In this spy action film directed by Ryoo Seungwan, North Korean secret agent Pyo Jongsung finds himself unable to trust anyone, including his wife and closest friend. He must go on the run when a South Korean National Security agent gives chase and a fellow North Korean betrays him. Reminiscent of Matt Damon’s Jason Bourne series, The Berlin File is about a spy war between North and South Korean secret agents, all taking place in Berlin, perhaps the ultimate symbol of division. The plot revolves around Pyo (Ha Jung-woo), who is abandoned by both North and South Korea. Like other Ryoo films, the main character goes through all manner of physical ordeal as he is thrown about, ripped up, and banged up. If escape is the center of the plot, action is what makes the film. The Korean action scenes are realistic and put weight on reaction as much as the action itself in an effort to emphasize that the actor, and the spy, is no super hero, but an ordinary guy. The Berlin File is a film only made possible by an experienced master. (NAM Dong-chul)