Champ (2011 South Korean Film)

Champ (Korean: 챔프) is a 2011 South Korean sports drama film directed by Lee Hwan-Kyung. The film stars Cha Tae-Hyun as a former star jockey who attempts a professional comeback after a tragic accident that results in the loss of his wife and partial vision impairment. His path to recovery is intertwined with his connection to a racehorse.

Background

The narrative of Champ is inspired by the true story of a racehorse named "Luna." The real-life horse debuted in 2004 at the Pusan Gyeongnam Race Park and achieved a record of winning 13 out of 33 races during its career.

Production

The film was directed by Lee Hwan-Kyung, who also contributed to the screenplay alongside writers Kim Young-Suk and Kim Hwang-Sung. Production involved location shooting in Jeju Island, Pusan, and Japan. The film features a soundtrack contribution from lead actor Cha Tae-Hyun, who performed the theme song "Happiness" (Hangbok).

Actor Cha Tae-Hyun — Cha Tae-Hyun, who portrays the lead character Seung-Ho

Cast

The film features an ensemble cast, including:

Cha Tae-Hyun as Seung-Ho
Kim Su-Jeong as Ye-Seung
Yu Oh-Seong as Trainer Yoon
Park Ha-Sun as Yoon-Hee
Park Won-Sang as Trainer Kim

Scene from the film — A scene featuring the characters in the film