Woman on the Beach

For the 1947 American film, see The Woman on the Beach.

Woman on the Beach
Theatrical poster
Hangul	해변의 여인
Hanja	海 邊의 女人
Revised Romanization	Haebyeoneui Yeoin
McCune–Reischauer	Haebyŏn'ŭi Yŏin
Directed by	Hong Sang-soo
Written by	Hong Sang-soo
Produced by	Oh Jung-wan
Starring	Kim Seung-woo Go Hyun-jung Song Seon-mi Kim Tae-woo
Cinematography	Kim Hyung-koo
Edited by	Hahm Sung-won
Music by	Jeong Yong-jin
Production company	BOM Film Productions
Distributed by	Mirovision
Release date	31 August 2006 (2006-08-31)
Running time	127 minutes
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean
Box office	$749,147 [1]

Woman on the Beach is the seventh feature film by South Korean director Hong Sang-soo, and was released in 2006. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]}

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 life—themes 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. ^{[10] [11]}

Reception

Woman on the Beach has an 87% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, ^[12] and a 72/100 average on Metacritic. ^[13]

Awards and nominations

2006 Busan Film Critics Awards ^[14]

• Best Supporting Actor - Kim Tae-woo
• Best New Actress - Go Hyun-jung

2006 Korean Film Awards ^{[ citation needed ]}

• 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 ^{[ citation needed ]}

• Best Director - Hong Sang-soo

2007 Asian Film Awards ^{[ citation needed ]}

• Nomination - Best Director - Hong Sang-soo
• Nomination - Best Screenplay - Hong Sang-soo
• Nomination - Best Music - Jeong Yong-jin

2007 Baeksang Arts Awards ^{[ citation needed ]}

• Nomination - Best New Actress - Go Hyun-jung

2007 Grand Bell Awards ^{[ citation needed ]}

• Nomination - Best New Actress - Go Hyun-jung

References

1. "Box office by Country: Woman On The Beach". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved 2020-10-05.
2. "Ko Hyun-jung to Make Film Debut". Soompi.com. 22 March 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
3. "해변의 연인 (The Woman on The Beach) Presentation Report". Twitch Film . 17 April 2006. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
4. "Ko Hyun-jung Poised for Belated Big-Screen Debut". The Chosun Ilbo . 17 April 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
5. Lee, Seung-jae (18 April 2006). "Bed Scenes". The Dong-a Ilbo . Retrieved 5 October 2020.
6. Bae, Keun-nim (18 April 2006). "Ko Hyeon-jeong to Debut on Big Screen". The Korea Times via Hancinema . Retrieved 5 October 2020.
7. "Ko Hyun-jung: More at Ease in Her 30s". The Chosun Ilbo . 18 August 2006. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
8. Kim, Tae-jong (22 August 2006). "Actress Ko Back With First Film". The Korea Times via Hancinema . Retrieved 5 October 2020.
9. Shin, Hae-in (13 September 2006). "Actress takes off mask in 'Woman on the Beach'". The Korea Herald via Hancinema . Retrieved 5 October 2020.
10. "Theatrical Releases in 2006: Box-Office Admission Results". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
11. Thompson, N.P. (31 May 2008). "Movie lacks redemption, in a good way". Northwest Asian Weekly . Retrieved 2009-02-26.
12. Woman on the Beach , retrieved 18 November 2017
13. Woman on the Beach , retrieved 5 October 2020
14. "The Woman on The Beach - Awards". Cinemasie. Retrieved 2020-10-05.

External links

• Woman on the Beach on Filmbom.com (in Korean)
• Woman on the Beach at IMDb
• Woman on the Beach at AllMovie
• Woman on the Beach at the Korean Movie Database
• Woman on the Beach at HanCinema