A towering figure in Korean cinema, Lee Doo-yong built a vast filmography that ranges from thriller to historical drama. The Last Witness is the ultimate showcase of his many strengths: searing social critique, explosive emotional texture and an immersive mise-en-scène that recalls the visceral power of his celebrated action films.

Based on Kim Sungjong’s acclaimed detective novel of the same name, The Last Witness begins with an intertitle: “This film is dark in every aspect—the story and the lighting.” This self-articulation of darkness as the central content encapsulates the film’s vision of truth—not as a clear narrative to be reconstructed, but as an overwhelming force that pushes the limits of description. The diabolical continuum of violence stretching from the Korean War to the corruption and authoritarianism of postwar South Korea exceeds the limits of language and the testimonies of those scarred by its impact. This meticulous restoration by the Korean Film Archive allows audiences to encounter Lee Doo-yong’s masterpiece in darkly luminous depth and detail.