Watch Coin Locker Girl

In the film Coin Locker Girl, we are shown the life of an abandoned female infant (played by child actress Oh Ji-hee) who is left in a coin-operated locker in the subway station by her biological mother. She is found by a ruthless man named Man (Kim Hye-su) who is the leader of a gang in Incheon. Man raises the baby girl and calls her Il-young (Kim Go-eun) who over time, becomes a trained assassin under the tutelage of Man.

As a female assassin, Il-young is assigned to do Man's dirty work such as collecting debts and eliminating potential threats to their organization. She is also responsible for managing the coin locker business in the subway station- which specializes in disposing of unwanted bodies of their victims- and she increases the business's revenue by making deals with the corrupt police force in the area.

Il-young is slow to perceive human emotion, and we experience her struggles as she adapts to a normal life due to her lack of socialization as a child. However, when a woman (played by Kim Hye-na) who claims to be her biological mother resurfaces, Il-young's stoic lifestyle is thrown into disarray, causing her a great deal of confusion as her innate tendencies urge her to follow the orders of her master, Man.

Coin Locker Girl is a Korean film that revolves around the theme of identity, particularly on how nature and nurture influence one's character. It explores the struggle of Il-young, who grows up without experiencing love and care from a parent, and how she tries to make sense of it when her biological mother, who abandoned her, appears. The film also touches on issues regarding the social norm of gender roles in Asia, which are strictly defined, highlighting Il-young's "unconventional" profession and how her gender affects her experience.

Kim Go-Eun's portrayal of Il-young is commendable, and she conveys her emotional vulnerability and her struggles in adapting to a normal life convincingly. Kim Hye-su's performance as Man and her complicated relationship with Il-young is something worth watching, as it delves into the concept of a "mother figure" who trains her like a machine but shows her affection when needed.

The cinematography of the film is stunning, and it adds depth to character development and storytelling. The shot reverse shot technique is effectively utilized in the scenes where Man trains Il-young and in the confrontation between Il-young and her biological mother. The use of muted shades and shadows in most of the scenes creates an eerie atmosphere, adding to the gritty vibe of the film.

Coin Locker Girl is a character-driven film that portrays the complexity of human perception and identity, with a message that emphasizes the importance of love, care, and affection needed in every child's growth and development. It portrays the adverse effects of not experiencing a normal childhood and the influence of authority in shaping an individual's character. The cinematography and the performances of the actors make the film compelling and worth watching for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers about identity and self-discovery.

Coin Locker Girl is a 2015 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.