3-Iron
Encyclopedia
3-Iron is a 2004 Korean film directed by Kim Ki-duk
. The plot revolves around the relationship between a young drifter
and an abused housewife. The film is notable for the lack of dialogue between its two main characters.
) is a loner who drives around on his motorbike, taping takeout menus over the keyholes of front doors and breaking into apartments where the menus have not been removed. He lives in
the apartments while the owners are away, even washing their clothes and mending broken appliances for them. When he breaks into one large home, he is unaware that he is being watched by an abused housewife Sun-hwa (played by Lee Seung-yeon
). Tae-suk leaves after he makes eye contact with Sun-haa, but returns after silently contemplating on the roadside. He witnesses Sunwha's husband abusing her and proceeds to catch his attention by practicing golf in the yard. He hits Sunwha's husband with golf balls and then leaves with Sun-hwa. The couple begin a silent relationship, moving from one apartment to another. At one home, after drinking, they are caught by the returning owners, sleeping in their bed and wearing their pajamas.
The couple gets into trouble with the law when they break into the home of an elderly man, who they discover to have died alone and proceed to give him a proper burial
. When the man's son and daughter-in-law arrive at the apartment, they assume that Tae-suk and Sun-hwa killed him. They are interrogated at the police station but remain steadfastly silent; Sun-hwa's husband arrives and takes her back home. Despite an autopsy of the man reveals he died of lung cancer and the great care shown in burying the body, Sun-hwa's husband bribes the policeman in charge of the investigation to allow him to similarily hit Tae-suk with golf balls. Tae-suk ends up attacking the police officer and is sent to jail, where he practices golf with an imaginary club and balls and develops his gifts for stealth and concealment (to the frustration of his jailers). After being released from prison, invisible to her husband's eyes, Tae-suk rejoins Sun-hwa in her house. Sun-hwa appears to say "I love you" to her husband, but reaches out for Tae-suk. Tae Suks skills involve staying out of his jailers line of sight and peripheral vision and he does this as he stays behind Sun Hwas husband, moving as he turns and grabbing food from the dinner table and kissing Sun Hwa over her husbands shoulder (seen in the poster) as he leaves on another business trip. After he leaves, Sun Hwa and him embrace, kissing deeply.
Rotten Tomatoes
reported that 86% of reviewers (75 out of 87) gave the film positive ratings with an average score of 7.4. The film grossed $241,914 in North America and $2,965,315 worldwide.
Best Director Award, FIPRESCI Best Film Award
2004 Valladolid Film Festival
Golden Spike (Best Film)
Kim Ki-duk
Kim Ki-duk is a South Korean filmmaker noted for his idiosyncratic "art-house" cinematic works. His films have received many distinctions in the festival circuit. He is not related to the Kim Ki-duk who directed Yonggary in the 1960s...
. The plot revolves around the relationship between a young drifter
Vagabond (person)
A vagabond is a drifter and an itinerant wanderer who roams wherever they please, following the whim of the moment. Vagabonds may lack residence, a job, and even citizenship....
and an abused housewife. The film is notable for the lack of dialogue between its two main characters.
Synopsis
Tae-suk (Jae HeeJae Hee
Jae Hee is a South Korean actor who made his on-screen debut in the Korean drama School. He got his first break as a lead actor in Kim Ki-duk’s movie 3-Iron which won awards both locally and internationally and in effect opened more opportunities for Jae Hee in the entertainment industry.In 2005,...
) is a loner who drives around on his motorbike, taping takeout menus over the keyholes of front doors and breaking into apartments where the menus have not been removed. He lives in
Squatting
Squatting consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use....
the apartments while the owners are away, even washing their clothes and mending broken appliances for them. When he breaks into one large home, he is unaware that he is being watched by an abused housewife Sun-hwa (played by Lee Seung-yeon
Lee Seung-yeon
Lee Seung-yeon is a South Korean actress. Lee's career as an actress was especially noted in the film 3-Iron.Lee took third place in the 1992 Miss Korea beauty pageant....
). Tae-suk leaves after he makes eye contact with Sun-haa, but returns after silently contemplating on the roadside. He witnesses Sunwha's husband abusing her and proceeds to catch his attention by practicing golf in the yard. He hits Sunwha's husband with golf balls and then leaves with Sun-hwa. The couple begin a silent relationship, moving from one apartment to another. At one home, after drinking, they are caught by the returning owners, sleeping in their bed and wearing their pajamas.
The couple gets into trouble with the law when they break into the home of an elderly man, who they discover to have died alone and proceed to give him a proper burial
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
. When the man's son and daughter-in-law arrive at the apartment, they assume that Tae-suk and Sun-hwa killed him. They are interrogated at the police station but remain steadfastly silent; Sun-hwa's husband arrives and takes her back home. Despite an autopsy of the man reveals he died of lung cancer and the great care shown in burying the body, Sun-hwa's husband bribes the policeman in charge of the investigation to allow him to similarily hit Tae-suk with golf balls. Tae-suk ends up attacking the police officer and is sent to jail, where he practices golf with an imaginary club and balls and develops his gifts for stealth and concealment (to the frustration of his jailers). After being released from prison, invisible to her husband's eyes, Tae-suk rejoins Sun-hwa in her house. Sun-hwa appears to say "I love you" to her husband, but reaches out for Tae-suk. Tae Suks skills involve staying out of his jailers line of sight and peripheral vision and he does this as he stays behind Sun Hwas husband, moving as he turns and grabbing food from the dinner table and kissing Sun Hwa over her husbands shoulder (seen in the poster) as he leaves on another business trip. After he leaves, Sun Hwa and him embrace, kissing deeply.
Reception
Film review aggregatorReview aggregator
A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews of products and services . This system stores the reviews and then uses them for purposes such as: creating a website for users to view the reviews, selling information to third parties about consumer tendencies and creating databases for...
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reported that 86% of reviewers (75 out of 87) gave the film positive ratings with an average score of 7.4. The film grossed $241,914 in North America and $2,965,315 worldwide.
Accolades
2004 Venice International Film Festival (Official Competition) –Best Director Award, FIPRESCI Best Film Award
2004 Valladolid Film Festival
Golden Spike (Best Film)
See also
- List of Korean language films
- Korean film
- Contemporary culture of South KoreaContemporary culture of South KoreaThe contemporary culture of South Korea developed from the traditional culture of Korea, and on its own path away from North Korean culture since the division of Korea in 1948. The industrialization and urbanization of South Korea, especially Seoul, have brought many changes to the way Korean...
- List of Korea-related topics