If you are in anyway cognisant of cultural trends in cinema, you would be aware that the far east, and especially South Korea, has had- in the last decade- a clear penchant for stylish, hyper-violent thrillers, preferably with heavy themes of vengeance and redemption. By all accounts
The Man From Nowhere represents the zenith of this movement. The film- a sophomore effort from
Jeong-beom Lee (Cruel Winter Blues)- has been available in Korea since August last year and subsequent to meeting with across the board critical praise, went on to storm the box office before dominating that country's film awards, including a best actor award for the brooding
Won Bin (Mother) who plays a lonely and isolated pawn-shop broker with only a little girl for a friend. When a drugs cartel becomes intent upon using the girl for his evil ends, Bin sheds his hermitic lifestyle and combats the crime gang head on. Soon The Man From Nowhere will receive its long awaited multi-platform release in the UK, and the similairly anticipated English language trailer (below) provides tantalising hints at the artful violence and dynamic martial arts skill that earned it its heady reputation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNiKYHWA55Q