THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD
A Film by KIM JEE-WOON
FESTIVALS
CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2008
TELLURIDE FILM FESTIVAL 2008
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2008
NOMINATED FOR 13 ASIAN FILM AWARDS 2008, INCLUDING BEST PICTURE & DIRECTOR
130 MINUTES – COLOR–KOREAN WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES – NOT RATED
2:35:1– DOLBY SRD
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SYNOPSIS
Set in the 1930s Manchurian desert, where lawlessness rules and ethnic groups clash, three Korean men fatefully meet each other on a train. The Good, Do-won (JUNG Woo-sung) is a bounty hunter who tracks down criminals with rewards on their heads. The Bad, Chang-yi (LEE Byung-hun) is the leader of a group of bandits and can’t stand to be second best. The Weird, Tae-goo (SONG Kang-ho) is a train robber with nine lives.
The three strangers engage in a chase across Manchuria to take possession of a map Tae-goo discovers while robbing the train. Also on the hunt for the mysterious map, are the Japanese army and Asian bandits. In this unpredictable, escalating battle for the map, who will stand in the end as the winner"
Never be sure who’s good, bad or weird.
Câu chuyện xảy ra ở sa mạc Manchurian vào thập niên 1930, nơi không có luật pháp và luôn có sự sự xung đột của các nhóm sắc dân thiểu số. 3 người đàn ông Triều Tiên đụng độ nhau trên moat chuyến xe lửa. Do-won , người tốt chuyên đi săn lùng để bắt những tên tội phạm có tuyên dương tiền thưởng. Chang-yi người xấu, cầm đầu moat nhóm thảo khấu bất lương. Tae-goo người lập dị là moat tên trộm cướp trên tàu lửa.
Ba người lạ mặt này cùng đuổi bắt nhau xuyên khắp sa mạc Manchura để chiếm đoạt cho bằng được tấm bản đồ hướng dẫn chỗ giấu diếm kho báu vật mà Tae-goo đang có được trong tay trong moat vụ cướp trên tàu lửa. Trong lúc đó lính Nhật và những tên cướp Á Châu cũng đi săn lùng, tìm kiếm tấm bản đồ bí mật nói trên. Trận chiến vì tấm bản đồ càng lúc càng diễn ra khốc liệt và cuối cùng ai sẽ là người chiến thắng"
Bạn không thể nào biết chắc được ai là người tốt, người xấu hay người lập dị.
Phim sẽ được chiếu vào ngày 23-4-2010 ở New York và 23 thành phố khắp nước Mỹ trong suốt tháng 5 ở những rạp chiếu phim độc quyền.
DIRECTORS STATEMENT
The films I want to watch, and make, always start with an exciting movie moment. A lone gunman walking the vast desert, cold winds blowing through the empty plains, a sudden fire flaring out from the end of a muzzle, etc. These scenes are all familiar clichés from the western, but they never cease to captivate me.
After finishing A BITTERSWEET LIFE, I traveled to the vast lands of the Manchurian region of the past. I stood watching the endless horizon, which made me think about the Korean people who made their way there before Korea was divided and cut off from the inland. To the people who went to Manchuria during the Japanese occupation period, this was a land of opportunity and hope.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD is a story of three men who love their homeland but are forced out of their country to take refuge in the vast deserts and plains of Manchuria. Each desperately chases after his dream, be it driven by the promise of riches or by the need to prove himself to be the quickest gun in the land.
Although the title is THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD I had no intention of having any one character wholly represent a certain trait. There is no one designated to be just the good, just the bad, or just the weird. The three characters change according to the situation. Enemies and friends constantly change. The three characters all have the elements of the good, the bad, and the weird.
In the 1930s, Manchuria was an arena of struggle among conflicting factions. Not only did many cultures clash, but it was a place of anarchy and chaos - a lawless world where strength and power ruled. Through the main characters’ stories and their pursuit of their dreams as promised by a mysterious map, I wanted to bring to the audiences all over the world the fun and enjoyment of watching a new kind of western.
-KIM JEE-WOON
ABOUT THE MOVIE
ORIENTAL WESTERN
Director KIM Jee-woon’s attempts at new genres and his unique signature style have always brought together talented crews and actors. Now, KIM tries his hand at the genre of the western by using the backdrop of 1930s Manchuria, where Koreans lived as foreigners. THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD is a story about Korean characters with strong will and vitality, overcoming all hardships and obstacles that come their way. They chase and are chased on the vast plains of Manchuria, a lawless land foreign to all. Infusing Manchurian landscapes, cultural clashes, lawless Asian bandits and swordsmen into the recognizable western genre conventions, THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD creates a new world never before seen in Korean cinema.
KOREAN DREAM CAST
Three of Korea’s top male actors being cast to star together in one film heralded the biggest news ever to moviegoers and the Korean film world. This dream cast propels the fun and excitement of THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD to the highest level. Working together seamlessly, the actors achieve their full potential and give the film its great style, charisma and comedy which is evident at every turn. Each brings unique talent and strong individuality, but they come together to create an explosive energy that keeps the audience glued to the screen. THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD, will be remembered as the most beautiful, exciting, climactic moment to the three top actors and Korean audiences alike.
TRAVELING BACK TO TURBULENT 1930’S MANCHURIA
In the 1930s, Manchuria faced ultimate anarchy and chaos, as the confrontation of the controlling powers reached its peak. Guns and swords ruled over law; and Russians, Chinese, Manchurians, and Koreans clashed, making the land fraught with danger and tension, a veritable active volcano about to explode at any moment. The main characters of THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD are a train robber, a bounty hunter, and a bandit leader, all of them doing their best to survive in the turbulent times. The dangerous beauty of the land and bloody battles on the plains of Manchuria take moviegoers back in time. But the world in THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD is not just a simple look back at the past. It is a lush world with rich, colorful images: a train full of people of different races and classes; alluring beauties in blood-red Chinese dresses in a densely fogged opium house; north winds blowing over the great plains; illegal weapon makers; outlaws; and slaves and merchants in the black market. The film takes moviegoers to a unique time and place that is the work of a great cinematic imagination that strives for and achieves in full its lofty, uncompromising vision.
AN INTENSE ADRENALINE DRIVE
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD is an unfamiliar genre of the western, it is the biggest-scaled production to date in Korean film with a budget of over $17 million. The film is rich in exciting elements such as three top stars cast together, the beautiful scenery of Manchuria, the great desert chase, action-packed adventure never before seen on the Korean big screen, and visuals created by master stylist KIM Jee-woon. With non-stop dynamic scenes that seem to jump off the screen, the audience and the characters will breathe and run as one with their hearts racing to the characters’ fates.
300 DAY LONG TREK IN SEARCH OF THE MAGNIFICENT LANDSCAPE
During the nine month long filming period, the crew of THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD journeyed around not only Seoul and Jeongeup, Korea, but also to the Gobi Desert, the gateway to the silk road, Tunhuang and Chia-yu-kuan railway, and all across the vast interior of China. In search of the endless plains with wide open horizons fitted for westerns, THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD headed straight for China. Director KIM Jee-woon noted, “China is a land that can be a difficult challenge beyond what you have ever expected but can give you visuals beyond what you can ever imagine.” The 400 members of the crew stationed there endured hardships that surpassed anything beyond their expectations. During the day, temperatures shot up to 40°C. With morning temperatures around 10°C, they faced temperature variations of around 30°C. The weather forecast was put to shame with desert winds and sudden heat waves coming and going, but the production continued on in the unpredictable, daunting environment. When there were no roads leading to the places they needed for the images they wanted, the entire crew cleared up to 33km of road in total. Like the main characters in THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD who storm through the continent in order to survive and chase after their dreams, the crew’s triumph over a perilous journey is also captured on the big screen.
100% REAL ACTION WITHOUT SUBSTITUTES
With men shooting guns while riding horses, a scooter racing through the middle of explosions, horses scared at the sound of guns charging past, there were no stand-ins for the cameras that captured the action-packed scenes of THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD. Nor did they get any help from computer graphics. Furthermore, all extras, not to mention the three stars, SONG Kang-ho, LEE Byung-hun, and JUNG Woo-sung, all performed their own stunts. Commenting on his action scenes, LEE Byung-hun said, “It was fun and scary. My palms were literally soaked with sweat as I waited for the ready sign. I was tense and excited. When my horse would start running faster and faster, I thought I could fall down and die any minute. But when the OK sign fell and I watched the realistic visuals caught on the monitor, I felt incredibly satisfied and proud beyond words. You can’t appreciate the feeling, ‘I did it!’ unless you’ve experienced that.” Capturing the actors’ tension, pressures, and excitement helps to fully convey the characters’ emotions, and the 100% pure, real action scenes of THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD.
THE CAST TALKS ABOUT THEIR CHARACTERS
SONG KANG-HO (TAE-GOO)
Tae-goo is ‘The Weird’ but when I first read the script, I didn’t realize who ‘The Weird’ one really was. All three of the main characters are bad with elements of weird and good... Tae-goo’s character is like a weed. He does all kinds of things by fair means or foul in order to survive in the vast, desolate Manchurian plains in the chaotic times. But he is not bleak in human nature. He has his own unique feelings and attachments to people but lives like a die-hard weed in order to survive. He appears comedic but he is the most desperate character out of the three. His actions are different from Do-won’s and Chang-yi’s, not typical of the western genre. While the others prepared for their action scenes prior to production, I found my own answers to ‘How did Tae-goo live and what is he like"’ and prepared that way.
LEE BYUNG-HUN (CHANG-YI)
This is my second collaboration with director KIM Jee-woon after A BITTERSWEET LIFE. THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD is a more entertaining film, so I think the production as a whole was more fun this time around. If the tone of the film is serious and dark, it’s bound to be filled with suffering and agony, but the genre here calls for the viewer as well as the characters in the film to be excited, so it was fun work. Chang-yi is the complete opposite from Tae-goo in every way. He does not make any effort to survive. For Chang-yi, living is not his main goal and death does not matter to him. All that matters to him is to become the best. Even when he fights, he does not think much about his life. The thought ‘I could die’ never crosses his mind. It was a thoroughly refreshing experience to play a villain for the first time in my long acting career. I didn’t have to think ‘the character must have his reasons for that kind of behavior.’ Rather I just had to create his walk, his manner, his expression, his way of speech, and try to ‘get down to character’. Chang-yi’s cool and cold-blooded personality also comes through in his action scenes.
JUNG WOO-SUNG (DO –WON)
Any actor would love a chance to work with director KIM Jee-woon. I had high hopes, too, and wasn’t let down. He pulls out hidden talents that the actor doesn’t even know he has within him and lets him enjoy them. The movie is such an exhilarating and animated film, it was really fun working on it. Although Do-won is an ‘outlaw,’ he knows he is on ‘the good’ side and has clearly set standards and moves accordingly. Even in doing the action scenes, I thought ‘Why would Do-won act like this" How does he feel"’. Do-won is an excellent rider and shooter so the action scenes were on a big scale. There were even some dangerous moments, but I took it all in good fun. Different from Chang-yi who pushes himself wanting to be the best, Do-won is sure he is the best and his confidence is evident.
CHARACTER MAP
DO –WON (The Good)
A BOUNTY HUNTER AFTER NOTORIOUS CRIMINALS FOR MONEY
Wild beasts, wanted criminals, you name it, this ace shooter will hunt anything for money. Do-won uses rifles and shotguns with a longer range of fire and higher shot of accuracy to get his game. He never gives up on a target he sets out to get.
CHANG-YI (The Bad)
A MERCILESS BANDIT LEADER WHO WANTS TO BE THE BEST
A man who kills at will, with no turning back, to get what he wants. His greatest desire is to be the best in a duel. He is a man of great pride who would rather die than lose.
CHANG-YI’S GANG
Men under Chang-yi. Although Chang-yi is cold and merciless, expecting nothing but the best from his men, they believe in Chang-yi’s promise of a big ‘jackpot’ and unreservedly follow him.
Two Blades (KIM Gwang-il):
Chang-yi’s right hand man. Very clever and quick to judge the state of things. He is good with a knife and protects Chang-yi and stays at his side like a shadow.
Bear (MA Dong-suk):
Number three man in Chang-yi’s gang. He is a simple-minded, big man who can swing an iron hammer around with great force. A formidable fighter who can’t be beaten in hand to hand combat.
TAE-GOO (The Weird)
AN OFFBEAT TRAIN ROBBER WITH NINE LIVES
Tae-goo is a train robber who travels on a scooter rather than a horse. Always at the center of trouble and dispute, he is an unpredictable, die-hard self-commando, and there is no telling what he will do next.
CHARACTERS CONNECTED TO TAE-GOO
Man-gil (RYU Seung-soo):
Tae-goo’s only cohort, a kind of henchman. Different from Tae-goo, who has animalistic survival instincts, Man-gil has a habit of letting his mouth lead him right into trouble.
Granny (RYU Chang-sook):
Granny is like family to Tae-goo. Although she is very old with her mind wandering from time to time, Tae-goo protects the map with his life in the hopes of realizing his somewhat simple dream of spending the rest of his life in comfort with her.
KOREAN TAVERN
Song-yi (LEE Chung-ah):
A Korean tavern maid. She looks like a wild little boy, but when Do-won’s life falls in danger, she risks her life to ride to his rescue. She appears to have a crush on Do-won.
GHOST MARKET GANG
Gang that rules behind the scenes at the stolen goods market for the top thieves of the country, ‘The Ghost Market’. They mercilessly punish those who go against the rules of the turf.
TRI-NATION GANG
A gang of bandits consisting of Koreans, Mongolians, Russians, and Chinese. Their clothing, weapons, and personalities are all as different as their nationalities. With no military discipline or comprehension, they go in search of the map hampered by sloppy teamwork.
Zhang Qi (DELIGEER):
Chinese. Leader of the Tri-Nation gang. He can swing a double iron mace around and is very strong, but he is also quite heavy in physique. He wears his looted goods as personal decoration and has an intimidating appearance.
Byung-choon (YOON Jae-moon):
Korean. Second in charge in the Tri-Nation gang. Sometimes does not behave like a villain and does foolish things, like revealing his name before a surprise attack. But he is determined and persistent in his search for the map.
OPIUM HOUSE
SUH Jae-sik (SOHN Byung-ho):
Opium dealer in disguise of an independence fighter who works and funds the movement to steal Tae-goo’s map from him. Very fluent in Chinese, he is the ultimate con-man representative of these turbulent times.
JAPANESE ARMY
Unexpectedly loses a map they strategically need for the war to Tae-goo and stop at nothing to get it back.
PRO-JAPANESE
KIM Pan-joo (SONG Young-chang):
Korean rich man who has accumulated great wealth by siding with the Japanese and acting against his own country. He tries to harm Chang-yi, who crosses him, but instead ends up forfeiting his life and life-long saved riches to him.
CAST AND CREW BIOGRAPHIES
KIM JEE-WOON (DIRECTOR)
Director KIM Jee-woon was a theater actor and director before making his film debut in 1998 with THE QUIET FAMILY, which he wrote and directed. He is currently one of the most talented and acclaimed writer/directors in the Korean film industry. After introducing a new genre that the director called ‘Gory Comedy’ with THE QUIET FAMILY, KIM went on to explore other genres, such as comedy with THE FOUL KING; horror with A TALE OF TWO SISTERS; and film noir with A BITTERSWEET LIFE; and through them, he showcased his inventive take on storytelling, style, and other cinematic tools and forms. What is more, each of these films has become representative of its respective genre in Korean cinema. With horse-mounted bandits, steam engine trains, opium-filled brothels and more, his latest film, THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD, is an Oriental Western that focuses on the anarchic and clashing culture of Manchuria in the 1930s. Now, with his Oriental Western, KIM creates yet another unfamiliar and fresh cinematic genre.
FILMOGRAPHY
2005 A BITTERSWEET LIFE
2003 A TALE OF TWO SISTERS
2002 THREE: MEMORIES (one segment of the Korean, Thai, and Hong Kong co-production)
2000 COMING OUT (short film for internet)
2000 THE FOUL KING
1998 THE QUIET FAMILY
SONG KANG-HO (TAE-GOO / The Weird)
SONG has portrayed some of the most memorable characters in Korean cinema, starring in hit films like THE FOUL KING, MEMORIES OF MURDER, THE HOST and SECRET SUNSHINE and his lines often became popular catchphrases. SONG also has been in many landmark films in Korean cinema. No matter what the role, however, Song delves into the role wholeheartedly and has attained great distinction among the critics and audiences alike. His talents and unique style of acting have made him the most beloved and sought-after actor working in Korea today. In THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD, SONG plays the character of ‘Tae-goo’ with unparalleled individuality and brings forth the character’s ‘weird’ persona in a way only Song can.
LEE BYUNG-HUN (CHANG-YI / The Bad)
Perhaps due to his gentle voice and glistening eyes, LEE’s filmography consists largely of love stories. However, since A BITTERSWEET LIFE, LEE has shown his wider range. Even in portraying villains, he stands out due to his exquisite expressions and acting abilities. Chang-yi, a stubborn, atrocious, and cruel character who sometimes shows a hint of madness, comes alive through LEE as not just a simple villain, but a strong, appealing, and charismatic character.
JUNG WOO-SUNG (DO-WON / The Good)
JUNG is an actor who displays a certain masculine grace. Such grace shines through in the superb action sequences in THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE WEIRD. He glides along as if he were dancing, and his movements are smooth and controlled, be it in a big action sequence like shooting his rifle on horseback, or in his most minute gesture. JUNG infuses the character of Do-Won with such grace that is both masculine and sublime and will be sure to leave the audiences in awe of the character’s abilities.
CAST
Tae-Goo……………………………………………………………………………………………SONG KANG-HO
Chang-Yi………………………………………………………………………………………….LEE BYUNG-HUN
Do-Won…………………………………………………………………………………………JUNG WOO-SUNG
CREW
Directed by………………………………………………………………………………………..KIM JEE-WOON
Screenplay by ……………………………………………………………………………………KIM JEE-WOON
KIM MIN-SUK
Produced by……………………………………………………………………………………...CHOI JAE-WON KIM JEE-WOON
Music…………………………………………………………………………DALPARAN CHANG YOUNG-GYU
Costume Designers………………………………………………….KWON YOO-JIN CHOI EUI-YOUNG
Editor……………………………………………………………………………………………….NAM NA-YOUNG
Production Designer………………………………………………………………………….CHO HWA-SUNG
Lighting…………………………………………………………………………………………..OH SEUNG-CHUL
Cinematographer……………………………………………………………………………………..LEE MOGAE
Executive Producer……………………………………………………………………………………..MIKY LEE
Associate Producers……………………………………………………………………….KIM JOO-SUNG CHANG YONG-WOON
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