Top Korean Cinema - Gangnam Blues

WONDERMODE - This was the final film in director-screenwriter Yoo Ha's "street series" trilogy, after Once Upon a Time in High School (2004) and A Dirty Carnival (2006). He called it "a story about people who are used, then discarded, about lives that are, like the buildings they live in, unauthorized. represents the obsession over land - land from which we are born, to which we return when we die. It is a feast of all things wretched." Yoo originally didn't want to cast Lee Min-ho in the leading role, finding Lee's breakout performance in TV series Boys Over Flowers "a bit cheesy" and that the actor was "so handsome he was like a manhwa character." But after being convinced by his wife, Yoo realized the potentially huge impact of "flower boy" actors completely transforming their image, and together they collaborated to "burn to the ground" Lee's previous screen persona as a chaebol's son. Lee filmed a sex scene with actress Kim Ji-soo, but it was not included in the final cut because Yoo felt it was unnecessary to the flow of the film.

PROFILE
Movie: Gangnam Blues (English title)
Revised romanization: Gangnam 1970
Hangul: 강남 1970
Director: Yu Ha
Writer: Yu Ha
Producer:
Cinematographer:
Release Date: January 21, 2015
Runtime: 135 min.
Genre: Action / Gangster / Period-1970
Distributor: Showbox/Mediaplex
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

PLOT
Jong-Dae (Lee Min-Ho) and Yong-Ki (Kim Rae-Won) grew up in an orphanage like real brothers. After they leave the orphanage, they make a living by picking up paper and empty bottles. Jong-Dae then becomes involved in a struggle of interests over development in Gangnam, Seoul. In the process, he lives with Gil-Soo (Jung Jin-Young) and Sun-Hye (Seol Hyun) as they accept Jong-Dae like a family member. Jong-Dae also becomes a gang member.

Filming began April 16, 2014 and finished August 31, 2014 in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, South Korea. Shooting took place in Suncheon, Damyang, Naju, Jeonju, Iksan, Muju & Gwangyang to replicate1970's setting. Actor Hyun-Bin was offered the leading role, but ultimately declined the offer. AsianWiki

TRAILER on youtube.com


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 Gil-soo. 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.