Fourth Place (2016 Film)

Fourth Place (Korean: 4등) is a 2016 South Korean drama film directed by Jung Ji-woo. The film examines the societal and personal pressures surrounding competitive youth sports, specifically focusing on the intense expectations placed upon a young swimmer.

Promotional poster for the film Fourth Place

Plot

The story follows Joon-Ho (Yoo Jae-Sang), a talented young swimmer who consistently finishes in fourth place during competitions. His mother, deeply dissatisfied with his inability to secure a medal, hires a new coach named Kwang-Soo (Park Hae-Joon). Kwang-Soo, a former athlete with a troubled past, insists that Joon-Ho's mother remain absent from the pool during training sessions. Following the change in coaching, Joon-Ho achieves a silver medal, much to his family's delight. However, the victory is overshadowed by the discovery of unexplained bruises on Joon-Ho's body, hinting at the harsh methods employed by his new mentor.

Cast

The film features an ensemble cast portraying the various figures involved in Joon-Ho's life and training:

Park Hae-Joon as Kwang-Soo
Lee Hang-Na as Jung-Ae
Yoo Jae-Sang as Joon-Ho
Choi Moo-Sung as Young-Hoon
Jung Ga-Ram as young Kwang-Soo

Production and Release

The film was written by Jung Ji-woo and Kim Min-ah, with cinematography by Kang Min-woo. It held its world premiere at the 20th Busan International Film Festival on October 4, 2015, and was subsequently released in South Korean theaters on April 13, 2016. The film has a runtime of 116 minutes.

Reception and Awards

Fourth Place was recognized for its portrayal of the competitive sports environment in South Korea. At the 53rd Daejong Film Awards in 2016, Jung Ga-Ram received the award for Best New Actor for his performance as the younger version of Kwang-Soo.