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Ode to My Father

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Ode to My Father
Theatrical release poster
Hangul
국제시장
Hanja
國際市場
Literal meaningGukje Market
Revised RomanizationGukjesijang
Directed byYoon Je-kyoon
Written byPark Su-jin
Produced byYoon Je-kyoon
Park Ji-seong
StarringHwang Jung-min
Kim Yun-jin
Oh Dal-su
Jung Jin-young
Jang Young-nam
Ra Mi-ran
Kim Seul-gi
CinematographyChoi Young-hwan
Edited byLee Jin
Music byLee Byung-woo
Distributed byCJ Entertainment[1]
Release date
  • 17 December 2014 (2014-12-17)
(South Korea)
Running time
130 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguagesKorean
English
German
Vietnamese
BudgetUS$30 million
Box officeUS$99 million[2]

Ode to My Father (Korean: 국제시장) is a 2014 South Korean drama film directed by Yoon Je-kyoon.[3][4] Starring Hwang Jung-min, Yunjin Kim, and Oh Dal-su, it depicts South Korean history from the 1950s to the present day through the life of an ordinary man, as he experiences events such as the Hungnam evacuation of 1950 during the Korean War, the government's decision to dispatch nurses and miners to West Germany in the 1960s, and the Vietnam War.[5]

It is currently the seventh highest-grossing film in the history of South Korean cinema, with 14.2 million tickets sold.[2][6][7][8]

Plot

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During the Hungnam Evacuation of 1950 in the Korean War, when thousands of refugees in North Korea were transported south by U.S. naval boats, the child Deok-soo loses his sister Mak-soon. His father stays behind to search for her, telling his son to take the boy's mother and two younger siblings to the port city of Busan, where Deok-soo's aunt runs an imported goods store and contracts with USFK at Busan Base. Before leaving the family, the father makes Deok-soo promise to serve as the head of the family in his place.

Deok-soo becomes his family's breadwinner from an early age, doing all sorts of odd jobs to support the family. In the 1960s, financial need forces him to travel to Germany with his best friend Dal-goo, where they find dangerous work as Gastarbeiter (guest workers) at German coal mines in Hamborn, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany to pay for his brother's tuition at Seoul National University. There, Deok-soo falls in love with a fellow migrant worker, nurse Yeong-ja. Deok-soo survives a mining accident and leaves Germany after his visa expires. Yeong-ja returns to Korea months later and tells him she's pregnant with his child. They have a modest wedding, begin a life together and have two sons.

After a few years, Deok-soo's aunt dies and his elderly uncle needs money and decides to sell the store, something Deok-soo disagrees with. Because of the situations he gave up his dream to be a Sea captain and enrol Korea Maritime and Ocean University.

Deok-soo enlists in the Korean army in the 1970s to serve in the war-torn Vietnam, partly to fulfill his sister's wish for a big wedding by earning enough money to purchase the store from his uncle. He returns to Korea with a lame leg after getting shot while helping villagers escape from the Viet Cong.

Deok-soo runs the store with his wife. In 1983, when major broadcast stations in Korea run TV programmes in which relatives separated during the Korean War are reunited, Deok-soo is contacted to be featured in one of these shows due to the hope of an elderly man from his hometown who claims to be his father.

On TV, the two realise they are not related. Deok-soo's family is distraught but soon afterwards, the same program brings Deok-soo back to TV in the hope of finding his long-lost sister Mak-soon. A Korean American woman adopted as a child by an American family during the Korean War is featured. Deok-soo realises that she is his long-lost sister after talking to her despite he could not speak English and she could not speak Korean. An emotional family reunion ensues and his sister comes to Korea. Deok-soo's mother dies soon afterwards.

In the present, an elderly Deok-soo finally decides to sell the store to municipal government, something he had stubbornly refused to do despite the store losing money. His father promised to reunite with the family at the store, and this explains why Deok-soo bought and held on to it for such a long time. In the final scene, Deok-soo wistfully tells his wife that his father is probably too old to still be alive and come home.

Cast

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Production

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Ode to My Father was primarily shot in Busan, director Yoon Je-kyoon's hometown where he also shot his previous films Miracle on 1st Street (2007) and Haeundae (2009). It was filmed from 3 September to 25 December 2013, notably at the titular Gukje Market, the biggest open-air street market in Busan that began in the 1950s as a series of stalls set up by wartime refugees seeking to earn a meager living.[16] Overseas locations included the Czech Republic and Thailand (standing in for Germany and Vietnam, respectively).[17] The film's popularity later boosted tourism in Busan, with tours offered of the locations featured in the film, such as Gukje Market; Jagalchi Market; Nampo-dong; and Chojang-dong.[18][19]

With a ₩14 billion budget, Ode to My Father was the first Korean blockbuster that enforced a standard labor contract with the crew, which stated that they could not work for more than 12 hours a day, and were given overtime pay and a full day off once a week. The cultural, arts and entertainment fields in Korea have typically ignored labor laws and regulations, where deeply rooted tradition causes young staff members to be overworked yet rarely paid. After a long campaign by film professionals, the first Korean film to be made with a standard labor contract was Venus Talk in 2013, but Ode to My Father went further by enforcing the contract from the pre-production stage and ensuring that bonuses will be distributed equally to the entire crew. Director Yoon said production costs rose by ₩300 million because of the contract, but that people worked harder and more willingly, which ended up elevating the quality of the work.[20]

Release

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The film was released in South Korea on 17 December 2014. It topped the box office, drawing 1.5 million viewers in its first five days with a gross of ₩1.5 billion.[21][22] The film remained No. 1 for five consecutive weeks, despite facing competition from numerous new releases.[23] By 13 January 2015, it recorded 10,001,709 ticket sales, making it the eleventh domestic film (and fourteenth overall) to reach 10 million admissions in the country's history.[24][25][26][27][28]

In its eighth week of release, Ode to My Father became the second highest-grossing film of all time in the history of South Korean cinema, with 14.2 million admissions.[7][29] As of 1 March 2015, the film has grossed US$96 million in South Korea.[2]

For its North American run, the film premiered in Los Angeles on 31 December 2014 where it drew over 6,000 viewers after four days of release, mostly first-generation Korean-American immigrants in their fifties and older.[30] Beginning 9 January 2015, it expanded to 43 US and Canadian cities such as New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Boston, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver.[31]

It was also screened in the Panorama section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2015, and among the audience were 20 ethnic Korean first-generation immigrants whose experiences were portrayed in the film.[32][33]

Critical reception

[edit]

The film drew mixed reviews and raised controversy over its alleged attempt to idealize the past under the rule of authoritarian regimes.[34] This began when President Park Geun-hye stressed the need for patriotism by citing a scene in the film in which the husband and wife suddenly halt an argument and pay a hand salute to the national flag when they hear the national anthem playing.[4] Several film and culture critics lambasted it as a "conservative" or "right-wing" film that glorified industrialization, though liberal opposition lawmaker Moon Jae-in disagreed, saying "that was the reality of that time period."[35] Critic Huh Ji-woong said that it "emphasizes the sacrifices of seniors while their current lackadaisical attitudes should be identified as a real problem," while critic Chin Jung-kwon said the film amounts to a "low-class tearjerker."[36]

Despite the lukewarm reception from critics, the film continued to be popular among audiences. Critic Jeong Ji-wuk said the political debate ironically aided the film's box office, "It was able to top 10 million in attendance with the combination of various factors, such as being a story of a family and a father, curiosity caused by political debates and an aggressive marketing strategy of CJ Entertainment."[37] Nostalgia was also believed to be the driving force behind its commercial success, with middle-aged viewers in their forties and older taking up 34.5 percent of ticket sales (despite the film's relative absence of buzz on social media).[38] Critic Kim Hyung-seok said, "Audiences who lived around the era in which Deok-soo lived will feel like that the movie is an ode to themselves and feel nostalgic and comfort."[39] Writing in the Korea Times, scholar and cultural critic David Tizzard acknowledged the rather nationalist portrayal of history but nevertheless suggested the movie remains relevant even a decade after its release and is capable of providing "a genuinely moving aesthetic experience that might help [young people] see the elderly people around them in a different light."[40]

Director Yoon, however, said he intentionally excluded any political point of view in the film and "just wanted to talk about his father and his generation, who sacrificed themselves for their children" and "make a family movie that could be watched together by three generations."[4] Calling the film his personal tribute to his father (he used his parents' real names Deok-soo and Young-ja for the lead characters), Yoon said, "My father passed away when I was in college and I didn't have a chance to say thank you. I hope the film serves as the channel for communication between the old and young generation."[35][39]

Adaptations

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An Indian film adaptation Bharat starring Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Sunil Grover directed by Ali Abbas Zafar was released on 5 June 2019.

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipient Result
2015 10th Max Movie Awards Best Film Ode to My Father Nominated
Best Director Yoon Je-kyoon Nominated
Best Actor Hwang Jung-min Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Oh Dal-su Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Ra Mi-ran Nominated
Best New Actress Kim Seul-gi Won
20th Chunsa Film Art Awards[41]
 Best Actor Hwang Jung-min Nominated
Best Screenplay Park Su-jin Won
Special Audience Award
for Best Film 		Ode to My Father Won
9th Asian Film Awards[42]
 Best Film Nominated
17th Udine Far East Film Festival[43]
 Audience Award Won
51st Baeksang Arts Awards
 Best Director Yoon Je-kyoon Nominated
10th APN[44] Awards[45][46]
 Recipient Won
19th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival[47]
It Star Award Oh Dal-su Won
24th Buil Film Awards
 Best Supporting Actor Nominated
Best Screenplay Park Su-jin Nominated
Buil Readers' Jury Award Ode to My Father Won
35th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards[48]
 Top 10 Films of the Year Won
52nd Grand Bell Awards
 Best Film Won
Best Director Yoon Je-kyoon Won
Best Actor Hwang Jung-min Won
Best Actress Yunjin Kim Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Oh Dal-su Won
Best Supporting Actress Ra Mi-ran Nominated
Best Screenplay Park Su-jin Won
Best Cinematography Choi Young-hwan Won
Best Editing Lee Jin Won
High Technology Special Award Han Tae-jeong, Son Seung-hyeon,
Kim Dae-jun, Kim Jeong-su,
Akira Kai (Visual Effects) 		Won
Lee Hee-eun, Hwang Hyo-kyun
(Special Make-up) 		Nominated
Best Sound Recording Lee Seung-cheol, Han Myung-hwan Won
Best Planning Won
36th Blue Dragon Film Awards
 Best Film Ode to My Father Nominated
Best Director Yoon Je-kyoon Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Oh Dal-su Won
Best Supporting Actress Ra Mi-ran Nominated
Best Editing Lee Jin Nominated
Best Art Direction Ryu Seong-hui Won
Best Music Lee Byung-woo Nominated
Technical Award Han Tae-jeong, Son Seung-hyeon,
Kim Dae-jun, Kim Jeong-su,
Akira Kai (Visual Effects) 		Nominated
Audience Choice Award
for Most Popular Film 		Ode to My Father Won

References

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  1. ^ Frater, Patrick (5 October 2014). "BUSAN: CJ Entertainment Announces Next Year's Slate". Variety. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Kil, Sonia (1 March 2015). "Korea Box Office: Kingsman and Imitation Game Hotter Than Fifty Shades or Focus". Variety. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  3. ^ Kim, Hyun-soo (29 December 2014). "JK YOUN, Director of ODE TO MY FATHER: "I can't wait to see international audiences' reactions"". Korean Cinema Today. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Jung, Hyun-mok (21 January 2015). "Smash-hit films criticized for political leanings". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  5. ^ Kim, June (8 December 2014). "In Focus: Ode to My Father". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  6. ^ "Ode to my Father becomes second most-viewed Korean film". The Korea Times. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Ode to My Father Passes Avatar on All-Time Box-Office List". The Chosun Ilbo. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Salman Khan to be in a remake of Korean film Ode to My Father?". 15 February 2017.
  9. ^ Lee, Ji-hye (29 December 2014). "ODE TO MY FATHER Leading Man HWANG Jung-min: "I wanted to present a realistic portrayal of all fathers in Korea"". Korean Cinema Today. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  10. ^ Lee, Ji-hye (29 January 2015). "ODE TO MY FATHER HWANG Jung-min: "I wanted to revive the lives of all fathers through my performance"". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  11. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (24 November 2014). "Lost Actress Yunjin Kim Reflects on Immigrant Life, Talks About New South Korean Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  12. ^ "Kim Yun-jin Takes Advantage of Success to Help Children in Need". The Chosun Ilbo. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  13. ^ Jones, Julie (21 January 2015). "Ode To My Father Star Discovered Through YouTube Video". KDramaStars. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  14. ^ a b c "6 Things You Might Not Have Known About I.O.I's Jeon Somi". Soompi. 1 January 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  15. ^ Kim, Min-jin (4 December 2014). "Film director praises Yunho's passion for acting". K-Pop Herald. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  16. ^ Yang, Sung-young (28 November 2014). "They Were There! In Gukje Market". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  17. ^ Song, Soon-jin (10 January 2014). "YOON Je-Kyun's GUKJE MARKET Wraps Filming". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  18. ^ Baek, Jong-hyun; Sung, So-young (17 January 2015). "Popularity of Ode boosts tourism in Busan". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  19. ^ "Busan offers tour of locations from Ode to My Father". The Korea Herald. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  20. ^ "A new milestone". Korea JoongAng Daily. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  21. ^ "History Weepie Draws 1.1 Million Viewers". The Chosun Ilbo. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  22. ^ Jin, Eun-soo (23 December 2014). "Family film hits My Love from top". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  23. ^ Kil, Sonia (18 January 2015). "Korea Box Office: Ode and Love Forecast top Chart, Sniper Opens in Eighth". Variety. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  24. ^ Noh, Jean (14 January 2015). "Ode To My Father tops 10m in S Korea". Screen Daily. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  25. ^ "Film on modern Korean history tops 10 mln in attendance". The Korea Herald. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  26. ^ Kim, Bo-eun (14 January 2015). "Ode to My Father hits 10 million in ticket sales". The Korea Times. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  27. ^ Sung, So-young (15 January 2015). "Ode reaches 10 million admissions". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  28. ^ "Ode to My Father Becomes 11th Film to Draw Over 10 Million Viewers". The Chosun Ilbo. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  29. ^ "Ode to My Father 2nd Biggest Box-Office Hit of All Time". The Chosun Ilbo. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  30. ^ "History Weepie Strikes Chord with Korean Americans". The Chosun Ilbo. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  31. ^ Yoon, Ina (23 December 2014). "ODE TO MY FATHER North American Release Confirmed". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  32. ^ "Panorama 2015: Probing the Past to Shape the Future". Berlinale. 16 December 2014. Archived from the original on 25 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  33. ^ "Korean Weepie Screened at Berlin Film Fest". The Chosun Ilbo. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  34. ^ Conran, Pierce (5 December 2014). "Review: ODE TO MY FATHER Puts Blockbuster Spin On Melodrama". Twitch Film. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  35. ^ a b Ahn, Sung-mi (6 January 2015). "Ode to My Father stirs nostalgia, controversy". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  36. ^ Jin, Eun-soo (6 January 2015). "Ode to My Father still No. 1 despite controversy". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  37. ^ "Film on modern Korean history tops 10 mln in attendance". The Korea Herald. Yonhap. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  38. ^ "Ode to My Father Set to Pull 10 Million Viewers". The Chosun Ilbo. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  39. ^ a b Lim, Ju-ri; Jin, Eun-soo (30 December 2014). "Nostalgic viewers are drawn to Ode". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  40. ^ Tizzard, David (5 October 2024). "Why 'Ode to My Father' remains relevant today". The Korea Times. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  41. ^ Ma, Kevin (9 March 2015). "Hard Day leads Chunsa Film Art nominations". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on 14 March 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  42. ^ Yoon, Ina (4 March 2015). "Korean Films and Artists Nominated for the Asian Film Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  43. ^ Conran, Pierce (4 May 2015). "Udine's Top Award Goes to ODE TO MY FATHER". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  44. ^ Asia-Pacific Producers Network
  45. ^ Won, Ho-jung (3 July 2015). "Kim Hye-soo, Ahn Sung-ki, JK Youn to receive Asia-Pacific film awards". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  46. ^ Ha, Sung-tae (21 July 2015). "Actor AHN Sung-Ki, Actress KIM Hye-Soo and Director JK YOUN picked up APN Prizes". Korean Film Biz Zone. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  47. ^ Conran, Pierce (10 July 2015). "LEE Min-ho and MOON Chae-won to Receive BiFan Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  48. ^ Conran, Pierce (2 November 2015). "THE THRONE Tops Korean Association of Film Critics Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
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