Coin Locker Girl (2015 Film)
Coin Locker Girl (Korean: 차이나타운; RR: Chainataun, released internationally as Chinatown) is a 2015 South Korean crime drama film written and directed by Han Jun-Hee. The film centers on a young woman who was abandoned at birth in a subway station coin locker and subsequently raised by a powerful loan shark known as "Mother."
Plot
The narrative follows Il-Young, who was discovered as an infant in a subway station locker. She is taken in by a woman who operates a loan shark organization in a district known as Chinatown. As she matures, Il-Young becomes an integral part of the organization, performing various tasks and missions assigned to her by her mentor, Mother. The film explores the complex, often brutal power dynamics within their criminal underworld.
Production
The film was directed by Han Jun-Hee, who also wrote the screenplay. Principal photography for the project commenced on August 5, 2014, and concluded on October 16, 2014. During its development, the film was initially titled Coin Locker Girl.
Cast
- Kim Hye-Soo as Mother
- Kim Go-Eun as Il-Young
- Um Tae-Goo as Woo-Gon
- Park Bo-Gum as Seok-Hyun
- Ko Kyoung-Pyo as Chi-Do
- Lee Soo-Kyung as Ssong
- Cho Hyun-Chul as Hong-Joo
- Jo Bok-Rae as Tak
- Lee Dae-Yeon as Teacher Ahn
- Jung Suk-Yong as Mr. Woo
- Baek Soo-Jang as #2
- Kim Soo-Ahn as young Il-Young
- Ki Joo-Bong as man in suit
Reception and Awards
Coin Locker Girl was screened at the 19th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in 2015. The film received recognition for its performances and direction, including the Best Actress award for Kim Hye-Soo at the 35th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards and the Best New Director award for Han Jun-Hee at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards in 2016.
