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Woman on the Beach
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| name = Woman on the Beach
| image = Woman on the Beach film poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical poster
| native_name =
| director = Hong Sang-soo
| producer = Oh Jung-wan
| writer = Hong Sang-soo
| starring = Kim Seung-woo
Go Hyun-jung
Song Seon-mi
Kim Tae-woo
| music = Jeong Yong-jin
| cinematography = Kim Hyung-koo
| editing = Hahm Sung-won
| studio = BOM Film Productions
| distributor = Mirovision
| released =
| runtime = 127 minutes
| country = South Korea
| language = Korean
| budget =
| gross = $749,147[https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=womanonthebeach.htm "Box office by Country: 'Woman On The Beach'"]. 'Box Office Mojo'. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
}}
'Woman on the Beach' is the seventh feature film by South Korean director Hong Sang-soo, and was released in 2006.[http://twitchfilm.com/interviews/2006/04/the-woman-on-the-beach-presentation-report.php " (The Woman on The Beach) Presentation Report"]. 'Twitch Film'. 17 April 2006. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
Plot
Film director and screenwriter Kim Jung-rae asks his friend Won Chang-wook to drive with him from their homes in Seoul to the resort town of Shinduri, on the western coast of South Korea. Chang-wook initially resists, but accepts the request on the condition that he can bring Kim Mun-suk, a composer and aspiring singer whom he describes as being his girlfriend. Jung-rae is writing a treatment for a film titled "About Miracles," concerning the mysterious connections that secure everyday lifethemes that play a major role in the work of Hong Sang-Soo.
During the journey, Mun-suk quickly makes clear that she does not consider herself Chang-wook's girlfriend, and she finds herself and Jung-rae increasing drawn together. As the three drive on, Mun-suk discusses her years living abroad in Germany and reveals that she has had a number of relationships with Europeans, a fact that greatly disturbs both Chang-wook and Jung-rae. Mun-suk is particularly disappointed in Jung-rae's reaction, claiming, "You're not like your films." Nevertheless, Mun-suk and Jung-rae later kiss on the beach and then sleep together in a low-rent hotel room. The next day, as the three drive back to Seoul, Jung-rae pulls back from his intimacy with Mun-suk.
He returns to the beach alone two days later. Missing Mun-suk despite his actions, Jung-rae hits on two women, one of whom vaguely resembles Mun-suk, by introducing himself as a film director and asking to interview them for his screenplay. Jung-rae proceeds to seduce Choi Sun-hee in much the same fashion as he had Mun-suk just a few days prior. While sleeping with one of the women, Sun-hee, in the same beachside motel where he'd been with Mun-suk, Jung-rae is surprised to find that Mun-suk has returned to Shinduri, found his room, and started banging on the door loudly and very late at night. Jung-rae sneaks Sun-hee out of his room through a separate exit.
The next morning as Mun-suk sleeps at the foot of his door with a terrible hangover. Jung-rae attempts to reconcile with Mun-suk and lies about his night with Sun-hee, although his lie is increasingly transparent to all concerned. Having alienated Mun-suk and left Sun-hee without a goodbye, Jung-rae returns to Seoul with a creative breakthrough on his screenplay.
Cast
* Kim Seung-woo ... Director Kim Jung-rae
* Go Hyun-jung ... Kim Mun-suk
* Song Seon-mi ... Choi Sun-hee
* Kim Tae-woo ... Won Chang-wook
* Moon Sung-keun ... (voice)
* Jung Chan ... Guy driving Mun-suk home
* Lee Ki-woo ... Beach resort caretaker
* Oh Tae-kyung ... Waiter at empty sushi restaurant
* Choi Ban-ya ... Sun-hee's friend
Release
'Woman on the Beach' was released in South Korea on August 31, 2006, and received a total of 225,388 admissions nationwide.[https://www.koreanfilm.org/films2006.html#boxoffice "Theatrical Releases in 2006: Box-Office Admission Results"]. 'Koreanfilm.org'. Retrieved 2020-10-05.Thompson, N.P. (31 May 2008). [https://nwasianweekly.com/old/2008270023/film20082721.htm "Movie lacks redemption, in a good way"]. 'Northwest Asian Weekly'. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
Reception
'Woman on the Beach' has an 87% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 72/100 average on Metacritic.
Awards and nominations
2006 Busan Film Critics Awards[https://www.cinemasie.com/en/fiche/oeuvre/womanofthebeach/recompenses.html "The Woman on The Beach - Awards"]. 'Cinemasie'. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
* Best Supporting Actor - Kim Tae-woo
* Best New Actress - Go Hyun-jung
2006 Korean Film Awards
* Nomination - Best Actress - Go Hyun-jung
* Nomination - Best Director - Hong Sang-soo
* Nomination - Best Cinematography - Kim Hyung-koo
* Nomination - Best New Actress - Go Hyun-jung
2006 Director's Cut Awards
* Best Director - Hong Sang-soo
2007 Asian Film Awards
* Nomination - Best Director - Hong Sang-soo
* Nomination - Best Screenplay - Hong Sang-soo
* Nomination - Best Music - Jeong Yong-jin
2007 Baeksang Arts Awards
* Nomination - Best New Actress - Go Hyun-jung
2007 Grand Bell Awards
* Nomination - Best New Actress - Go Hyun-jung
References
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