Kingmaker (film)

Kingmaker (Korean: 킹메이커) is a 2022 South Korean historical political drama film, written and directed by Byun Sung-hyun. Set against the backdrop of the 1970 presidential primary of the New Democratic Party, the film is based on real events involving Kim Dae-jung and his key strategist, Uhm Chang-rok.

Kingmaker was scheduled to be theatrically released on December 29, 2021, but due to the COVID-19 resurgence, it was released on January 26, 2022 to coincide with the Korean New Year holidays. It was also officially invited in the competition section at the 24th Udine Far East Film Festival held from April 22 to 30, 2022.^[4]

Plot

A seasoned politician, Kim Woon-beom, who has faced four election defeats, takes on a new challenge to change the world. One day, Seo Chang-dae, a brilliant election strategist, approaches him, eager to join forces. Despite being at a disadvantage, Seo Chang-dae devises an unconventional and groundbreaking campaign strategy. As a result, Kim Woon-beom achieves a series of victories, eventually rising to become his party's presidential candidate.

With the presidential election approaching, they go all-in to secure the ultimate win. However, their journey takes a dramatic turn when an explosion occurs at Kim Woon-beom's residence. As suspicion falls on Seo Chang-dae, their once-unshakable partnership is thrown into uncertainty, leading to a high-stakes political showdown.^[5]

Production

Sul Kyung-gu was cast in the film in July 2018 as politician and Lee Sun-kyun as political strategist. Director Byun Sung-Hyun and Sol Kyung-gu are working together after 2017 crime thriller film The Merciless.^[6] On March 29, 2019, on completion of cast line-up the script reading site was revealed by releasing photos.^[7]

Director Byun Sung-Hyun worked with his old team for the film. Art director Han Ah-reum, Kim Hong-jip and Lee Jin-hee (music) and Lee Gil-gyu, director of Lighting have worked with him on The Merciless.^[8] The film was produced with an estimated cost of ₩12 billion.^[1]

Principal photography began on March 25, 2019.^[9] and It ended in July 30, 2019.

Release

The film was scheduled for release on December 29, 2021^[10] but due to fresh wave of COVID-19 pandemic it has been postponed to January 2022 to coincide with Korean New Year holiday.^[11] It was released on January 26, 2022.^[12]

The film was officially invited in competition section of the 24th Udine Far East Film Festival held from April 22 to 30, 2022.^[4]

Home media

The film was made available for streaming on IPTV (Olleh TV, SK Btv, TV, LG U+TV), Home Choice, TVING, Naver TV, WAVVE, Google Play, KT skylife, Cinefox and KakaoPage from February 24, 2022.^[13]

Reception

Box office

The film was released on 1184 screens on January 26, 2022.^[14] As per Korean Film Council (Kofic) integrated computer network, the film opened at 2nd place with 58,974 admissions at the Korean box office.^[15] It maintained its no 2 position at the Korean box office for consecutive 14 days after its release.^[16]

As of September 10, 2022, it is at 12th place among all the Korean films released in the year 2022, with gross of US$6.00 million and 775,583 admissions.^[14][3]

Critical response

Song Kyung-won of Cine21 wrote that the film differed from other political dramas and films as it focused on the relationships between the main characters rather than politics or the actual plot, given the fact that the storyline itself was a thinly veiled reference to Kim Dae-jung's presidential election campaign. Song appreciated the direction of Byun Seong-hyeon's writing, "From the stylish scenes, sensuous shooting, and the strong chemistry between the characters, the director's talents are still alive." Concluding the review, Song observed that Seo's use of negative campaigning to help Kim win raised a fundamental question about whether the end justifies the means.^[5]

Accolades

References

1. ^ Jeong Hyung-hwa (January 26, 2022). "ko:'해적:도깨비깃발' '킹메이커' 개봉, 설연휴 韓영화 흥행 기대↑ [종합]" ['Pirates: Goblin Flag' and 'Kingmaker' release, Korean movie box office expectations for the Lunar New Year's holiday ↑ [General]] (in Korean). Star News. Naver. Archived October 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
2. ^ "Kingmaker". 17491616. Archived 13 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
3. ^ "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2022". KOFIC. Archived January 12, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
4. ^ Kim Kyung-hee (February 23, 2022). "ko:'킹메이커' 제24회 이탈리아 우디네 극동영화제 공식 초청!" ['Kingmaker' officially invited to the 24th Italian Far East Film Festival in Udine!] (in Korean). MBC Entertainment. Archived October 13, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
5. ^ Song Kyung-won (January 26, 2022). "ko:[리뷰] 세상을 바꾸려면 우선 이겨야 한다 '킹메이커'" [[Review] To change the world, you must first win 'Kingmaker'] (in Korean). Cine21. Naver. Archived January 26, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
6. ^ Pierce Conran (30 July 2018). "SUL Kyung-gu & BYUN Sung-hyun Reunite for KINGMAKER: THE FOX OF THE ELECTION". Korean Film Biz Zone. Archived December 17, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
7. ^ "Photos + Cast Update] First Reading Stills Added and Cast Updated for the Upcoming Korean Movie "Kingmaker"". HanCinema. March 29, 2019. Archived November 27, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
8. ^ Jo Ji-young (November 18, 2021). "ko:'불한당'→'킹메이커' 이선균 "지금껏 본 적 없는 시대극 탄생"" ['Rogue' → 'Kingmaker' Lee Seon-gyun "The birth of a historical drama like you've never seen before"] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Naver. Archived November 27, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
9. ^ Jeong Hyung-hwa (December 10, 2021). "ko:'킹메이커' 故김대중 대통령 실화 모티프 공식 발표..전면승부 택했다 [종합]" ['Kingmaker' The late President Dae-Jung Kim's true story motif was officially released.. I chose an all-out game [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). Star News. Naver. Archived December 10, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
10. ^ Kim Ji-won (December 7, 2021). "ko:[공식] 설경구X이선균 '킹메이커', 12월 29일 개봉 확정" [[Official] Seol Kyung-gu X Lee Seon-gyun 'Kingmaker' confirmed for release on December 29th] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Naver. Archived October 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
11. ^ Kim Na-yeon (December 17, 2021). "ko:'킹메이커'→'비상선언' 개봉 연기..영화계 불어닥친 한파 [★NEWSing]" ['Kingmaker' → 'Emergency Declaration' release postponed.. Cold wave in the film industry [NEWSing]] (in Korean). Star News. Naver. Archived October 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
12. ^ Jeong Hyung-hwa (December 31, 2021). "ko:'킹메이커' 1월26일 개봉..But 영화관 영업시간 제한이 변수" ['Kingmaker' will be released on January 26th..But movie theater business hours are a variable] (in Korean). Star News. Naver. Archived October 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
13. ^ Kwak Myeong-dong (February 24, 2022). "ko:'킹메이커', 오늘(24일) IPTV와 OTT! 극장 동시 VOD 서비스 오픈" ['Kingmaker', today (24th) IPTV and OTT! Simultaneous theater VOD service opened] (in Korean). MyDaily. Naver. Archived November 4, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
14. ^ "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Box office: Kingmaker (2022)". KOFIC. Archived February 27, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
15. ^ "ko:일별 박스오피스" [Daily box office] (in Korean). Korean Film Council. KOBIS. February 8, 2022. Archived February 27, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
16. ^ Hyung-hwa Jeong (February 5, 2022). "ko:'해적:도깨비깃발' 10일 연속 1위..100만 눈앞 [★무비차트]" ['Pirates: Goblin Flag' 1st place for 10 days in a row.. 1 million in front of [★Movie Chart]] (in Korean). Star News. Naver. Archived February 5, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
17. ^ "ko:제 58회 백상예술대상" [58 Nominees · Works] (in Korean). Baeksang Arts Awards. April 11, 2022. Archived April 28, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
18. ^ Ahn Byung-gil (April 11, 2022). "58회 백상예술대상 후보 공개...영광의 주인공은?" [58th Baeksang Arts Awards nominations revealed... Who is the hero of glory?] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Naver. Archived May 10, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
19. ^ Park Seo-yeon (May 6, 2022). "ko:[제58회 백상]'모가디슈' 류승완-'오겜' 대상 영예..이준호X김태리 '2관왕'(종합)" [[58th Baeksang] 'Mogadishu' Ryu Seung-wan - 'Ogem' Grand Prize..Jun-ho Lee X Tae-ri Kim 'Two Crowns' (Comprehensive)] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Naver. Archived October 13, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
20. ^ "ko:후보자(후보작) 리스트" [Candidate (Nominations) List] (in Korean). Chunsa Film Festival. August 26, 2022. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
21. ^ Nam Yoo-jung (October 6, 2022). "2022 부일영화상, 박해일·탕웨이 '최고의 별'" [2022 Buil Film Awards, Park Hae-il and Tang Wei's 'Best Stars'] (in Korean). Busan Ilbo. Archived October 8, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 6, 2022. – via Naver
22. ^ "ko:43회 청룡영화상 후보 발표, 박찬욱 감독 '헤어질 결심' 13개 부문 최다 노미네이트" [Nominations announced at the 43rd Blue Dragon Film Awards, Director Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to break up' received the most nominations in 13 categories] (in Korean). KBS Star. Naver. November 8, 2022. Archived November 8, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
23. ^ Park, Jae-hwan (12 October 2022). "ko:제 58회 대종상 영화제 내달 9일 개최... '헌트' 12개, '헤어질 결심' – '한산' 11개 부분 노미네이트" [The 58th Daejong Film Festival to be held on the 9th of next month... 12 nominations for 'Hunt', 'Decision to break up' – 11 parts for 'Hansan] (in Korean). KBS Media. Archived October 23, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 October 2022. – via Naver
24. ^ Han Hyeon-jeong (December 9, 2022). "ko:'대종상' 작품상은 '헤어질 결심'..박해일·염정아 주연상[종합]" ['Daejongsang' Best Picture is 'Decision to break up'..Park Hae-il · Yeom Jung-ah Best Actor] (in Korean). Maeil Economy. Naver. Archived August 31, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 9, 2022.

External links

• Kingmaker at IMDb