Manshin: Ten Thousand Spirits (2014 Film)

Manshin: Ten Thousand Spirits (Korean: 만신) is a 2014 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-Kyong. The production is a hybrid of documentary, drama, and biopic, chronicling the life of the renowned Korean shaman Kim Geum-Hwa. The film is based on Kim's 2007 autobiography, Bidankkob Neom-Se.

Promotional poster for the film Manshin: Ten Thousand Spirits.

Production and Development

The film explores the life of Kim Geum-Hwa, a prominent figure in Korean shamanic traditions. The narrative structure incorporates both dramatic reenactments and documentary footage to depict her experiences. Principal photography for the film concluded in November 2012. During the post-production phase, the project faced financial challenges, leading the production team to initiate a crowdfunding campaign via the platform Funding21, which concluded on September 9, 2013.

Actress Moon So-Ri — Moon So-Ri portrays the middle-aged Kim Geum-Hwa.

Cast

The film portrays Kim Geum-Hwa at different stages of her life, with three actresses taking on the role:

Kim Sae-Ron as the teenage Kim Geum-Hwa
Ryoo Hyoun-Kyoung as the young adult Kim Geum-Hwa
Moon So-Ri as the middle-aged Kim Geum-Hwa

Actress Ryoo Hyoun-Kyoung — Ryoo Hyoun-Kyoung portrays the young Kim Geum-Hwa.

Actress Kim Sae-Ron — Kim Sae-Ron portrays the teenage Kim Geum-Hwa.

Release and Festivals

Manshin: Ten Thousand Spirits was released in South Korea on March 6, 2014. The film was featured at several international film festivals, including the 13th New York Asian Film Festival, where it served as the closing film and held its North American premiere. It was also screened at the 47th Sitges Film Festival and the 9th Korean Film Festival in Paris.