What to Watch on Netflix: Bogota – City of the Lost Review

Every once in a while, a crime drama comes along that dares to dig deeper, filling in about human struggles and ambitions.

“Bogota: City of the Lost” is one of them, its a south korean film directed by Kim Sung-je.

Sets in the streets of Bogota, Colombia. The film examines survival and the extent humans would go to in situations where they have nothing to lose.

The story

Many Koreans experienced extreme suffering during the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, when the movie is set. In search of a new beginning, the main character, Guk-hee (played brilliantly by Song Joong-ki), finds himself in Bogotá, a city distant from his native country. Instead, he finds himself in a harsh environment where he must enter the shadows of the illegal market in order to survive.

Guk-hee ascends to authority in a dangerous city through a path of tenacity and fortitude. His quest for a brighter future and the moral concessions necessary to achieve it are depicted in the story as being in opposition to each other.

What Sets It Apart

• Song Joong-ki: He gives Guk-hee a great amount of emotional depth. His despair, tenacity, and eventual metamorphosis into a person who moves with measured accuracy through the underworld are all palpable.

• The Setting: Bogotá is practically a character in and of itself, not just a setting. Viewers are drawn into the city’s uncertain environment by the exquisite portrayal of its colorful yet chaotic vitality

• Cultural Displacement The film’s depiction of the experience of immigrants is one of its best features. It draws attention to the difficulties and sacrifices involved in beginning afresh in a new location.

Where It Is Insufficient

Despite its ambition and depth, the movie has some shortcomings:

• Pacing: Guk-hee’s past is the main focus of the film’s first half, which moves slowly. Although this adds complexity, readers hoping for a fast-paced crime thriller may find it a little long.
• Clichés: A few plot moments, especially in the second half, rely on well-known crime drama clichés, which somewhat detracts from the work’s uniqueness.
• Supporting Cast: Guk-hee is a well-developed character, but several of the supporting cast members seem flat, which makes some of their relationships and struggles seem emotionally unimportant.

Final Thoughts

In addition to being a criminal drama, “Bogota: City of the Lost” explores identity, survival, and the extent people will go to in order to improve their lot in life. It might not provide the intense action that some viewers are hoping for, but it does provide something more profound—a contemplation of ambition and the human condition.

This film is worth seeing if you like slow-burning dramas that emphasize atmosphere and character. Your interest will be maintained by Song Joong-ki’s acting alone, but the emotional depths of the narrative are what keep you watching long after the credits have rolled.

What Do You Think?

Is “Bogota: City of the Lost” something you’ve seen? Did you find the story moving, or did you have other expectations? Tell me what you think.