2009 – 133 min – Korea – Korean & English w/ English subtitles – color
Distinctions
Prix du Jury [Jury Prize] at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival. “At a time when so much of popular culture is turning the vampire into just another gently exotic, vulnerable lover, Park brings things back to bloody basics” –Stephen Whitty
Synopsis
Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho) is a priest who cherishes life; so much so, that he selflessly volunteers for a secret vaccine development project meant to eradicate a deadly virus. But the virus takes the priest, and a blood transfusion is urgently ordered up for him. The blood he receives is infected, so Sang-hyun lives – but now exists as a vampire. Struggling with his newfound carnal desire for blood, Sang-hyun’s faith is further strained when a childhood friend’s wife, Tae-ju (Kim Ok-vin), comes to him asking for his help in escaping her life. Sang-hyun soon plunges into a world of sensual pleasures, finding himself on intimate terms with the Seven Deadly Sins.
Director’s Bio
Park Chan-wook is recognized the world over as one of the most creative storytellers in cinema. With his startlingly distinctive plots, violent subject matter, and sensual mise-en-scène, the writer/director has earned accolades from critics and audiences across the globe, presenting his films at the most vital and influential international film festivals.
Among his films are JOINT SECURITY AREA, the boxoffice smash that marked his first teaming with Thirst star Song Kang-ho; SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE, which won the jury prize for Best Picture at the Philadelphia Film Festival; OLD BOY, which won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes International Film Festival; the NEVER ENDING PEACE AND LOVE segment of the omnibus feature IF YOU WERE ME and the CUT segment of the omnibus feature THREE…EXTREMES; SYMPATHY FOR LADY VENGEANCE, which won two awards at the 2005 Venice International Film Festival; and I’M A CYBORG, BUT THAT’S OK, which earned him the Alfred Bauer Award at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival.
Trailer
