The Boys (2022 film)
| The Boys | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Hangul | 소년들 |
| Hanja | 少年들 |
| Revised Romanization | Sonyeondeul |
| Directed by | Chung Ji-young |
| Written by | Jung Sang-hyeop |
| Produced by | Jeong Sang-min |
| Starring | |
Production company | Aura Pictures |
| Distributed by | CJ Entertainment |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 124 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | US$3.4 million[1] |
The Boys (Korean: 소년들; Hanja: 少年들; RR: Sonyeondeul) is a 2022 South Korean drama film directed by Chung Ji-young and starring Sul Kyung-gu, Yoo Jun-sang, Jin Kyung, Heo Sung-tae and Yeom Hye-ran. It is based on the true story of the Samrye Nara Supermarket Trio Robbery Case that occurred in Wanju County.[2]
The film had its premiere at the 'Korean Cinema Today - Special Premiere' section of the 27th Busan International Film Festival on October 6, 2022.[3] It was theatrically released in South Korea on November 1, 2023.[4]
Plot
[edit]In 1999, a brutal robbery-murder takes place at a small supermarket in Samnye, Jeonbuk. The police quickly narrow down their suspects to three local boys, and overnight, they are falsely accused and thrown into prison without understanding why.
The following year, veteran detective Hwang Jun-cheol is newly assigned as the lead investigator. When he receives a tip about the real perpetrator, he reopens the case to clear the boys' names. However, his efforts are thwarted by Choi Woo-sung, the detective originally in charge of the case, and Hwang is ultimately demoted.
Sixteen years later, the case's only eyewitness, Yoon Mi-sook, and the now-grown boys reappear before Hwang, bringing the past back to the surface.
Cast
[edit]- Sul Kyung-gu as Hwang Jun-cheol[5]
- Yoo Jun-sang as Choi Woo-sung
- Jin Kyung as Yoon Mi-sook
- Heo Sung-tae as Park Jeong-gyu[6]
- Yeom Hye-ran as Kim Kyung-mi
- Kim Dong-young as Kwon Chang-ho
- Kim Si-woon as young Kwon Chang-ho
- Yoo Su-bin as Jeon Seung-woo
- Jo Hyun-do as young Jeon Seung-woo
- Kim Kyung-ho as Seo Byeong-won
- Kim Do-yeop as young Seo Byeong-won
- Seo In-guk as Lee Jae-seok
- Bae Yoo-ram as Jo Hyun-soo
- Park Hee-jin as Ha Joo-hyuk
- Han Soo-yeon as Attorney Shin Eun-hee[7]
- Ha Do-kwon as Kim Min-jae
- Lee Ho-cheol as Jang Moon-do
- Lee Jung-hyun as Lee Soo-il
- Yoon Byung-hee as Detective Lee
- Park Chul-min as Chief of Investigations
Production
[edit]On June 9, 2020, cast of the film was revealed. Sul Kyung-gu, Yoo Jun-sang, Jin Kyung, Heo Sung-tae and Yeom Hye-ran were cast in main roles.[6]
Release
[edit]The film premiered at 'Korean Cinema Today - Special Premiere' section of 27th Busan International Film Festival on October 6, 2022.[8] It was also screened at the 52nd International Film Festival Rotterdam in February 2023.[9]
The film opened the 2023 London East Asia Film Festival on October 18, 2023;[10][11] before its release in South Korea on November 1.[4]
Home media
[edit]The film was made available for streaming on IPTV (KT olleh TV, SK Btv, LG U+ TV), Home Choice, Google Play, Apple TV, TVING, WAVVE, Naver TV, and KT skylife from November 27, 2023.[12]
Reception
[edit]Box office
[edit]The film was released on November 1, 2023, on 1037 screens.[13] It opened at 2nd place on the South Korean box office with 57,436 people viewing the film.[14]
As of November 26, 2023[update], with gross of US$3,406,306 and 468,631 admissions, it is at the 19th place among the South Korean films released in 2023.[1]
Critical response
[edit]Jeong Jin-young writing in Daily Sports described the film as "the weight of a true story without being flashy". Jeong praised the performance of ensemble writing, "ensemble of talented actors, including Yeom Hye-ran, who works as a married couple with Sol Kyeong-gu, Heo Seong-tae, who walks a strange tightrope between good and evil add to the attraction."[15] Kim Na-yeon writing in Star News opined, The Boys is a film with a great dilemma that resonates with a true story." Kim quoting director Jeong Ji-young felt that "after watching the movie, you will be able to look deeper into the inner workings of this incident."[16]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2023". KOFIC. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
- ^ Shin-Woo Kang (September 5, 2022). "'삼례 나라슈퍼 사건' 다룬 실화영화…정지영X설경구 '소년들' 부산국제영화제 초청" [A true story about the 'Samrye Nara Super Incident'... Jung Ji-young X Seol Kyung-gu's 'Boys' invited to Busan International Film Festival]. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
- ^ Kim Mi-hwa (September 5, 2022). "정지영 감독X설경구 '소년들', 부산국제영화제 공식 초청" [Director Jung Ji-young X Seol Kyung-gu's 'Boys' officially invited to Busan International Film Festival]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
- ^ a b Park Ji-yoon (September 20, 2023). "설경구·유준상 '소년들', 11월 1일 개봉…삼례나라슈퍼 사건 실화극" [Sol Kyung-gu and Yoo Jun-sang's 'Boys' opens on November 1st... Samryenara Super incident true story drama]. The Fact (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Bae Hyo-joo (September 5, 2022). "삼례 나라슈퍼 사건 영화 '소년들' 27회 부산국제영화제서 공개[공식]" [Samrye Nara Super Incident movie 'Boys' released at the 27th Busan International Film Festival [Official]]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
- ^ a b Kim Bo-ra (June 9, 2020). "정지영 감독 '소년들', 설경구x유준상x진경x허성태x염혜란 캐스팅 확정[공식]" [Director Jung Ji-young's 'Boys' casts Seol Kyung-gu x Yoo Jun-sang x Jin-kyung x Heo Seong-tae x Yeom Hye-ran confirmed [Official]]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved September 5, 2022.
- ^ Hwang Soo-yeon (October 30, 2023). "한수연, '소년들' 출연…설경구·진경과 호흡 [공식입장]" [Han Soo-yeon appears in ‘Boys’… Working with Seol Kyung-gu and Jin Kyung [Official Statement]]. Xports News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "The Boys". Busan International Film Festival. September 16, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
- ^ "The Boys". International Film Festival Rotterdam. January 25, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ "The opening gala: The Boys". London East Asia Film Festival. October 15, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- ^ Bae Hyo-joo (October 15, 2023). "런던아시아영화제, 설경구 열고 이병헌 닫는다‥한국영화 16편 초청" [London Asian Film Festival opens with Sol Kyung-gu and closes with Lee Byung-hun. 16 Korean films invited [Comprehensive]]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- ^ Jeong Yu-jin (November 27, 2023). "삼례나라슈퍼 사건 다룬 '소년들', 오늘(27일)부터 IPTV 및 VOD 서비스" [‘Boys’, which deals with the Samryenara Super incident, will be available on IPTV and VOD starting today (27th)]. News 1 (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
- ^ "The Boys (2023)". KOFIC. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Kim Na-yeon (November 2, 2023). "'소년들', 개봉 첫날 2위 출발..미야자키 하야오 신작 1위 굳건[★무비차트]" ['Boys' starts at 2nd place on the first day of release... Hayao Miyazaki's new work takes first place [★Movie Chart]]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Jeong Jin-young (November 1, 2023). "[IS리뷰] '소년들' 멋부리지 않은 실화의 무게감" [[IS Review] 'Boys' The weight of a true story without being flashy [Comprehensive]]. Daily Sports (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Kim Na-yeon (November 1, 2023). "[리뷰] '소년들', 함께 울고 분노한다..실화의 강렬한 울림" [[Review] 'Boys', cry and get angry together…the powerful resonance of a true story]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved November 2, 2023.