metaphorically as what the title say. An unexpected relationship develops, as well seems another trouble is on the approach. Whatever happen from there is the story, especially the second half.The good thing is this film talk about the root cause of the domestic violence. Like alcohol is one of the major concerns for those. Small intake is okay, but the excessive and addiction is the worry. No matter its the good people or bad according to how they live and what they do, but the point remain same. Here in this story as well all the characters were associated with alcoholism, but differentiated with purpose of life they are in and responsibility. The child abuse, the family who treat their own child badly was the goal to expose for us. And what follows after that was beyond a proper solution. The point it ended and what might happen after that is still a questionable."Alcohol is the problem."The girl was Kim Sae-ron from 'The Man from Nowhere' fame. She's has grown up, a teenager. In the next movie probably would play a heroine. She was very good in the role. The girl with the mentality of when everybody sided her in the society except one who begin to care for her all the sudden, that might unleash the inner evil for having a support and to relocate, but the doubt is she's capable? From the girl's perspective, all are fair and square, but what society and law's take is another arguable angle. So you might know by now, the movie is not about any section of good versus bad people, but the reality of our world/civilization/society and a strategy to stay input/alive in the life between the obstacles we face.Slow narration, particularly in the first half. Took time to evolve the characters, but still confines the earlier events of each one of them that gave a strong next half. Nobody can know where the story is gonna go, the possibilities are several. I was stunned for the way it ended, especially the last 15 minutes were not typical, but tricky. Even for a real life, this kind of stuffs scares hell out of being an adult for caught between being a villain, but not an (serious/life threatening) offender. I said it because still in many third world countries that is how a child brought up and nobody care including government/law or the neighbours. Its no matter small mischievous thing or not intended to, or you did it. What I'm saying is the example of movies like 'Jagten' and 'In the House'. Anyway, a nice movie with the talented performers. Worth a watch and to suggest those we know.8/10