Na Moon-heui Movies

First time feature filmmaker Lee Jeong-beom paints an intimate portrait of self-destruction with this unconventionally restrained gangster drama set in a remote village where life has come to a standstill. Jae-mun (Seol Gyeong-Gu) is a fearsome gangster whose lifelong pal was recently murdered by Dae-sik - a knife-wielding baddie who never thought twice about slaying his street rival. Now Jae-mun is out for revenge, and in order to personally ensure that Dae-sik pay for his crime Jae-mun recruits the gang's newest recruit - a young tae kwon do expert named Chi-guk - and heads to the misbegotten hamlet from which his target hails. Upon arriving at his destination, Jae-mun comes into contact with a strong willed village girl and strikes up a warm friendship with a feisty restaurant owner who bears a striking resemblance to his mother. As the days wear on and the duo patiently awaits the appearance of Dae-sik, violent gangster and lifelong city-dweller Jae-mun actually finds himself growing accustomed to life in the country. Later, when Jae-mun discovers that the restaurant owner whom he has warmed up to is in fact Dae-sik's mother, he begins to experience a crisis of conscience that could jeopardize the entire mission. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

After the success of the modern-day comic martial arts epic Arahan, writer/director Ryu Seung-wan changed gears and again teamed up with his brother, actor Ryu Seung-beom, to produce Crying Fist, a much more serious boxing drama. Actor Ryu plays Yu Sang-hwan, a street thug who rejects the life of his hard-working, struggling father for a life of petty crime and run-ins with the law. He winds up in a juvenile detention center, where he responds to some bullying by flying at the bully, Roc (Kim Su-hyeon), and biting his ear off. Yu is then taken under the wing of the prison's boxing trainer, and he learns a bit of self-discipline through boxing, gradually recognizing his own strengths, and eventually acknowledging the support of his caring family. Meanwhile, 40-year-old Kang Tae-shik (Choi Min-sik of Oldboy), is a washed up former champion whose home and professional life have completely fallen apart. His wife leaves him, taking their young son. Besieged by creditors, Kang earns a meager living by charging people on the street for the privilege of punching him out. In danger of losing his son forever, his own health deteriorating rapidly, Kang decides to enter one last boxing competition, the same one which the equally desperate Yu has chosen to show his mettle. Crying Fist won a FIPRESCI Award at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, and had its North American premiere at Subway Cinema's 2005 New York Asian Film Festival, with director Ryu in attendance. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi