Perfect Game (2011 Film)

Perfect Game (Korean: 퍼펙트 게임) is a 2011 South Korean sports drama film directed by Park Hee-Kon. The film dramatizes the intense professional rivalry between two legendary South Korean baseball pitchers, Choi Dong-Won and Sun Dong-Ryul, during the 1980s.

Promotional poster for the film Perfect Game

Plot

Set in the 1980s, the narrative follows the careers of Choi Dong-Won (played by Cho Seung-Woo), the ace pitcher for the Lotte Giants, and his younger rival Sun Dong-Ryul (played by Yang Dong-Geun) of the Haitai Tigers. As the two pitchers rise to prominence, public and media interest intensifies regarding who holds the title of the best pitcher in the country. The film explores the personal struggles of both athletes, including Choi's physical challenges and the pressure to maintain his status against the rising talent of Sun. The climax of the film centers on their historic 15-inning marathon game held on May 16, 1987.

Production

The film is based on the real-life rivalry between Choi Dong-Won and Sun Dong-Ryul, who were iconic figures in the KBO League during the 1980s. Principal photography for the film commenced on June 10, 2011, and concluded on October 10, 2011. The film was released in South Korea on December 21, 2011, with a runtime of 127 minutes.

Cast

Cho Seung-Woo as Choi Dong-Won
Yang Dong-Geun as Sun Dong-Ryul
Choi Jung-Won as Kim Seo-Hyung
Cho Jin-Woong as Kim Yong-Chul
Ma Dong-Seok as Park Man-Soo
Lee Do-Kyung as Coach Sung Ki-Young
Son Byung-Ho as Kim Eung-Ryong