The Bacchus Lady (2016 Film)

The Bacchus Lady (Korean: 죽여주는 여자; RR: Jookyeojooneun Yeoja) is a 2016 South Korean drama film written and directed by E J-yong. The film premiered at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2016 and was released theatrically in South Korea on October 6, 2016.

Promotional poster for The Bacchus Lady — Promotional poster for the 2016 film The Bacchus Lady.

Plot

The story follows So-young, a 65-year-old woman who works as a prostitute catering to elderly men in Seoul. Known as a "Bacchus lady"—a term referring to older women who sell energy drinks and sexual services in public parks—she navigates a life of poverty and social isolation. Her social circle includes a transgender landlady named Ti-na, a struggling figurine artist named Do-hoon, and a young boy named Min-ho. The narrative takes a dark turn when a former client asks So-young to assist in his death. Following this event, she finds herself increasingly involved in requests from other elderly clients seeking to end their lives, leading to a complex exploration of mortality, loneliness, and social marginalization.

Youn Yuh-jung as So-young — Youn Yuh-jung stars as the protagonist, So-young.

Cast

Youn Yuh-jung as So-young
Jeon Mu-song as Jae-woo
Yoon Kye-sang as Do-hoon

Jeon Mu-song as Jae-woo — Jeon Mu-song portrays the character Jae-woo.

Yoon Kye-sang as Do-hoon — Yoon Kye-sang portrays the character Do-hoon.

Production

The film was produced by Suh Dong-hyun, E J-yong, and Yu Young-sik. It features cinematography by Kim Young-ro and was distributed by CGV Arthouse. The film has a runtime of 111 minutes.