Ballerina (2023) review – A slick South Korean action thriller with a simple plot, a solid emotional core, and decent action sequences

Ballerina, written and produced by Lee Chung-Hyun, is a slick South Korean revenge action thriller that clocks in at a lean 93 minutes and will surely please fans of the genre.

Jang Ok-Ju (Jeon Jong-seo), a former bodyguard, receives a call from her only friend, Choi Min-hee (Park Yu-rim), a ballerina dancer, inviting her to hang out in her apartment. Upon arriving at Choi’s place with alcohol and food, Jang discovers her body in the bathtub and a note telling her to avenge her death. As a result, Jang sets out to uncover what drove her best friend to suicide and learns of Min-hee’s association with a man named Choi Pro (Kim Ji-hoon). She stalks him, bugs his house, and discovers that he is a sex deviant who picks up girls from pubs and bars, lures them into sexual encounters, films them having sex with him, and then blackmails them into joining prostitution. As Jang investigates further, she finds herself in the middle of a massive sex trafficking ring, which she vows to destroy to avenge her friend’s death.

The film’s premise about sex trafficking is nothing new, but the way the plot gradually unfolds makes it a fascinating watch, as it keeps viewers engaged and wondering how the protagonist will ultimately triumph when she squares off against the film’s ruthless villains on her own. Because the film is about revenge, she and Choi Min-Hee must have a deep and meaningful relationship, making her desire for retribution seem legitimate. And this is where the film excels, as the makers, through limited flashback scenes, successfully establish a sweet and innocent bond between the two girls. They accidentally meet at a cake shop, realize they were classmates in school, and develop an instant connection. The inclusion of Choi Min-Hee into Jang’s life changes her, and for the first time, she discovers how much fun living can be at a time when she doesn’t feel alive and is slowly dying from the inside. Their friendship is quite endearing and the film’s highlight, as they spend time drinking, going to the beach, and enjoying each other’s company. And if someone who changes their perspective on life dies, exacting vengeance for that person’s death feels justifiable in an action film.

The action sequences in Ballerina yielded mixed results for me. Despite the outstanding choreography and high intensity of the action, some moments, particularly Jang’s introductory scene and the first fight scene between her and Choi Pro, are shot with far too many cuts and a shaky handheld camera, which feels disorienting. These action scenes will remind you of Paul Greengrass’ The Bourne Supremacy (2005) and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), but with even shakier camera work. However, the climactic action sequence, in which Jang fights off a horde of guys in a brutal and intense showdown, is spectacular and wonderfully shot.

Although Ballerina doesn’t offer anything particularly groundbreaking, director Lee Chung-Kyun does a fantastic job of giving the material his own spin and avoiding the genre’s stale clichés. For instance, in one scene, Jang is supposed to meet with a contact who will equip her with weaponry as she prepares to fight the sex traffickers. But throughout film history, we have seen similar situations in which the protagonist purchases firearms, with notable examples like Taxi Driver (1976), Breaking Bad (2008–2013), Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), etc. Director Lee Chung-Hyun is aware of that, so instead of succumbing to the usual tropes, he treats the scene differently. He chooses the meeting location in the middle of the desert, where Jang is surprised to see that the gun dealers are an elderly couple who arrive in a truck, and all they have are old, rusty guns, leaving her disappointed. After forcibly choosing a couple of outdated guns, the duo astounds her by hauling out a massive flamethrower that would make the one Leonardo Di Caprio had in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) appear like a toy, which later proves beneficial to her.

Another noteworthy aspect of this film is its cinematography, which feels heavily inspired by Wong Kar Wai’s works, with plenty of Dutch angles and the screen flooded with neon lights at night set to an electronic background score. This visual approach benefits the film and helps establish a much-needed melancholy tone. Ballerina has all the elements of a good action flick: a simple plot, a solid emotional core, and decent action sequences.

The film is currently streaming on Netflix.

Ballerina movie links: IMDB, Rotten tomatoes, letterboxd

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