3-Iron (2004) Bin-jip (original title)

Director:

Ki-duk Kim

Writer:

Ki-duk Kim (written by)

Release Date:

15 October 2004 (South Korea)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Plot:

A transient young man breaks into empty homes to partake of the vacationing residents' lives for a few days.

Plot Keywords:

Drifter | Escape | Marriage | Loveless Marriage | Abusive Husband

Awards:

7 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Seung-yeon Lee	...	Sun-hwa
Hyun-kyoon Lee	...	Tae-suk (as Hee Jae)
Hyuk-ho Kwon	...	Min-gyu (husband)
Jeong-ho Choi	...	Jailor
Ju-seok Lee	...	Son of Old Man
Mi-suk Lee	...	Daughter-in-law of Old Man
Sung-hyuk Moon	...	Sung-hyuk
Jee-ah Park	...	Jee-ah
Jae-yong Jang	...	Hyun-soo
Dah-hae Lee	...	Ji-eun
Han Kim	...	Man in Studio
Se-jin Park	...	Woman in Studio
Dong-jin Park	...	Detective Lee
Jong-su Lee	...	Man who Came Back from Family Trip
Ui-soo Lee	...	Woman who Came Back from Family Trip
Jong-hwa Ryoo	...	Boy who Came Back from Family Trip
Sung-hoon Kang	...	Boyfriend of Girl who Got Hit by Golf Ball
Sung-hoon Jung	...	Prisoner 1
Ji-yong Jang	...	Prisoner 2
Maeng-sung Kim	...	Prisoner 3
Hoon Jang	...	Guy Who Stares
Seok-bin Jang	...	CIS Team 1
Hyung-suk Kim	...	CIS Team 2
Tae-suk Shin	...	Policeman 1
Hong-suk Lee	...	Policeman 2
Nam-min Park	...	Policeman 4

Directed by
Ki-duk Kim

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ki-duk Kim		written by

Produced by
Yong-bae Choi	....	co-executive producer
Ki-duk Kim	....	producer
Youngjoo Suh	....	co-producer
Michiko Suzuki	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Slvian

Cinematography by
Seong-back Jang

Film Editing by
Ki-duk Kim

Production Design by
Chungsol Art

Sound Department
Jin-wook Jung	....	sound

Production Companies

• Kim Ki-Duk Film
• Cineclick Asia

Distributors

• Chungeorahm Film (2004) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• ArtCam (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Bright Angel Distribution (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Cinema Mondo (2005) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Eurofilms (2007) (Peru) (theatrical)
• Festive Films (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Filmhouse (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Mikado (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2005) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Optimum Releasing (2005) (UK) (theatrical)
• Pretty Pictures (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2005) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Bir Film (2005) (Turkey) (all media)
• Dolmen Home Video (2005) (Italy) (DVD)
• Optimum Home Entertainment (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Pandora Filmproduktion (2005) (Germany) (all media)
• Total Film Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Chungeorahm Film  presented by
• HFR  dailies
• ProCam  camera and lighting equipment supplied by

Also Known As:

"Bin-jip" - South Korea (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexual content

Runtime:

88 min | Turkey:84 min (TV version)

Country:

South Korea | Japan

Language:

Korean

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | Sweden:11 | Spain:13 | Taiwan:R-12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Hungary:14 | South Korea:15 | France:U | Mexico:B15 | Australia:M | Australia:MA (TV rating) | Denmark:11 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Brazil:16

Company:

Kim Ki-Duk Film

Trivia:

Director Kim ki-Duk wrote the screenplay of the movie in one month, the movie was filmed in 16 days and the film editing was done in 10 days.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: His boxer-type BMW motorcycle, which has two cylinders, is dubbed with the sound of a four cylinder engine.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Smagsdommerne: Episode #2.15" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Gafsa

Stick with me here..

Having witnessed Kim ki Duk's masterpiece in the past "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring", I was eagerly interested in this well received next venture.

3 Iron, is very similar in style to Spring Summer, there is very little dialogue, and the story tells itself. However, I had to admit that after about 65% of viewing this film, admiring the characters, I was still kind of wondering if this film was going to go somewhere. It had to make some direction. Only the last 3rd brought me back and really showed me how ingenious this film is.

The lead actor Hee Jae really performs one of the most memorable performances, with hardly saying a word, his arching brows or glare in his face conveys every emotion masterfully compared to other actors who would have to say a million lines. I won't go over plot details that have already been discussed, what is interesting is that all the houses the two break into are all of couples in some stage in a relationship, one breaking down, one that is well established and peaceful, one that is young and virile, but perhaps inexperienced.

It all seems to be a metaphor for how two beings meet to co-exist and compliment each other, particularly the final scene that ends with the two anti-heroes meeting up and finding their lives in perhaps perfect balance.

Be patient with this film, STICK with it, it's well worth it. Extremely dreamy and poetic and masterful.

Rating 8 out of 10