Lawyer and Death Row Inmate The time they loved.

Indian Summer

'Indian Summer' is the warm summery days that suddenly visit for a short while in late autumn. Therefore, it also means the most radiant moment of a person's life

Traditional love story with dramatic structure

Traditional melodramas have characteristics such as characters in dramatic conflict with each other, their love, the situation making their love impossible, the characters' desire to overcome this situation, and an ending with clear resolution. Therefore, melodramas have climatic and dramatic structures. Because "Indian Summer" has the elements of traditional films, its dramatic structure stands out above all. This differentiates "Indian Summer" from recent melodramas that try to integrate different genres and attempt a transformation or those that have the tendency to rely on emotional details.

Law and Love

What makes "Indian Summer" very dramatic is 'law' and 'love.' One is a lawyer who must uphold the law and the other, a condemned inmate under the death penalty, who must be judged by the law. In this film, 'law' intervenes in the love of the characters in a diverse manner. 'Law' brought the two characters together yet it is endlessly driving the woman towards death with its threatening blade. Ironically, the only way lawyer, SUH Jun-ha, can save this woman's life is through 'judgement by the law.' Such a well-woven relationship between 'law' and 'love' throughout the film is the strength that keeps the film from losing its tension to the end. Also, "Indian Summer" tells that it is 'love' that leaps over 'law.' 'A decision of law' is always made through logical judgement but 'love' cannot be chosen, it is something out of your hands. However, there are times when 'love' is closer to truth. "Indian Summer" is about such 'love.'

"Please just let me be."

Number 2234, defendant LEE Shin-young

She received the death penalty for the murder of her husband. She turns away all attempts to defend her. She is peaceful, like a person who has been waiting for death.

Lawyer SUH Jun-ha

With only a bright future ahead of him, he is waiting to go study abroad when he becomes the court appointed attorney in the appeals trial of LEE Shin-young. Her attitude differs from other defendants. He cannot forget the cold gaze of Shin-young.

First day of the appeals trial

LEE Shin-young suddenly rejects the trial. The trial is adjourned and LEE Shin-young is confined in solitary. Jun-ha starts to go through every file regarding her case.

"'I want to die'... sounds more sincere than 'I want to live.'...

Do you know that?"

Jun-ha discontinues every case that he is working on and even gives up his plans to go study abroad. He runs around looking for a trace of LEE Shin-young. As she watches Jun-ha labor for her, she slowly starts to weaken.

Through Jun-ha's efforts, the appeals court returns a not guilty verdict. Outside the cold prison, on the sunny Southern coast, they meet for the first time not as lawyer and defendant but as man and woman.

"If you really killed him, tell me you did. Then I'll give up."

After they returned from the short, beautiful trip of only two days, the Supreme Court overturns the appeals verdict. The trial starts once again.