A Barefoot Dream (2010 Film)

A Barefoot Dream (Korean: 맨발의 꿈; RR: Maenbalui Kkgeum) is a 2010 South Korean drama film directed by Kim Tae-gyun. The film is based on the true story of Kim Shin-hwan, a former South Korean soccer player who traveled to East Timor to coach a local youth soccer team.

Promotional poster for A Barefoot Dream — Promotional poster for the 2010 film A Barefoot Dream.

Plot

The story follows Kim Won-kang, a former professional soccer player who experiences business failure after his retirement. Seeking a fresh start, he travels to East Timor. There, he encounters a group of impoverished children and decides to organize them into a youth soccer team. Despite limited resources and the challenges of the local environment, the team eventually achieves success in international youth soccer competitions.

Production

Principal photography for the film began in November 2009 in East Timor. The production team subsequently moved to South Korea for additional filming and concluded shooting on January 28, 2010, in Hiroshima, Japan. To prepare for his role as the coach, lead actor Park Hee-soon underwent specialized training in soccer coaching and studied elements of the Indonesian and East Timorese languages.

Scene from A Barefoot Dream — A scene featuring the youth soccer team in A Barefoot Dream.

Release and Reception

The film was released in South Korea on June 10, 2010, shortly before the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa. It received recognition at the 47th Daejong Film Awards, where it won the awards for Best Production (Kim Joon-jong) and Best Music (Kim Joon-suk).