Duelist (2005)
"Hyeongsa" (original title)

Set years ago in the era of the Joseon Dynasty, the story follows a young police officer named Namsoon (Ha Ji-won) who, along with her fellow officers, discovers a counterfeit ring ... See full summary »

Director:

Myung-se Lee

Writers:

Hae-jyung Lee, Myung-se Lee

Stars:

Ji-won Ha, Sung-kee Ahn, Dong-won Kang

Cast

Credited cast:
Ji-won Ha	...	Namsoon
Sung-kee Ahn	...	Detective Ahn
Dong-won Kang	...	Sad Eyes
Young-chang Song	...	Minister of Defence
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bo-yeon Kim

Storyline

Set years ago in the era of the Joseon Dynasty, the story follows a young police officer named Namsoon (Ha Ji-won) who, along with her fellow officers, discovers a counterfeit ring operating out of the area they've been assigned to protect. However, as the criminals aren't just printing up their own money, they also plan to use it to topple the economy and take down the government. As her investigative work continues, Namsoon soon makes the acquaintance of a young man known only as Sad Eyes (Gang Dong-won), for the way that he looks out at you from underneath his hair - he doesn't say much, but he's got that look and that's all it takes to pique Namsoon's interest in him, even if she shouldn't be thinking those thoughts about someone she might have to toss in jail. Of course, Namsoon can't deny her feelings even if the object of her affection belongs behind bars, and it's not long before she's starting to act on her emotions.

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Plot Keywords:

martial arts

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Genres:

Action | Mystery

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [fr] Official site [jp]

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Release Date:

9 September 2005 (South Korea)

Also Known As:

Duelist

Filming Locations:

South Korea

Company Credits

Production Co:

Production M, Wellmade Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min 108 min (uncut) 111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

The actors' work was splendid.

I saw this movie in the Pusan International Film Festival. Director Myung-se Lee said it is the third edition, after the screening. Maybe, it was post-Toronto & Vancouver Festival Version.

The image is so beautiful. Films which shoot in front of blue screen (a lot of CG) won't have this charm. Costume and architecture of the Lee Dynasty are interesting, too. I wasn't bored one minute. I felt two hours short.

I think that the casting is a big success. Ji-won Ha performs the sometime-funny role of female detective Namsoon greatly. Sung-kee Ahn gives the tone to this movie. And, mysterious Sad Eyes, nobody will be able to do excluding Dong-won Kang.

Selection of music makes this movie not sophisticated. At this point, it looks like Lee's previous work "Nowhere to hide-Injeong sajeong bol geot eobtda-". (However, selection of music might be a charm of the Lee works!)

I praise that all characters are solitude and independent. I saw a number of Korean movies and dramas, there are a lot of works of complex story based on the family relation and the sickness. In this movie, a simple story permits intoxicating it beautifully of the image.

The pronunciation of Japanese well known tanka is incorrect. I expect it to be corrected before screening in Japan.