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Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

Original title: Boksuneun naui geot
  • 20022002
  • K-18K-18
  • 2h 9m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
69K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,581
242
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
Home Video Trailer from Tartan Films
Play trailer1:25
2 Videos
83 Photos
CrimeDramaThriller

A recently laid off factory worker kidnaps his former boss' friend's daughter, hoping to use the ransom money to pay for his sister's kidney transplant.A recently laid off factory worker kidnaps his former boss' friend's daughter, hoping to use the ransom money to pay for his sister's kidney transplant.A recently laid off factory worker kidnaps his former boss' friend's daughter, hoping to use the ransom money to pay for his sister's kidney transplant.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
69K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,581
242
  • Director
    • Park Chan-wook
  • Writers
    • Myeong-chan Park(comic)
    • Mu-yeong Lee(screenplay)
    • Park Chan-wook(character created by: Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Vengeance Trilogy)
  • Stars
    • Song Kang-ho
    • Shin Ha-kyun
    • Bae Doona
Top credits
  • Director
    • Park Chan-wook
  • Writers
    • Myeong-chan Park(comic)
    • Mu-yeong Lee(screenplay)
    • Park Chan-wook(character created by: Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Vengeance Trilogy)
  • Stars
    • Song Kang-ho
    • Shin Ha-kyun
    • Bae Doona
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 162User reviews
    • 149Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos2

    Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
    Trailer 1:25
    Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
    Main trailer
    Trailer 1:55
    Main trailer

    Photos83

    Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
    Shin Ha-kyun and Song Kang-ho in Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
    Shin Ha-kyun and Song Kang-ho in Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
    Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
    Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
    Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
    Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
    Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
    Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
    Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
    Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
    Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Song Kang-ho
    Song Kang-ho
    • Dong-jin Park
    Shin Ha-kyun
    Shin Ha-kyun
    • Ryu
    Bae Doona
    Bae Doona
    • Yeong-mi Cha
    Ji-Eun Lim
    • Ryu's Sister
    Bo-bae Han
    Bo-bae Han
    • Yu-sun
    Dae-yeon Lee
    Dae-yeon Lee
    • Choi
    Ju-bong Gi
    Ju-bong Gi
    • Driver Paeng
    Se-dong Kim
    • Chief of Staff
    Yoon-mi Lee
    • Boss of Organ Trafficking Ring
    Seung-beom Ryu
    Seung-beom Ryu
    • Retarded Boy at River
    Dae-han Ji
    • Detective Ji
    Jong-su Heo
    • Detective Heo
    Byung-Hoon Nam
    • Man 1
    Jae-woong Park
    Jae-woong Park
    • Man 2
    Jeong Gyu-su
    Jeong Gyu-su
    • Doctor 1
    Lee Jeong-wook
    • Doctor 2
    Geum-hee Lee
    • Radio DJ
    Seung-wan Ryu
    Seung-wan Ryu
    • Delivery Boy
    • (as Ryu Seung-wan)
    • Director
      • Park Chan-wook
    • Writers
      • Myeong-chan Park(comic)
      • Mu-yeong Lee(screenplay)
      • Park Chan-wook(character created by: Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Vengeance Trilogy) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      First film in history to have a sex scene with sign language.
    • Goofs
      In the ransom photo of Yoosun, she is wearing the necklace Ryu made. However, he hadn't given her the necklace when he took the photo, it was later, when he traded the necklace for her doll.
    • Quotes

      Park Dong-jin: I know you're a good guy... but you know why I have to kill you...

    • Crazy credits
      The title card of the film is shown in both Korean and English.
    • Connections
      Featured in Widaehan yusan (2003)

    User reviews162

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Absolutely Stunning
    All I could think of during the last 20 minutes of this amazing film is how I am feeling the exact same way I felt as the final act played out in "Taxi Driver", were the only word floating through my brain and out my mouth was "Jesus". Anyway I was blown away.

    I must admit that violence has not bothered me too much in my 25 years of watching films. It did affect me when I saw "Taxi Driver" for the first time, and it did truly mess me up when I saw "Irreversible" and now this film. I don't think I can handle too much anymore. I am glad that I was not prepared for the last act of this film. I was lulled into trance while watching the film unfold, it was mesmerizing. I loved everything about it, the acting, the story, again I had no Idea where it was going, I say again because I have mentioned this point in previous reviews, Asian films kick ass because they don't pander to focus groups or near sighted Hollywood suits, they take you places you either have no Idea where your going or take you places where you may feel the need to turn back but can't.

    The relationships in this film are so pure, so real and beautiful, especially between the little girl and her captures. I love the way they set up the scene that would be the catalyst for the ensuing mayhem, even until the last second you aren't sure how far they were going to take it. I don't want to ruin anything so I will stop now.

    I recommend this film to anyone who appreciates a films that break all the rules, films that are not easy to digest, films that are beautiful and tragic at the same time, and guaranteed if you see this film you will feel sympathy for anyone who is put into that postion, sympathy on both sides, Vengeance is like a pebble in the water.
    helpful•129
    26
    • bluedeluca
    • Oct 20, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 29, 2002 (South Korea)
    • Country of origin
      • South Korea
    • Languages
      • Korean
      • Korean Sign Language
    • Also known as
      • Sympatiaa herra kostajalle
    • Filming locations
      • Seoul, South Korea
    • Production companies
      • CJ Entertainment
      • Discovery Venture Capital
      • KTB Network
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $45,289
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,827
      • Aug 21, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,046,061
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 9 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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