Happy End (1999 Film)

Happy End (Korean: 해피엔드; RR: Haepiendeu) is a 1999 South Korean suspense-thriller film directed and written by Jung Ji-woo. The film explores themes of domestic instability and infidelity, contrasting the lives of a husband and wife whose marriage begins to unravel.

Plot

Seo Min-ki (Choi Min-sik) is a former banker who has become unemployed. He takes on the role of a stay-at-home father, managing household chores and caring for their infant child. His wife, Choi Bo-ra (Jeon Do-yeon), is a successful career woman working at an English language institute. While Min-ki spends his time reading and watching television, Bo-ra engages in an extramarital affair with a former lover, Il-bum (Joo Jin-mo). The tension in the household escalates when Min-ki discovers a mysterious key belonging to his wife, leading him to uncover her secret life.

Cast

The film features a central trio of actors who drive the narrative:

• Choi Min-sik as Seo Min-ki
• Jeon Do-yeon as Choi Bo-ra
• Joo Jin-mo as Il-bum

Additional cast members include Joo Hyun (bookstore owner), Hwang Mi-seon (Mi-yong), Kim Byung-choon (detective), Park Ji-il (bank clerk), Park Nam-hee (nanny), Lee Geum-ju (housewife), Yoo Yeon-soo (detective), and Park Sung-il (video store clerk).

Production and Release

Happy End was released in South Korea on December 11, 1999. It has a runtime of 99 minutes. The film was directed by Jung Ji-woo, who also served as the screenwriter and cinematographer. It was later featured in the 2012 Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival as part of a Myung Film retrospective.