Tensions at theaters are now entering the winter peak season. Three movies are up against each other for the last month of the year: “Way Back Home” (director Bang Eun-jin, released on the 12th), “The Attorney” (director Yang Woo-seok, released on the 19th), and “The Suspect” (director Won Shin-yeon, released on the 24th). The three movies, each geared up with its own forte will be released one after another on a one-week interval. 

In essence, the rivalry is between actors. “Way Back Home” stars Jeon Do-yeon, and “The Attorney” stars Song Gang-ho. The two appeared in the movie “Secret Sunshine” that gave Jeon Do-yeon the title “Queen of Cannes.” The rivalry here is between the most distinguished actresses and actors in Korea. Up against them is Gong Yoo in “The Suspect.” This young actor is the one who led the unexpected success of “The Crucible.” He and Jeon Do-yeon also happen to be in the same agency. Moviegoers are already looking forward to meeting these talented actors and actress at the end of the year.

The three biggest film distributors are also in the competition. “The Attorney” is distributed by N.E.W, “Way Back Home” by CJ E & M, and “The Suspect” by Showbox Mediaplex. The big question is whether the up and coming N.E.W will continue the success it had with “Miracle in Cell No. 7,” “New World,” “Cold Eyes,” and “Hide and Seek” when it is up against major distributors. CJ E & M is also confident that “Way Back Home” will close the year on a good note for the company. “The Suspect” is an ambitious project by Showbox Mediaplex, which has already shown that it has an eye for artistic, well-made movies with “The Face Reader” that drew in 9 million moviegoers. 

The three movies each have a strong message. “The Attorney,” set in the early eighties in Busan, tells a story about Song Woo-seok (Song Gang-ho), an attorney with nothing scintillating about his background or education who is transformed by five trials and the people involved. Although the movie has not been released yet, people are already expecting to see a very touching story unfold on the screen. Confident in the movie, the production team is holding nationwide preview talk sessions.

“Way Back Home” is waiting to see if it will continue the tradition that movies based on true stories are successful. It is about a Korean housewife in her thirties who is arrested at Orly Airport in France for transporting drug. It is based on the true story of a Korean housewife who was falsely accused of transporting drug and imprisoned in Martinique. The movie instantly became an issue among netizens when they found out that it is based on a true story. The movie ranked at the top end of keyword search lists, and in short, it managed to catch people’s attention even before its release.  

“The Suspect” will end the year with a story on a North Korean elite agent. Gong Yoo plays the role of Ji Dong-chul, a North Korean agent seeking vengeance on the person who killed his family. Already there are talks that the movie will open another chapter in the history of Korean action movies.