Bogotá: City of the Lost (2024) Movie Review: We're Lost
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Spanning multiple decades from 1997 onward, Bogotá: City of the Lost struggles to deliver a cohesive narrative or compelling characters. Despite its ambitious premise—a tale of corruption and ambition set against the backdrop of the Korean diaspora in Colombia—the film fails to establish an emotional or logical connection with its audience or unique setting. Character motivations shift inconsistently, and the plot progresses in broad, disjointed strokes, making for a frustrating viewing experience.
Set during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the story follows 19-year-old Guk-hee (Song Joong-ki), who arrives in Bogotá with his family, hoping for a better life. Reality proves harsh, and he soon finds himself working for Sergeant Park (Kwon Hae-hyo), the head of the Korean Merchant Association and a key figure in local smuggling operations. As Guk-hee gains Park’s trust, his hunger for power intensifies, pushing him deeper into a world of crime. But how far is he willing to go to secure his place at the top?
Unfortunately, Bogotá: City of the Lost never fully realizes its potential. The film’s greatest flaw lies in its character development—or lack thereof. Guk-hee’s transformation from a struggling immigrant to a crime boss feels abrupt and unearned, devoid of emotional depth or logical progression. Supporting characters fare no better, as their personalities and motivations shift unpredictably, leaving little room for meaningful engagement. The narrative structure is equally problematic. Instead of a well-constructed rise-and-fall crime saga, the film plays out as a fragmented series of events, lacking cohesion and depth. The societal themes it attempts to explore—corruption, greed, and moral compromise—are treated superficially, offering little insight or nuance. Moreover, the absence of a compelling protagonist or any morally redeemable figures or ideas makes it difficult for viewers to invest in the story. Ultimately, Bogotá: City of the Lost is a disjointed and unsatisfying experience. Even for devoted fans of Song Joong-ki, this film is difficult to recommend.
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Comments
This film is not a crime saga, it is a social and economic problem of many immigrants in search of quick satisfaction. You say that it is represented in fragmented events lacking cohesion, on the contrary, during the 108 minutes the personal and social crisis of the immigrants in their search is unleashed in detail. I am not a film critic, but I believe the arguments are not based on the perfect acting of the cast of the film and its great direction. I am from South America, right from the 60s and 70s, and I fully understand the theme raised. The film takes care of many details, a good combination of the use of several languages, breaking down their barriers in a very nice way. I think you have to come to our country and understand our culture as the director Kim Seong-je, his producers Shin Beom-su and Park Seong-il and his writers Hwang Seong-gu and Kim Seong-je did.
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