Oldboy (2003 Film)
Oldboy (Korean: 올드보이; RR: Oldeuboi) is a 2003 South Korean neo-noir action thriller directed by Park Chan-wook. The film is the second installment in the director's unofficial "revenge trilogy," following Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) and preceding Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005). While the films share a thematic focus on vengeance, their storylines are not connected.
Plot
The story follows Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), an ordinary businessman who is abducted and imprisoned in a private cell for 15 years without explanation. During his confinement, he learns through television that he has been framed for the murder of his wife. Upon his sudden release, he is given five days to discover the identity of his captor and the motive behind his long imprisonment, with the threat that his new acquaintance, a young woman named Mido (Kang Hye-jung), will be killed if he fails.
Production and Release
Oldboy was produced by Show East and released in South Korea on November 21, 2003. The film was a commercial success in its home market, recording 3,269,000 admissions during its theatrical run. It ranked as the fourth highest-grossing domestic film and the sixth highest-grossing film overall in South Korea for 2003.
Reception
The film gained significant international recognition after premiering at the 57th Cannes Film Festival. The jury, chaired by Quentin Tarantino, awarded the film the Grand Prix. It has since been recognized as a notable work in contemporary South Korean cinema.
Cast
- Choi Min-sik as Oh Dae-su
- Yoo Ji-tae as Lee Woo-jin
- Kang Hye-jung as Mido
- Kim Byung-ok as Mr. Han
- Oh Dal-su as Park Cheol-woong
