Often cited as one of the best films of the 2000s and possibly the definitive example of extreme Asian cinema, OLDBOY is a brutal, lyrical modern classic of the revenge genre. Directed with immense flair by Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden) as the second instalment of his Vengeance Trilogy, OLDBOY blazed a trail at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival where it was lauded by the President of the Jury, director Quentin Tarantino.
The film went on to become a huge international smash, blowing audiences minds with its concoction of filmmaking virtuosity, ingenious plotting, violence and pathos. Packed with shocking twists and eye-popping set pieces – including the much-imitated hammer attack sequence, and a sushi meal you might not want to sample – and anchored by an astonishing lead performance by Choi Min-sik, OLDBOY really is a stunning and unmissable (and endlessly rewatchable) cinematic masterpiece.
Synopsis:
Based on the Japanese manga of the same name, the film tells the horrific tale of Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a businessman who is inexplicably kidnapped and imprisoned in a grim hotel room-like cell for 15 years, without knowing his captor or the reason for his incarceration.
Eventually released, he learns of his wife’s murder and embarks on a quest for revenge whilst also striking up a romance with a young, attractive sushi chef, Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung). He eventually finds his tormentor, but their final encounter will yield yet more unimaginable horrors…
OLDBOY is released in select cinemas 2nd August 2019, and 4K digital download 26th August, courtesy of Arrow Video.
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Park chan Wook