Woman on the Beach
Woman on the Beach | |
---|---|
Directed by | Hong Sang-soo |
Written by | Hong Sang-soo |
Produced by | Oh Jung-wan |
Starring | Kim Seung-woo Go Hyun-jung Song Seon-mi Kim Tae-woo |
Cinematography | Kim Hyung-koo |
Edited by | Hahm Sung-won |
Music by | Jeong Yong-jin |
Production company | BOM Film Productions |
Distributed by | Mirovision |
Release date |
|
Running time | 127 minutes |
Country | South Korea |
Language | Korean |
Box office | $749,147[1] |
Woman on the Beach is the seventh feature film by South Korean director Hong Sang-soo, and was released in 2006.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Plot
Film director and screenwriter Kim Jung-rae asks his friend Won Chang-wook to drive with him from their homes in Seoul to the resort town of Shinduri, on the western coast of South Korea. Chang-wook initially resists, but accepts the request on the condition that he can bring Kim Mun-suk, a composer and aspiring singer whom he describes as being his girlfriend. Jung-rae is writing a treatment for a film titled "About Miracles," concerning the mysterious connections that secure everyday life—themes that play a major role in the work of Hong Sang-Soo. Mun-suk quickly makes clear that she does not consider herself Chang-wook's girlfriend, and she finds herself and Jung-rae increasing drawn together. As the three drive on, Mun-suk discusses her years living abroad in Germany and reveals that she has had a number of relationships with Europeans, a fact that greatly disturbs both Chang-wook and Jung-rae. Mun-suk is particularly disappointed in Jung-rae's reaction, claiming, "You're not like your films." Nevertheless, Mun-suk and Jung-rae later kiss on the beach and then sleep together in a low-rent hotel room.
The next day as the three drive back to Seoul, Jung-rae pulls back from his intimacy with Mun-suk and returns to the beach alone two days later. Missing Mun-suk despite his actions, Jung-rae hits on two women, one of whom vaguely resembles Mun-suk, by introducing himself as a film director and asking to interview them for his screenplay. Jung-rae proceeds to seduce Choi Sun-hee in much the same fashion as he had Mun-suk just a few days prior. While sleeping with Sun-hee in the same beachside motel where he'd been with Mun-suk, Jung-rae is surprised to find that Mun-suk has returned to Shinduri, found his room, and started banging on the door loudly and very late at night. Jung-rae sneaks Sun-hee out of his room through a separate exit the next morning as Mun-suk sleeps at the foot of his door with a terrible hangover. Jung-rae attempts to reconcile with Mun-suk and lies about his night with Sun-hee, although his lie is increasingly transparent to all concerned. Having alienated Mun-suk and left Sun-hee without a goodbye, Jung-rae returns to Seoul with a creative breakthrough on his screenplay.
Cast
- Kim Seung-woo ... Director Kim Jung-rae
- Go Hyun-jung ... Kim Mun-suk
- Song Seon-mi ... Choi Sun-hee
- Kim Tae-woo ... Won Chang-wook
- Moon Sung-keun ... (voice)
- Jung Chan ... Guy driving Mun-suk home
- Lee Ki-woo ... Beach resort caretaker
- Oh Tae-kyung ... Waiter at empty sushi restaurant
- Choi Ban-ya ... Sun-hee's friend
Release
Woman on the Beach was released in South Korea on August 31, 2006, and received a total of 225,388 admissions nationwide.[10][11]
Reception
Woman on the Beach has an 87% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes,[12] and a 72/100 average on Metacritic.[13]
Awards and nominations
2006 Busan Film Critics Awards[14]
- Best Supporting Actor - Kim Tae-woo
- Best New Actress - Go Hyun-jung
2006 Korean Film Awards
- Nomination - Best Actress - Go Hyun-jung
- Nomination - Best Director - Hong Sang-soo
- Nomination - Best Cinematography - Kim Hyung-koo
- Nomination - Best New Actress - Go Hyun-jung
- Best Director - Hong Sang-soo
- Nomination - Best Director - Hong Sang-soo
- Nomination - Best Screenplay - Hong Sang-soo
- Nomination - Best Music - Jeong Yong-jin
- Nomination - Best New Actress - Go Hyun-jung
- Nomination - Best New Actress - Go Hyun-jung
References
- ^ "Box office by Country: Woman On The Beach". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
- ^ "Ko Hyun-jung to Make Film Debut". KBS Global. 22 March 2006. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
- ^ "해변의 연인 (The Woman on The Beach) Presentation Report". Twitch Film. 17 April 2006. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
- ^ "Ko Hyun-jung Poised for Belated Big-Screen Debut". The Chosun Ilbo. 17 April 2006. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
- ^ Lee, Seung-jae (18 April 2006). "Bed Scenes". The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
- ^ Bae, Keun-nim (18 April 2006). "Ko Hyeon-jeong to Debut on Big Screen". The Korea Times via Hancinema. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
- ^ "Ko Hyun-jung: More at Ease in Her 30s". The Chosun Ilbo. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
- ^ Kim, Tae-jong (22 August 2006). "Actress Ko Back With First Film". The Korea Times via Hancinema. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
- ^ Shin, Hae-in (13 September 2006). "Actress takes off mask in 'Woman on the Beach'". The Korea Herald via Hancinema. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
- ^ "Theatrical Releases in 2006: Box-Office Admission Results". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- ^ Thompson, N.P. (31 May 2008). "Movie lacks redemption, in a good way". Northwest Asian Weekly. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- ^ Woman on the Beach, retrieved 2017-11-18
- ^ Woman on the Beach, retrieved 2017-11-18
- ^ "The Woman on The Beach - Awards". Cinemasie. Retrieved 2009-02-26.