Profile Movie: Punch (International English title)
Revised romanization: Won-Deuk Yi
Hangul: 완득이
Director: Lee Han
Writer: Kim Ryeo-Ryeong (novel), Kim Dong-Woo
Producer: Kim Dong-Woo, Ham Jung-Yub, Kim Jae-Joong
Cinematographer: Jo Yong-Kyu
World Premiere: October, 2011 (Busan International Film Festival)
Release Date: October 20, 2011
Runtime: 107 min.
Distributor: CJ E&M
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea
Synopsis 17-year-old Won-Deuk (Yoo Ah-In) is a sophomore in high school with a miserable outlook on life. He doesn't have much interest in school, his diminutive size father has a hunchback and Won-Deuk doesn't know anything about his mother. The one thing that Won-Deuk excels at is fighting. Although he isn't aggressive by nature, If anybody makes a snide comment about his father then Won-Deuk has no problems beating the crap out of them. Making Won-Deuk's life that much more miserable is his homeroom teacher Dong-Joo (Kim Yun-Seok) who seems to frequently pick on him in class. This bothers Won-Deuk enough that he often prays in church for Dong-Joo's sudden death. If Won-Deuk doesn't get enough of his homeroom teacher at school then he often sees him at home. Dong-Joo lives in a rooftop apartment directly adjacent to Won-Deuk's rooftop apartment.
One day, his homeroom teacher unveils a bombshell on Won-Deuk. He tells him that his mother is still alive. In fact, his mother is a Filipino woman who immigrated to Korea and lives not very far from him. Furthermore, Dong-Joo tells him that his mother would like to meet him. Won-Deuk is stunned and confused.
A few days later, Dong-Joo discovers the car belonging to Won-Deuk's father has been vandalized. Dong-Joo knows immediately that the man that lives in the apartment directly in front of the parked car did it. Dong-Joo yells at the man from the street to come out and then demands an apology. Instead of apologizing the neighbor curses at Won-Deuk's father. Before anybody can do anything, Won-Deuk punches the neighbor in the face. They all go to the police station.
At the police station, Dong-Joo stands up for Won-Deuk and attempts to shield him for any type of punishment. The neighbor is still persistant in getting charges filed, but his sister Ho-Jung (Park Hyo-Joo) apologizes for her brother's behavior and brings the matter to a close. Meanwhile, homeroom teacher Dong-Joo becomes attracted to his neighbor's sister. Won-Deuk also begins to view his homeroom teacher in a different light.
Notes 1. Based on the novel "Won-Deuk Yi" by Kim Ryeo-Ryeong (published March 17, 2008).
2. Filming took place February 27-May 17, 2011.
3. "Punch" sold 5.3 million tickets in South Korea during its box office run. The movie ranks #3 for Korean film ticket sales in 2011 and #4 for ticket sales for all films released in South Korea in 2011.
4. "Punch" received a limited release in the United States. Movie premiered November 18, 2011 in Los Angeles and then opened in San Jose, Seattle, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Toronto, Vancouver and Honolulu on December 2, 2011.
5. Jasmine Lee who plays main character Won-Deuk's Filipino mother was elected by the Grand National Party for a proportional representation seat during South Korea's April 11 elections.
Quote:
Title ______________ Punch
Source _____________ Blu-ray
Release ____________ 05-07-2012
Ripper _____________ Zoo
Runtime ____________ 01:47:43
Video ______________ x264 @ 2,147 Kbps
Audio ______________ AC3 6CH @ 448 Kbps
Resolution _________ 1280 x 544
Genre ______________ Drama
Language ___________ Korean
Subtitle ___________ Korean | English
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