Seen are actors Kim Hee-ae, from top right clockwise, Jang Dong-gun, Sul Kyung-gu and Claudia Kim in a scene from “A Normal Family.” Courtesy of Hive Media Corp By Baek Byung-yeul If a beloved son or daughter committed a deadly crime, should parents conceal it? Or should they turn their child in to face the consequences of their crime? "A Normal Family" features lawyer Jae-wan (Sul Kyung-gu), his brother and pediatrician Jae-gyu (Jang Dong-gun) and their wives Ji-su (Claudia Kim) and Yeon-kyung (Kim Hee-ae), respectively, who lead stable, high-income lives and pursue their respective fields diligently. However, the lives of these seemingly enviable couples crumble when CCTV footage reveals their children beating a homeless person to death.
The suspense film is set in confined spaces with a few characters, which, if poorly directed, could drastically reduce audience immersion. However, veteran director Hur Jin-ho cleverly unravels the drama by posing a challenging question to the audience: "What choices would you make if your child was a criminal?" He depicts the evolving psychological tension among the characters, propelling the plot through their shifting morals and desperate decisions. This approach invites the audience to reflect on what the right choice would be, while gradually steering the characters toward an inevitable catastrophe.
Adapted from Dutch writer Herman Koch's novel "The Dinner," Hur revealed he was initially concerned about making a decent adaptation, .
