May 18 (film)

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May 18
Theatrical poster
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationHwaryeohan hyuga
McCune–ReischauerHwaryŏhan hyuga
Directed byKim Ji-hoon
Written byNa Hyun
Produced byYoo In-taek
Park Chang-hyeon
Lee Su-nam
StarringKim Sang-kyung
Ahn Sung-ki
Lee Yo-won
Lee Joon-gi
CinematographyLee Doo-nam
Edited byWang Sang-ik
Hahm Sung-won
Music byKim Seong-hyeon
Distributed byCJ Entertainment
Release date
  • July 27, 2007 (2007-07-27)
Running time
118 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
BudgetUS$10 million
Box officeUS$49.3 million[1]

May 18 (Korean화려한 휴가; lit. "Splendid Holiday") is a South Korean historical drama film directed by Kim Ji-hoon was released in 27 July 2007, starring Kim Sang-kyung, Ahn Sung-ki, Lee Yo-won and Lee Joon-gi. This movie tell about the events leading up to the Gwangju massacre in South Korea where troops fired on students.[2][3]

Synopsis[edit]

The film is based on the Gwangju massacre on May 18, 1980. It occurred when General Chun Doo-hwan tried to eliminate any rebels by using military force.

Min-woo (Kim Sang-kyung) leads a relatively peaceful life with his younger brother Jin-woo (Lee Joon-gi)—until the day the soldiers go on the rampage against the citizens. The citizens form a militia determined to protect their loved ones, and Min-woo finds himself in the middle of it all.

One day something unexpected happens suddenly. Innocent citizens are assaulted and even killed by martial law army armed with guns and knives.

A tear gas rolls into the theater and a college student jumps into the theater, followed by a soldier. When all the people who watched the movie came out, martial law soldiers beat up college students and beat everyone out of the theater.

Gwangju citizens, who have lost friends, lovers and family members in front of their eyes in an unjust manner, start to form a civic group centering on Heung-soo (Ahn Sung-ki), who retired officer-turned-military officer, and begin a 10-day struggle.

Meanwhile, Jin-woo is angry that his classmate was beaten to death by martial law soldiers when he was not a college student, leading his friends to take the lead in the protest. Min-woo wants to stop his younger brother Jin-woo from taking the lead in the protest. But Jin-woo couldn't stay still, and in the end, Jin-woo was shot in front of Min-woo by martial law soldiers.

The governor of South Jeolla Province shows up on a helicopter to citizens in front of the provincial government to mediate between them. The broadcast was about to withdraw martial law troops until the hour of the day, and the civilian forces believe the words and cheer. Gwangju citizens wait for the right time, but the soldiers do not withdraw at the promised time. As the national anthem is played through the speakers of the provincial government building, citizens salute with their right hand on their left chests, while soldiers sit down and prepare to shoot in a posture at the civilians, and then fire away.

Cast[edit]

Awards and nominations[edit]

2007 Blue Dragon Film Awards[4]
  • Nomination – Best Film
  • Nomination – Best Director – Kim Ji-hoon
  • Nomination – Best Actor – Kim Sang-kyung
  • Nomination – Best Actress – Lee Yo-won
  • Nomination – Best Supporting Actor – Park Chul-min
  • Nomination – Best Screenplay – Na Hyun
  • Nomination – Best Cinematography – Lee Doo-man
  • Nomination – Best Art Direction – Park Il-hyun
2007 Korea Movie Star Awards
2007 Korean Film Awards
  • Nomination – Best Supporting Actor – Park Chul-min
  • Nomination – Best Art Direction – Park Il-hyun
  • Nomination – Best Visual Effects – Kim Jong-su
  • Nomination – Best Sound – Jang Gwang-su
2008 Baeksang Arts Awards
  • Nomination – Best Film
2008 Grand Bell Awards

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Hwaryeohan Hyuga (May 18) (2007)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  2. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (10 July 2007). "May 18 Remembers Heroes of Gwangju". The Korea Times.
  3. ^ Lee, Hoo-nam (11 July 2007). "Director has a mission to remember". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "May 18 – Awards". Cinemasie. Retrieved 2014-02-07.

External links[edit]