Champ (2011 South Korean Film)
Champ (Korean: 챔프) is a 2011 South Korean sports drama film directed by Lee Hwan-Kyung. The film follows the story of a former star jockey who attempts a professional comeback after suffering a tragic accident that claims his wife's life and impairs his vision.
Plot
Seung-Ho, portrayed by Cha Tae-Hyun, is a once-celebrated horse jockey whose life is upended by a severe accident. The incident results in the death of his wife and leaves him with permanent vision damage. Struggling with the aftermath of his personal and professional collapse, he finds a new sense of purpose through his connection with a racehorse, leading to an unlikely attempt to return to the track.
Production
The film is inspired by the true story of a racehorse named Luna, which debuted in 2004 at the Pusan Gyeongnam Race Park. During its career, the horse achieved 13 victories in 33 races. Production for the film involved location shooting in Jeju Island, Pusan, and Japan. The lead actor, Cha Tae-Hyun, contributed to the film's soundtrack by performing the theme song, "Happiness" (Hangbok).
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
