Over at Lost Nomad, there is a discussion about a new movie called “The English Teacher” that is supposed to be out soon. I will have to go and see it just because of the novelty and to see how teachers are portrayed. It should be interesting. As one of the comments queried, I wonder if it is a Korean production or an Indie film or what. Some other comments offered their own ideas for movies involving English teachers in Korea, so, I will offer up my own rough idea for a screenplay or a book or something. Comments welcome
The Academy Killer
It’s a crime drama/murder mystery…kind of like “Seven” but the people who are dying are hagwon directors and English job recruiters and such (am I getting some “hell yeses” from the hagwon crowd out there?) They are winding up dead in some strange and gruesome ways. At first, the police have no leads; it just appears to be a random killing, though they suspect a serial killer because the killer leaves messages and promises more carnage. But it is not until the third killing that that the police see the possible connection to the English teaching industry. So far, all of the messages have been in Korean. Now, the police have what they think is a suspect. A Foreigner English teacher that speaks near perfect Korean is detained and brought in as a suspect. It turns out he was a criminalist in the U.S. before losing his job and making the decision to come to Korea. When his alibi turns out to be airtight, he is asked to assist the police in the investigation. Due to the lack of English speaking detectives they enlist his help to investigate the expat community for possible suspects and to give a fresh pair of eyes to the investigation. A local detective is reluctantly assigned to be the teacher’s ‘handler’ and the relationship that ensues creates both tension and comic relief throughout the investigation. The American’s wife also refuses to understand why he needs to be involved in this matter and this creates additional conflict in him. This investigation goes on with the two ‘investigators’ examining evidence and chasing down leads until they reach the point one of them becomes personally involved and the killer is finally revealed. Ultimately one of them is in a race against time to stop the killer and save his partner.
