Is it be possible to become friends with the person who took the life of a family member? Aiman, a young prison guard, is transferred to the country’s most secure prison where he meets Rahim, the prison’s chief executioner and the man who executed his father thirty years ago. Not revealing his secret, Aiman grows close to Rahim and even gets promoted to be his right-hand man. But word about this budding friendship reaches Aiman’s sister and she, unable to understand her brother’s behavior, tries to move out of the country, leaving it and her brother behind. Singaporean director Junfeng’s debut, Sand Castle (2010), beautifully depicted a young man about to be recruited into the army, facing a truth that turns his life upside down. In this second feature film, his approach is more direct, revealing the dark side of individuals as well as those of institutions. With stand-out protagonists, the director visualizes the complex emotions surrounding the death penalty and those of the people who carry out the state’s will. (PARK Sungho)