Gangnam 1970 (2015)

Jong-Dae and Yong-Ki make a living by picking up paper and empty bottles. Both then join different gangster clan and becomes involved in a struggle of political interests over development in Gangnam, Seoul.

Director:

Ha Yoo

Writer:

Ha Yoo

Stars:

Min-Ho Lee, Rae-won Kim, Jin-young Jung

4 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Min-Ho Lee	...	Jong-dae
Rae-won Kim	...	Yong-ki
Jin-young Jung	...	Gil-su
Ji-Soo Kim	...	(as Ji-su Kim)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gwi-hwa Choi	...	Good-for-nothing 1 of Nam Soon-Chul gang
Jin-ho Choi	...	Park Seung-Goo
Kim Dae-Jong	...	Byung-Sam
Hyo-Seob Eom	...	Kim Jung-Gyu
Jae-young Han	...	Park Chang-Bae
Joo Hee-Joong	...	Kim Choon-Ho's subordinate
Kim Tae Hyun	...	Myungdong gang member near grave
Jang In-ho	...	Myoung-Choon
Hyuk-jin Jang	...	Junk shop owner
Bae-soo Jeon	...	Co. President Gu (as Bae-Su Jeon)
Ho-bin Jeong	...	Yang Gi-Taek (as Jung Ho-Bin)

Storyline

In the 1970s, during the height of political corruption, Gangnam, the southern part of Seoul is starting to be transformed into a developed area. Childhood friends Jong-dae and Yong-ki struggle to get by, until their shanty homes are demolished by local thugs. Desperate for cash, they get involved in violent political clashes, and are separated during one of the skirmishes. Three years later, Jong-dae lives as an honest man with former gang leader Kil-su. Meanwhile, Yong-ki has joined Seoul's most powerful criminal organization, the Myeongdong-pa. As a gangster, Yong-ki is entangled in a high-stakes battle over land in Gangnam, all in the name of putting together secret presidential election funds that drive up the value of the city. As the gangs fight over the rights to various plots of land, Yong-ki is captured and interrogated by a rival gang. The southern part of Stransformed into a developed area.

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Plot Keywords:

gangster | brother | 

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Taglines:

As the district of Gangnam development reaches its peak, two childhood friends' friendship is tested as their associated gangs battle to take larger shares of the land.

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Genres:

Action

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean

Release Date:

21 January 2015 (South Korea)

Also Known As:

Gangnam Blues

Filming Locations:

South Korea

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,022, 8 February 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$18,022, 8 February 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Showbox/Mediaplex,m.o.vera Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie story similar to indonesian movie, Serigala Terakhir (2009)

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Alternate Versions

The uncut version released via iPTV includes the scene where Lee Min-ho takes off his shirt, the idol who turned into talented actress, 'Seolhyun"s beating up scene and the Lee Min-ho and Kim Rae-won's ragpicker scene, apart from Kim Rae-won and Lee Yeon-doo's sensational uncut bed scene.

User Reviews

Art meets life meets crime.

This film avoids the trap of trying to make the great mob movie by flying low, and it works, it is a rich experience. I will be watching it again. The biggest similarity with the Godather is that Gangnam can evoke what it wants just through the visuals. The meaning, and meanings, of the story are interlayered in what you see and how you see it. The lighting was I thought great, I rarely do. If you've known crime, criminals, cities, politics, family, hard times this film will speak. You get a tapestry of human personalities, and the faces speak about life, choices, chances, death. Pretty violent but surprisingly gentle. I guess it is because it is all symbolic of life's struggles and of cultural changes during the 1970's. It gave me the feeling of a (the) true story of Gangnam. Novelistic. Music, A-1. Acting, too. It's the only mob movie since the Godfather which could be compared to it.