Chugyeogja (2008)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Hong-jin Na

Writers:

Won-Chan Hong (written by)
Shinho Lee (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

14 February 2008 (South Korea)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Joong-ho is a dirty detective turned pimp in financial trouble as several of his girls have recently disappeared without clearing their debts...

Plot Keywords:

Pimp | Chisel | Impotence | Police Corruption | Violence

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Yun-seok Kim	...	Joong-ho Eom
Jung-woo Ha	...	Young-min Jee
Yeong-hie Seo	...	Mi-jin Kim
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
In-gi Jung	...	Detective Lee
Hyo-ju Park	...	Detective Oh

Directed by
Hong-jin Na

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Won-Chan Hong		written by
Shinho Lee		written by
Hong-jin Na		written by

Produced by
Moon-Su Choi	....	producer

Original Music by
Yongrock Choi

Film Editing by
Sun-min Kim

Art Direction by
Min-bok Lee

Costume Design by
Kyung-hwa Chae

Makeup Department
Yeon-jeong Shin	....	makeup artist

Sound Department
Shin-yong Kim	....	production sound mixer

Production Companies

• Fine Cut
• Silk Road

Distributors

• IFC Films (2009) (Canada) (all media)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (2009) (Japan) (all media)
• Klock Worx Company, The (2009) (Japan) (all media)
• Cinéart (2009) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinéart (2008) (Benelux) (all media)
• Fundamental Films (2009) (China) (TV)
• Golden Scene (2008) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• Haut et Court (2008) (France) (all media)
• Hwa Jaan (2008) (Taiwan) (all media)
• IFC Films (2008) (USA) (all media)
• MFA Filmdistribution (2008) (Germany) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (all media)
• Maywin Media (2009) (Russia) (all media)
• Metrodome Distribution (2008) (UK) (all media)
• NonStop Entertainment (2008) (Scandinavia) (all media)
• Rialto Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (all media)
• Seven Films (2008) (Greece) (all media)
• Shaw Organisation (2008) (Singapore) (all media)
• Showbox Entertainment (2008) (South Korea) (all media)
• Vapet Productions (2009) (Bulgaria) (all media)
• Vapet Productions (2009) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• Vapet Productions (2009) (Poland) (all media)
• Vapet Productions (2009) (Slovakia) (all media)

Also Known As:

The Chaser (International: English title)

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:18 | UK:18 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Singapore:M18 | Germany:18 | Taiwan:R-18 | Japan:R-15 | France:-12 (with warning) | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-18 | Australia:MA (2009) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:18 (canton of Geneva) | New Zealand:R18

Filming Locations:

Seoul, South Korea

Company:

Fine Cut

Trivia:

The part where Young-min (Jung-woo Ha) slips as Joong-ho (Yun-seok Kim) chases him in the alley was not scripted. Actor Jung-woo Ha actually did slip on the slippery pavement while shooting, but kept running anyway. Director Hong-jin Na liked that cut so much that he kept it in the final edit.

Movie Connections:

Remade as The Chaser (2010)

I saw how pigs were killed and did the same.

Writer/director Hong-jin Na has a home run in his first outing. He not only gets a nomination at this year's Asian Film Awards, but the film also won seven 2008 Korean Film Awards including Best Picture, Director, Actor and Screenplay and was a massive box office hit in South Korea. It premiered at Cannes in the Official Selection and was quickly snapped up for an American remake by the producers of The Departed and Warner Brothers. I just hope they don't screw it up like they did with Infernal Affairs.

Joong-ho (Yun-seok Kim) is a pimp that keeps losing his girls. They go out, but they don't come back. he doesn't know if they are running away or kidnapped and sold. The cops are too busy watching out for politicians to look for missing prostitutes.

Fortunately, Joong-ho is a former cop and decides to solve the mystery himself. When he sends out Mi-jin (Yeong-hie Seo), he tags along. Unfortunately, he cannot save her from her fate, but he does find out who (Jung-woo Ha) is doing it; he just doesn't know yet what is being done.

While Joong-ho is searching, he discovers that Mi-jin has a daughter and now he is stuck with her while he looks. She is cute and funny, so it really adds to the story. Of course, she is not funny when she realizes her mother is missing.

Things take many twists and turns that add to the suspense. What is most upsetting is what happens while the cops are snoozing nearby.

Outstanding writing and acting, and incredible suspense. A real winner from Korea that keeps you on the edge of your seat.