She's on trial for treason, but her testimony becomes the most explosive confession in Korean cinema history.
Kim Su-im, the mistress of an American colonel, is arrested and charged with being a North Korean spy. While not denying the charge, Miss Kim takes the trial as an opportunity to relate her life as an explanation of why she committed treason as a spy.
Acting
Yun So-ra's layered performance keeps you guessing her true allegiance.
Writing
Structure uses trial as flashback device with devastating precision.
Direction
Lee Won-se balances exploitation and genuine tragedy masterfully.
Director
Lee Won-se
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on the real 1950 'Babe' Kim Soo-im case, the most infamous spy scandal in Korean history. The actual trial transcripts were partially destroyed, making this film one of the few surviving narrative records.
The film's sympathetic portrayal of a convicted North Korean spy was shocking for 1974 South Korea under Park Chung-hee's authoritarian rule. Some scholars read it as coded criticism of American military presence.
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