Park Chan-wook
Encyclopedia
Park Chan-wook is a South Korean film director
, screenwriter
, producer
, and former film critic. One of the most acclaimed and popular filmmakers in his native country, Park is most known for his films Joint Security Area
, Thirst
and what has become known as The Vengeance Trilogy
, consisting of 2002's Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
, Oldboy
in 2003 and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
in 2005. His films are noted for their immaculate framing and often brutal subject matter.
In a May 2004 interview with The Hollywood Reporter
, Park listed Sophocles
, Shakespeare, Kafka, Dostoevsky, Balzac, Kurt Vonnegut
and others as being influences on his career. In a later interview for Lady Vengeance, Park listed Alfred Hitchcock
, Robert Aldrich
, Ingmar Bergman
, Sam Fuller, Roman Polanski
and Kim Ki-young
as cinematic influences.
, and studied philosophy
at Sogang University
, where he started a cinema-club called the "Sogang Film Community" and published a number of articles on contemporary cinema. Originally intending to be an art critic
, upon seeing Vertigo
he resolved to try to become a filmmaker. After graduation, he wrote articles on film for journals, and soon became an assistant director of films like Kkamdong, directed by Yu Yeong-jin, and Watercolor painting in a Rainy Day, directed by Kwak Jae-yong
(My Sassy Girl
).
His debut feature film was The Moon Is... the Sun's Dream
(1992), and after five years, he made his second film Trio. Park's early films were not successful, and he pursued a career as a film critic to make a living.
In 2000, Park directed Joint Security Area
, which was a great success both commercially and critically, even surpassing Kang Je-gyu's
Shiri
as the most-watched film ever made in South Korea. This success made it possible for him to make his next film more independently - Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
is the result of this creative freedom.
After winning the Grand Prix
at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival
for the film Oldboy
, a journalist asked, "in your film, why is the vengeance repeating?". According to Park, he decided to make three consecutive films with revenge as the central theme. Park said his films are about the utter futility of vengeance and how it wreaks havoc on the lives of everyone involved.
His so-called Vengeance Trilogy
consists of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
, Oldboy
and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
. It was not originally intended to be a trilogy.
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
, shortened to Lady Vengeance, was distributed by Tartan Films
for American
theatrical release in April 2006.
Despite extreme violence in his films, Park is regarded as one of the most popular film directors in Korea, with three of his last five feature films (Joint Security Area
, Oldboy
and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
) all drawing audiences of over 3 million. This makes Park the director of three films in the thirty all-time highest grossing films in South Korea. (9th, 29th, 26th respectively as of January 2007).
In addition to being a film director
and screenwriter
, Park is also a film critic with several published editions to his name. None have been translated into English as yet.
American director Quentin Tarantino
is an avowed fan of Park. As the head judge in 2004 Cannes Film Festival
, he personally pushed for Park's Oldboy
to be awarded the Palme d'Or
(the honor eventually went to Michael Moore
's Fahrenheit 9/11
). Oldboy garnered the Grand Prix
, the second-highest honor in the competition. Tarantino also regards Park's Joint Security Area
to be one of "the top twenty films made since 1992."
He was offered the chance to remake The Evil Dead
but he turned it down.
In 2006, he was the member of official section jury at the 63rd Venice International Film Festival
.
In February 2007, Park won the Alfred Bauer prize at the 57th Berlin International Film Festival
. The award, named after the festival's founder and in praise of movies opening up new perspectives, went to Park for his film, I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK
.
In 2009, Park directed his first vampire film, Thirst
starring Song Kang-ho
which won Prix du Jury along with Fish Tank
, directed by Andrea Arnold
at 2009 Cannes Film Festival
.
In 2011, Park said his new fantasy-horror film Paranmanjang (Night Fishing
) was shot entirely on the iPhone
.
Filming for his first English-language film Stoker
began in September 2011.
often share actors. Examples include:
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, and former film critic. One of the most acclaimed and popular filmmakers in his native country, Park is most known for his films Joint Security Area
Joint Security Area (film)
Joint Security Area is a 2000 South Korean film starring Lee Young Ae, Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho. It was directed by Park Chan-wook and is based on the novel DMZ by Park Sang-yeon...
, Thirst
Thirst (2009 film)
Thirst is a 2009 horror/drama film, written, produced and directed by Park Chan-wook. It is loosely based on the novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola. The film tells the story of a priest—who is in love with his friend’s wife—turning into a vampire through a failed medical experiment. Park has...
and what has become known as The Vengeance Trilogy
The Vengeance Trilogy
The Vengeance Trilogy are three films, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance , Oldboy , Sympathy for Lady Vengeance , directed by South Korean film director Park Chan-wook, which dealt with the themes of "revenge, violence and salvation"...
, consisting of 2002's Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a 2002 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook which follows the character Ryu trying to earn enough money for his sister's kidney transplant and the path of vengeance that follows. It is the first part of The Vengeance Trilogy and is followed by Oldboy and...
, Oldboy
Oldboy
Oldboy is a 2003 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. It is based on the Japanese manga of the same name written by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya. Oldboy is the second installment of The Vengeance Trilogy, preceded by Sympathy for Mr...
in 2003 and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance is a 2008 South Korean film by director Park Chan-wook. In North America and parts of Europe, the film has been screened under the title Lady Vengeance. The film is the third installment in Park's The Vengeance Trilogy, following Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy...
in 2005. His films are noted for their immaculate framing and often brutal subject matter.
In a May 2004 interview with The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
, Park listed Sophocles
Sophocles
Sophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides...
, Shakespeare, Kafka, Dostoevsky, Balzac, Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a 20th century American writer. His works such as Cat's Cradle , Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions blend satire, gallows humor and science fiction. He was known for his humanist beliefs and was honorary president of the American Humanist Association.-Early...
and others as being influences on his career. In a later interview for Lady Vengeance, Park listed Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
, Robert Aldrich
Robert Aldrich
Robert Aldrich was an American film director, writer and producer, notable for such films as Kiss Me Deadly , The Big Knife , What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? , Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte , The Flight of the Phoenix , The Dirty Dozen , and The Longest Yard .-Biography:Robert...
, Ingmar Bergman
Ingmar Bergman
Ernst Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera", he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and...
, Sam Fuller, Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few "truly international filmmakers."...
and Kim Ki-young
Kim Ki-young
Kim Ki-young was a South Korean film director, known for his intensely psychosexual and melodramatic horror films, often focusing on the psychology of their female characters. Kim was born in Seoul during the Japanese occupation, raised in Pyongyang and spent time in Japan, where he became...
as cinematic influences.
Biography
Park was born and raised in SeoulSeoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, and studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at Sogang University
Sogang University
Sogang University is one of the leading research and liberal arts universities in Seoul, South Korea.The University was established in 1960 by the Society of Jesus to provide education based on the Catholic beliefs and inspired by the Jesuit educational philosophy, such as Georgetown University in...
, where he started a cinema-club called the "Sogang Film Community" and published a number of articles on contemporary cinema. Originally intending to be an art critic
Art critic
An art critic is a person who specializes in evaluating art. Their written critiques, or reviews, are published in newspapers, magazines, books and on web sites...
, upon seeing Vertigo
Vertigo (film)
Vertigo is a 1958 psychological thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring James Stewart, Kim Novak, and Barbara Bel Geddes. The screenplay was written by Alec Coppel and Samuel A...
he resolved to try to become a filmmaker. After graduation, he wrote articles on film for journals, and soon became an assistant director of films like Kkamdong, directed by Yu Yeong-jin, and Watercolor painting in a Rainy Day, directed by Kwak Jae-yong
Kwak Jae-yong
Kwak Jae-yong is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. He studied physics at Kyunghee University. He achieved success with his debut film Watercolor Painting in a Rainy Day in 1989, but the failure of his next two movies led to eight years of unemployment before a comeback with the...
(My Sassy Girl
My Sassy Girl
My Sassy Girl is a 2001 South Korean romantic comedy film directed by Kwak Jae-yong. It tells the story of a man's chance meeting with a drunk girl on the train which changes his life...
).
His debut feature film was The Moon Is... the Sun's Dream
The Moon Is... the Sun's Dream
The Moon Is... the Sun's Dream is the 1992 debut feature by South Korean film director Park Chan-wook.-Plot:Mu-hoon, a gangster in Busan, is the half brother of Ha-young, a successful photographer. When Mu-hoon is caught having an affair with his boss' mistress, Eun-joo, the two run off with their...
(1992), and after five years, he made his second film Trio. Park's early films were not successful, and he pursued a career as a film critic to make a living.
In 2000, Park directed Joint Security Area
Joint Security Area (film)
Joint Security Area is a 2000 South Korean film starring Lee Young Ae, Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho. It was directed by Park Chan-wook and is based on the novel DMZ by Park Sang-yeon...
, which was a great success both commercially and critically, even surpassing Kang Je-gyu's
Kang Je-gyu
Kang Je-gyu is a South Korean film director. He studied in Chungang University.He firstly got his prize in Korea Youth Film festival and Korea Scenario Awards in 1991.-Career:...
Shiri
Shiri (film)
Shiri is a 1999 South Korean action film, written and directed by Kang Je-gyu.Swiri was the first Hollywood-style big-budget blockbuster to be produced in the "new" Korean film industry...
as the most-watched film ever made in South Korea. This success made it possible for him to make his next film more independently - Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a 2002 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook which follows the character Ryu trying to earn enough money for his sister's kidney transplant and the path of vengeance that follows. It is the first part of The Vengeance Trilogy and is followed by Oldboy and...
is the result of this creative freedom.
After winning the Grand Prix
Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival)
The Grand Prix is an award of the Cannes Film Festival bestowed by the jury of the festival on one of the competing feature films. It is the second-most prestigious prize of the festival after the Palme d'Or...
at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival
2004 Cannes Film Festival
The 2004 Cannes Film Festival started on May 12 and ran until May 23. The Palme d'Or went to the American film Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore.-Jury:* Quentin Tarantino, President * Emmanuelle Béart * Edwidge Danticat * Tilda Swinton...
for the film Oldboy
Oldboy
Oldboy is a 2003 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. It is based on the Japanese manga of the same name written by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya. Oldboy is the second installment of The Vengeance Trilogy, preceded by Sympathy for Mr...
, a journalist asked, "in your film, why is the vengeance repeating?". According to Park, he decided to make three consecutive films with revenge as the central theme. Park said his films are about the utter futility of vengeance and how it wreaks havoc on the lives of everyone involved.
The Vengeance Trilogy
The Vengeance Trilogy are three films, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance , Oldboy , Sympathy for Lady Vengeance , directed by South Korean film director Park Chan-wook, which dealt with the themes of "revenge, violence and salvation"...
consists of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a 2002 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook which follows the character Ryu trying to earn enough money for his sister's kidney transplant and the path of vengeance that follows. It is the first part of The Vengeance Trilogy and is followed by Oldboy and...
, Oldboy
Oldboy
Oldboy is a 2003 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. It is based on the Japanese manga of the same name written by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya. Oldboy is the second installment of The Vengeance Trilogy, preceded by Sympathy for Mr...
and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance is a 2008 South Korean film by director Park Chan-wook. In North America and parts of Europe, the film has been screened under the title Lady Vengeance. The film is the third installment in Park's The Vengeance Trilogy, following Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy...
. It was not originally intended to be a trilogy.
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance is a 2008 South Korean film by director Park Chan-wook. In North America and parts of Europe, the film has been screened under the title Lady Vengeance. The film is the third installment in Park's The Vengeance Trilogy, following Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy...
, shortened to Lady Vengeance, was distributed by Tartan Films
Tartan Films
Palisades Tartan is a US and UK film distribution company, founded by US-based Palisades Media Group to take over the film library of Tartan Films after it folded in Summer 2008.-History:...
for American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theatrical release in April 2006.
Despite extreme violence in his films, Park is regarded as one of the most popular film directors in Korea, with three of his last five feature films (Joint Security Area
Joint Security Area (film)
Joint Security Area is a 2000 South Korean film starring Lee Young Ae, Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho. It was directed by Park Chan-wook and is based on the novel DMZ by Park Sang-yeon...
, Oldboy
Oldboy
Oldboy is a 2003 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. It is based on the Japanese manga of the same name written by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya. Oldboy is the second installment of The Vengeance Trilogy, preceded by Sympathy for Mr...
and Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance
Sympathy for Lady Vengeance is a 2008 South Korean film by director Park Chan-wook. In North America and parts of Europe, the film has been screened under the title Lady Vengeance. The film is the third installment in Park's The Vengeance Trilogy, following Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy...
) all drawing audiences of over 3 million. This makes Park the director of three films in the thirty all-time highest grossing films in South Korea. (9th, 29th, 26th respectively as of January 2007).
In addition to being a film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, Park is also a film critic with several published editions to his name. None have been translated into English as yet.
American director Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
is an avowed fan of Park. As the head judge in 2004 Cannes Film Festival
2004 Cannes Film Festival
The 2004 Cannes Film Festival started on May 12 and ran until May 23. The Palme d'Or went to the American film Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore.-Jury:* Quentin Tarantino, President * Emmanuelle Béart * Edwidge Danticat * Tilda Swinton...
, he personally pushed for Park's Oldboy
Oldboy
Oldboy is a 2003 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. It is based on the Japanese manga of the same name written by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya. Oldboy is the second installment of The Vengeance Trilogy, preceded by Sympathy for Mr...
to be awarded the Palme d'Or
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
(the honor eventually went to Michael Moore
Michael Moore
Michael Francis Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and activist. He is the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11, which is the highest-grossing documentary of all time. His films Bowling for Columbine and Sicko also place in the top ten highest-grossing documentaries...
's Fahrenheit 9/11
Fahrenheit 9/11
Fahrenheit 9/11 is a 2004 documentary film by American filmmaker and political commentator Michael Moore. The film takes a critical look at the presidency of George W. Bush, the War on Terror, and its coverage in the news media...
). Oldboy garnered the Grand Prix
Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival)
The Grand Prix is an award of the Cannes Film Festival bestowed by the jury of the festival on one of the competing feature films. It is the second-most prestigious prize of the festival after the Palme d'Or...
, the second-highest honor in the competition. Tarantino also regards Park's Joint Security Area
Joint Security Area (film)
Joint Security Area is a 2000 South Korean film starring Lee Young Ae, Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho. It was directed by Park Chan-wook and is based on the novel DMZ by Park Sang-yeon...
to be one of "the top twenty films made since 1992."
He was offered the chance to remake The Evil Dead
The Evil Dead
The Evil Dead is a 1981 horror film written and directed by Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, and Betsy Baker. The film is a story of five college students vacationing in an isolated cabin in a wooded area...
but he turned it down.
In 2006, he was the member of official section jury at the 63rd Venice International Film Festival
63rd Venice International Film Festival
The 63rd Venice International Film Festival, held in Venice, Italy, was opened on 30 August 2006 with Brian De Palma's The Black Dahlia and was closed on 9 September 2006...
.
In February 2007, Park won the Alfred Bauer prize at the 57th Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
. The award, named after the festival's founder and in praise of movies opening up new perspectives, went to Park for his film, I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK
I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK
I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK is a 2006 South Korean romantic comedy directed by Park Chan-wook.-Plot:The film takes place mostly in a mental institution filled with an eclectic menagerie of patients...
.
In 2009, Park directed his first vampire film, Thirst
Thirst (2009 film)
Thirst is a 2009 horror/drama film, written, produced and directed by Park Chan-wook. It is loosely based on the novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola. The film tells the story of a priest—who is in love with his friend’s wife—turning into a vampire through a failed medical experiment. Park has...
starring Song Kang-ho
Song Kang-ho
Song Kang-ho is a leading South Korean film actor.- Career:Song Kang-ho never professionally trained as an actor, beginning his career in social theater groups after graduating from Kimhae High School...
which won Prix du Jury along with Fish Tank
Fish Tank (film)
Fish Tank is a 2009 British drama film directed by Andrea Arnold. The film won the Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. It also won the 2010 BAFTA for Best British Film. It was filmed in the Mardyke Estate in Havering, the town of Tilbury, and the A13, and funded by BBC Films and the UK...
, directed by Andrea Arnold
Andrea Arnold
Andrea Arnold OBE is a filmmaker and former actress from England, who made her feature film directorial debut in 2006 with Red Road.-Early TV work:...
at 2009 Cannes Film Festival
2009 Cannes Film Festival
The 62nd annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 13 to May 24, 2009. French actress Isabelle Huppert was the President of the Jury. It was announced on March 19, 2009, that Pixar's film Up would open the festival...
.
In 2011, Park said his new fantasy-horror film Paranmanjang (Night Fishing
Night Fishing (film)
Night Fishing is a 2011 South Korean fantasy-horror short film co-directed by Park Chan-wook and his brother Park Chan-kyong....
) was shot entirely on the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
.
Filming for his first English-language film Stoker
Stoker (film)
Stoker is an upcoming 2012 drama film directed by Park Chan-wook and written by Wentworth Miller. It stars Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, and Matthew Goode.-Cast:*Mia Wasikowska as India Stoker*Nicole Kidman as Evelyn Stoker...
began in September 2011.
Director
- The Moon Is... the Sun's DreamThe Moon Is... the Sun's DreamThe Moon Is... the Sun's Dream is the 1992 debut feature by South Korean film director Park Chan-wook.-Plot:Mu-hoon, a gangster in Busan, is the half brother of Ha-young, a successful photographer. When Mu-hoon is caught having an affair with his boss' mistress, Eun-joo, the two run off with their...
(1992) - Trio (1997)
- JudgmentJudgement (film)Judgement is a 1999 short film by South Korean film director Park Chan-wook.-Plot:Park Chan-wook draws on a disaster that took place in South Korea to ironically criticize the greed of rampant capitalism. In 1995, in Seoul, a huge shopping centre, the Sampung department Store collapsed, killing...
(1999) (short film) - Joint Security AreaJoint Security Area (film)Joint Security Area is a 2000 South Korean film starring Lee Young Ae, Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho. It was directed by Park Chan-wook and is based on the novel DMZ by Park Sang-yeon...
(2000) - Sympathy for Mr. VengeanceSympathy for Mr. VengeanceSympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a 2002 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook which follows the character Ryu trying to earn enough money for his sister's kidney transplant and the path of vengeance that follows. It is the first part of The Vengeance Trilogy and is followed by Oldboy and...
(2002) - If You Were MeIf You Were MeIf You Were Me is a 2003 South Korean omnibus film, comprising six short films directed by six promininent Korean directors, including Park Chan-wook. Commissioned by South Korea's National Human Rights Commission, each of the shorts deal with discrimination in Korea...
(2003) (segment "Never Ending Peace And Love") - OldboyOldboyOldboy is a 2003 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. It is based on the Japanese manga of the same name written by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya. Oldboy is the second installment of The Vengeance Trilogy, preceded by Sympathy for Mr...
(2003) - Three... ExtremesThree... ExtremesThree... Extremes is a 2004 international East Asian horror film collaboration consisting of three segments by three directors from three countries. It is a sequel to, and follows the concept of Three , this time with more established directors...
(2004) (segment "Cut") - Sympathy for Lady VengeanceSympathy for Lady VengeanceSympathy for Lady Vengeance is a 2008 South Korean film by director Park Chan-wook. In North America and parts of Europe, the film has been screened under the title Lady Vengeance. The film is the third installment in Park's The Vengeance Trilogy, following Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy...
(2005) - I'm a Cyborg, But That's OKI'm a Cyborg, But That's OKI'm a Cyborg, But That's OK is a 2006 South Korean romantic comedy directed by Park Chan-wook.-Plot:The film takes place mostly in a mental institution filled with an eclectic menagerie of patients...
(2006) - ThirstThirst (2009 film)Thirst is a 2009 horror/drama film, written, produced and directed by Park Chan-wook. It is loosely based on the novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola. The film tells the story of a priest—who is in love with his friend’s wife—turning into a vampire through a failed medical experiment. Park has...
(2009) - Night FishingNight Fishing (film)Night Fishing is a 2011 South Korean fantasy-horror short film co-directed by Park Chan-wook and his brother Park Chan-kyong....
(2011) (short film) - StokerStoker (film)Stoker is an upcoming 2012 drama film directed by Park Chan-wook and written by Wentworth Miller. It stars Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, and Matthew Goode.-Cast:*Mia Wasikowska as India Stoker*Nicole Kidman as Evelyn Stoker...
(2012)
Writer
- The Moon Is... the Sun's DreamThe Moon Is... the Sun's DreamThe Moon Is... the Sun's Dream is the 1992 debut feature by South Korean film director Park Chan-wook.-Plot:Mu-hoon, a gangster in Busan, is the half brother of Ha-young, a successful photographer. When Mu-hoon is caught having an affair with his boss' mistress, Eun-joo, the two run off with their...
(1992) - Trio (1997)
- JudgmentJudgement (film)Judgement is a 1999 short film by South Korean film director Park Chan-wook.-Plot:Park Chan-wook draws on a disaster that took place in South Korea to ironically criticize the greed of rampant capitalism. In 1995, in Seoul, a huge shopping centre, the Sampung department Store collapsed, killing...
(1999) - AnarchistsAnarchists (film)Anarchists is a 2000 South Korean action film, directed by Yu Yong-Sik and written by Park Chan-wook. Set in Shanghai in 1924, the film is about a covert cell of insurrectionist anarchists who attempt to overthrow the Japanese government's occupation of Korea through propaganda of the deed...
(2000) - Joint Security AreaJoint Security Area (film)Joint Security Area is a 2000 South Korean film starring Lee Young Ae, Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho. It was directed by Park Chan-wook and is based on the novel DMZ by Park Sang-yeon...
(2000) - The Humanist (2001)
- Sympathy for Mr. VengeanceSympathy for Mr. VengeanceSympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a 2002 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook which follows the character Ryu trying to earn enough money for his sister's kidney transplant and the path of vengeance that follows. It is the first part of The Vengeance Trilogy and is followed by Oldboy and...
(2002) - A Bizarre Love Triangle (2002)
- If You Were MeIf You Were MeIf You Were Me is a 2003 South Korean omnibus film, comprising six short films directed by six promininent Korean directors, including Park Chan-wook. Commissioned by South Korea's National Human Rights Commission, each of the shorts deal with discrimination in Korea...
(2003) - OldboyOldboyOldboy is a 2003 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. It is based on the Japanese manga of the same name written by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya. Oldboy is the second installment of The Vengeance Trilogy, preceded by Sympathy for Mr...
(2003) (screenplay) - Three... ExtremesThree... ExtremesThree... Extremes is a 2004 international East Asian horror film collaboration consisting of three segments by three directors from three countries. It is a sequel to, and follows the concept of Three , this time with more established directors...
(2004) (segment "Cut") - Sympathy for Lady VengeanceSympathy for Lady VengeanceSympathy for Lady Vengeance is a 2008 South Korean film by director Park Chan-wook. In North America and parts of Europe, the film has been screened under the title Lady Vengeance. The film is the third installment in Park's The Vengeance Trilogy, following Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy...
(2005) - Boy Goes To HeavenBoy Goes To HeavenBoy Goes To Heaven is a 2005 South Korean film starring Yeom Jeong-ah and Park Hae-il.- Plot :Ne-mo is a thirteen year-old boy growing up in 1980s South Korea, and is the only child of a single mother who runs a watch repair shop in their small town. Having never met his father, Ne-mo resolves to...
(2005) - I'm a Cyborg, But That's OKI'm a Cyborg, But That's OKI'm a Cyborg, But That's OK is a 2006 South Korean romantic comedy directed by Park Chan-wook.-Plot:The film takes place mostly in a mental institution filled with an eclectic menagerie of patients...
(2006) - Crush and BlushCrush and BlushCrush and Blush is a 2008 South Korean film. It is the debut feature film of director Lee Kyoung-mi, and also the first film to be produced by Park Chan-wook.- Plot :...
(2008) - ThirstThirst (2009 film)Thirst is a 2009 horror/drama film, written, produced and directed by Park Chan-wook. It is loosely based on the novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola. The film tells the story of a priest—who is in love with his friend’s wife—turning into a vampire through a failed medical experiment. Park has...
(2009)
Producer
- I'm a Cyborg, But That's OKI'm a Cyborg, But That's OKI'm a Cyborg, But That's OK is a 2006 South Korean romantic comedy directed by Park Chan-wook.-Plot:The film takes place mostly in a mental institution filled with an eclectic menagerie of patients...
(2006) - Crush and BlushCrush and BlushCrush and Blush is a 2008 South Korean film. It is the debut feature film of director Lee Kyoung-mi, and also the first film to be produced by Park Chan-wook.- Plot :...
(2008) - ThirstThirst (2009 film)Thirst is a 2009 horror/drama film, written, produced and directed by Park Chan-wook. It is loosely based on the novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola. The film tells the story of a priest—who is in love with his friend’s wife—turning into a vampire through a failed medical experiment. Park has...
(2009)
Awards
| Year | Event | Award | Film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Deauville Asian Film Festival Deauville Asian Film Festival The Deauville Asian Film Festival takes place annually in Deauville, France since 1999 and focuses on Asian cinema... |
Lotus Award for Best Film | Joint Security Area Joint Security Area (film) Joint Security Area is a 2000 South Korean film starring Lee Young Ae, Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho. It was directed by Park Chan-wook and is based on the novel DMZ by Park Sang-yeon... |
| Seattle International Film Festival Seattle International Film Festival The Seattle International Film Festival , held annually in Seattle, Washington since 1976, is among the top film festivals in North America. Audiences have grown steadily; the 2006 festival had 160,000 attendees... |
New Director's Showcase Special Jury Prize | Joint Security Area | |
| 2002 | Blue Ribbon Awards Blue Ribbon Awards The are film-specific prizes awarded solely by movie critics and writers in Tokyo, Japan.The awards were established in 1950 by which is composed of film correspondents from seven Tokyo-based sports newspapers... , Japan |
Best Foreign Language Film | Joint Security Area |
| Seattle International Film Festival Seattle International Film Festival The Seattle International Film Festival , held annually in Seattle, Washington since 1976, is among the top film festivals in North America. Audiences have grown steadily; the 2006 festival had 160,000 attendees... |
Emerging Masters Showcase Award | ||
| 2003 | Fantasia Festival Fantasia Festival Fantasia International Film Festival is a genre film festival that has been based mainly in Montreal since its founding in 1996... , Montreal |
Best Asian Film | Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a 2002 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook which follows the character Ryu trying to earn enough money for his sister's kidney transplant and the path of vengeance that follows. It is the first part of The Vengeance Trilogy and is followed by Oldboy and... |
| Philadelphia Film Festival Philadelphia Film Festival The Philadelphia Film Festival is held annually in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Until 2009 it was generally held during the first weeks of April.... |
Jury Award for Best Feature Film | Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance | |
| 2004 | Cannes Film Festival Cannes Film Festival The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals... |
Grand Prix Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival) The Grand Prix is an award of the Cannes Film Festival bestowed by the jury of the festival on one of the competing feature films. It is the second-most prestigious prize of the festival after the Palme d'Or... |
Oldboy Oldboy Oldboy is a 2003 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. It is based on the Japanese manga of the same name written by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya. Oldboy is the second installment of The Vengeance Trilogy, preceded by Sympathy for Mr... |
| Asia Pacific Film Festival Asia Pacific Film Festival The Asia Pacific Film Festival, first held in 1954, is film festival held annually in an Asian country designated by the Board of Directors of the Federation of Motion Picture Producers in Asia-Pacific.Awards are handed out for:*Best Film*Best Director... |
Best Director | Oldboy | |
| Bergen International Film Festival Bergen International Film Festival The Bergen International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in October in Bergen, Norway since 2000, and is the largest film festival in the nation in number of films. The 11th edition of the festival in 2010 featured 150 films in the program, a new record... |
Audience Award | Oldboy | |
| Grand Bell Awards Grand Bell Awards The Grand Bell Awards is an awards ceremony presented annually by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea for excellence in film in South Korea.... , South Korea |
Best Director | Oldboy | |
| Sitges Catalonian International Film Festival Festival de Cine de Sitges The Sitges Film Festival is a Spanish film festival that is one of the most recognizable ones held in Europe, considered the world's foremost international festival specializing in fantasy and horror movies... |
Best Film | Oldboy | |
| Stockholm International Film Festival Stockholm International Film Festival The Stockholm International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Stockholm, Sweden. It was launched in 1990 and has been held every year in the second half of November... |
Audience Award | Oldboy | |
| 2005 | Bangkok International Film Festival Bangkok International Film Festival The Bangkok International Film Festival is an international film festival held annually in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2003. In addition to film screenings, seminars, gala events and the Golden Kinnaree Awards.-First years:... |
Golden Kinnaree Award for Best Director | Oldboy |
| Venice Film Festival Venice Film Festival The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the... |
CinemAvvenire Award | Sympathy for Lady Vengeance Sympathy for Lady Vengeance Sympathy for Lady Vengeance is a 2008 South Korean film by director Park Chan-wook. In North America and parts of Europe, the film has been screened under the title Lady Vengeance. The film is the third installment in Park's The Vengeance Trilogy, following Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy... |
|
| 2006 | Bangkok International Film Festival Bangkok International Film Festival The Bangkok International Film Festival is an international film festival held annually in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2003. In addition to film screenings, seminars, gala events and the Golden Kinnaree Awards.-First years:... |
Golden Kinnaree Award for Best Director | Sympathy for Lady Vengeance |
| Fantasporto Fantasporto Fantasporto, also known as Fantas, is an international film festival, annually organized since 1981 in Porto, Portugal. Giving screen space to commercial feature films, auteur films and experimental projects from all over the world, Fantasporto has created enthusiastic audiences, ranging from... , Portugal |
Orient Express Section Grand Prize for Best Film | Sympathy for Lady Vengeance | |
| Sarasota Film Festival Sarasota Film Festival The Sarasota Film Festival has been held annually since 1999 in Sarasota, Florida. The festival is held in April and has become one of the top ten independent festivals in North America... |
Audience Award for Best in World Cinema | Sympathy for Lady Vengeance | |
| 2007 | Berlin International Film Festival Berlin International Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978... |
Alfred Bauer Award | I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK is a 2006 South Korean romantic comedy directed by Park Chan-wook.-Plot:The film takes place mostly in a mental institution filled with an eclectic menagerie of patients... |
| Montréal Festival of New Cinema Festival du Nouveau Cinéma The Festival du Nouveau Cinéma was known as the Montreal Festival of New Cinema and New Media until 2004. Founded in 1971, by Claude Chamberlan and Dimitri Eipides, it is an annual independent film festival held in Montreal and features independent films from around the world... |
Z Tele Grand Prize Feature Film Award | I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK | |
| Sitges Catalonian International Film Festival Festival de Cine de Sitges The Sitges Film Festival is a Spanish film festival that is one of the most recognizable ones held in Europe, considered the world's foremost international festival specializing in fantasy and horror movies... |
Best Screenplay | I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK | |
| 2008 | Fantasporto Fantasporto Fantasporto, also known as Fantas, is an international film festival, annually organized since 1981 in Porto, Portugal. Giving screen space to commercial feature films, auteur films and experimental projects from all over the world, Fantasporto has created enthusiastic audiences, ranging from... , Portugal |
International Fantasy Film Award - Special Mention | I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK |
| 2009 | Cannes Film Festival Cannes Film Festival The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals... |
Jury Prize Jury Prize (Cannes Film Festival) The Jury Prize is an award presented at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the jury from the 'official section' of movies at the festival. It is considered the third most prestigious prize at the film festival, after the Palme d'Or and the Grand Prix.... |
Thirst Thirst (2009 film) Thirst is a 2009 horror/drama film, written, produced and directed by Park Chan-wook. It is loosely based on the novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola. The film tells the story of a priest—who is in love with his friend’s wife—turning into a vampire through a failed medical experiment. Park has... |
| 2011 | Berlin Film Festival | Golden Bear for Best Short Film | Night Fishing Night Fishing (film) Night Fishing is a 2011 South Korean fantasy-horror short film co-directed by Park Chan-wook and his brother Park Chan-kyong.... |
Recurring cast in Park Chan-wook's films
The films of Park Chan-wook and his close friend director Kim Ji-woonKim Ji-Woon
Kim Ji-woon is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. Kim Ji-woon has a history of successfully tackling a wide range of film genres, garnering a cult following among Asian films fans all over the world.-Career:...
often share actors. Examples include:
- Lee Byung Hun, Oh Kwang-rok and Oh Dal-suOh Dal-suOh Dal-su is a South Korean actor. He has played many crime-related roles, such as Mr.Park the owner of the organized crime funded private jail in Oldboy and a former gang boss in Mapado . He plays a semi-comic part as a weapons smuggler in A Bittersweet Life...
appear in Kim's A Bittersweet LifeA Bittersweet LifeA Bittersweet Life is a 2005 South Korean film directed and written by Kim Ji-woon and starring Lee Byung-hun...
. - Yeom Jeong-ahYeom Jeong-ahYeom Jeong-ah is a South Korean actress.- Film :*Jeon Woo Chi *Small Town Rivals - cameo*The Worst Guy Ever *The Old Garden *Boy Goes To Heaven...
plays the stepmom in Kim's A Tale of Two Sisters and plays the role of the vampire actress in Cut, Park's segment of Three... ExtremesThree... ExtremesThree... Extremes is a 2004 international East Asian horror film collaboration consisting of three segments by three directors from three countries. It is a sequel to, and follows the concept of Three , this time with more established directors...
. - Im Su-jeongIm Su-jeongSu-Jeong Lim, also known as Im Soo-jung is a South Korean actress.-Career:Im Soo-jung made her debut in 1998 as a cover model for teen magazines. She soon moved onto dramas and films, but it was Kim Ji-woon's 2003 stylish horror A Tale of Two Sisters that first drew her critical notice and...
plays the elder sister in Kim's A Tale of Two Sisters and plays the heroine in Park's I'm a Cyborg, But That's OKI'm a Cyborg, But That's OKI'm a Cyborg, But That's OK is a 2006 South Korean romantic comedy directed by Park Chan-wook.-Plot:The film takes place mostly in a mental institution filled with an eclectic menagerie of patients...
. - Choi Min-sikChoi Min-sikChoi Min-sik is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his critically acclaimed roles in Oldboy and I Saw the Devil.-Movie career:...
plays the villain in Kim's I Saw the DevilI Saw the DevilI Saw the Devil is a 2010 South Korean thriller film directed by Kim Ji-woon, written by Park Hoon-jung and starring Lee Byung-hun and Choi Min-sik. The film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and had a limited U.S theatrical release. The film was Choi Min-sik's first major role since...
and the protagonist in Park's Oldboy.
See also
- List of Korea-related topics
- List of Korean language films
- Contemporary culture of South KoreaContemporary culture of South KoreaThe contemporary culture of South Korea developed from the traditional culture of Korea, and on its own path away from North Korean culture since the division of Korea in 1948. The industrialization and urbanization of South Korea, especially Seoul, have brought many changes to the way Korean...
External links
- Park Chan-Wook to make korean horror Movie using only iPhone at Korean Horror Movies
- Park Chan-wook: monographic website (Italian & English)
- Cineseoul profile (Korean)
- HanCinema Director Page
- Park Chan-wook at FEARnet
- SuicideGirls interview with Park Chan-wook by Daniel Robert Epstein
- July 2009 Interview with Park Chan-wook at the Korea Society (Audio)