Moss (film)

Moss

South Korean film poster
Hangul 이끼
Revised Romanization Iggi
McCune–Reischauer Ikki
Directed by Kang Woo-suk
Produced by Jeong Seon-yeong
Written by Jung Ji-woo
Based on Moss
by Yoon Tae-ho
Starring Park Hae-il
Jung Jae-young
Yoo Jun-sang
Yoo Sun
Music by Jo Yeong-wook
Cinematography Kim Seong-bok
Kim Yong-heung
Edited by Ko Im-pyo
Production
company
Distributed by CJ Entertainment
Release dates
  • July 14, 2010 (2010-07-14)
Running time
 163 minutes
Country South Korea
Language Korean
Box office US$21,925,534[1]

Moss (Hangul: 이끼; RR: Iggi) is a 2010 South Korean mystery thriller film directed by Kang Woo-suk. It was based on the popular webtoon of the same title by Yoon Tae-ho.

Plot

In a small town in South Korea, a corrupt detective named Cheon is asked by a church minister to arrest an unofficial street preacher, whose influence has been growing, and who has collected large donations. The donors are pressured into saying that they were defrauded, which leads to the preacher's imprisonment and subsequent torture by Cheon in order to extract a confession. To Cheon's surprise, the preacher demonstrates amazing endurance and will-power, leading Cheon to release him and to fund his preaching. Cheon uses their new-found friendship to bolster his own reputation and recruit henchmen. Around this time, a young girl named Lee is raped by three men, and Cheon earns her respect by beating them up.

Around 25 years later, Ryoo, the estranged son of the preacher, is anonymously informed of his father's death and travels to the town, which happens to be the new jurisdiction of his acquaintance Park, a prosecutor. Ryoo encounters an elderly Cheon, whom all the townsfolk seem to venerate and fear. With Cheon are three henchmen, Jeon, Ha, and Kim, and also Lee, who became Cheon's wife. After the funeral, Ryoo stays behind to investigate, as he suspects his father was murdered, and finds several clues such as suspicious real-estate transactions. At this point, Jeon attempts to murder Ryoo, but Ryoo fights back and kills him. Ha attempts to murder Ryoo, who resists by lighting Ha's house on fire. Lee sees this and rescues Ryoo, and minutes later Ha burns to death, having entered the burning house to rescue his valuables.

As it turns out, Cheon has been serially extorting townspeople for their land, which he re-sells, and he has murdered anyone who didn't cooperate. Owing to his political connections, the police never indict him. Additionally, a mass poisoning occurred at a prayer house during this period, leaving dozens dead, and the culprit was never caught. Park, having spoken with Ryoo, builds a case against Cheon over the opposition of his corrupt superiors, and the last henchman Kim agrees to testify. Sadly, Cheon eaves-drops on the conversation and has Kim murdered. Ryoo angrily confronts Cheon, who reveals that Ryoo's father, upon realizing the extent of Cheon's corruption, attempted to murder Cheon in his sleep. Lee, fortunately, agrees to testify and to hand over evidence. She explains that years ago she had opposed a tentative plan to dispose of Ryoo's father, and in retaliation, Cheon's three henchmen had raped her.

As the town is raided by police, Ryoo, Park, and Lee confront Cheon at his house. Cheon is outraged that Lee betrayed him, and what is more, they argue over who did the prayer-house massacre. Cheon claims that Ryoo's father did it, while Lee claims that Cheon did it. In the midst of the raid, Cheon's son attempts to burn the evidence, and accidentally kills himself. As the police try to arrest Cheon, he shoots himself in the head, which brings the case to a close, though Ryoo's father's death goes unexplained. A year later, Ryoo visits his father's grave, and discovers that Lee has become the leader of the town. He suddenly recalls the anonymous phone call, as well as the convenient placement of clues, and realizes, to his horror, that Lee was his father's murderer. Having been tortured by Cheon, and wishing for an escape, Lee poisoned Ryoo's father so that Ryoo would arrive and open an investigation, the one which finally brought about Cheon's defeat.

Cast

Production

The film was shot in Muju County, North Jeolla Province.[2][3]

International release

The film was picked up for distribution in the UK by Inclusionism Films. The DVD release featured extensive interviews with both the film's director and comic artist Yoon Tae-ho.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2010 18th Chunsa Film Art Awards Best Film Moss Won
Best Director Kang Woo-suk Won
Best Supporting Actor Yoo Jun-sang Won
Best Cinematography Kim Seong-bok, Kim Yong-heung Won
Best Lighting Kang Dae-hee Won
Best Editing Ko Im-pyo Won
Best Music Jo Yeong-wook Won
19th Buil Film Awards Best Actor Jung Jae-young Won
47th Grand Bell Awards Best Film Moss Nominated
Best Director Kang Woo-suk Won
Best Actor Jung Jae-young Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Yoo Hae-jin Nominated
Best Cinematography Kim Sung-bok, Kim Yong-heung Won
Best Art Direction Jo Sung-won, Lee Tae-hun Won
Best Costume Design Jo Sang-gyeong Nominated
Best Sound Effects Oh Se-jin, Kim Suk-won Won
31st Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Film Moss Nominated
Best Director Kang Woo-suk Won
Best Actor Jung Jae-young Won
Best Supporting Actor Yoo Hae-jin Won
Best Supporting Actor Yoo Jun-sang Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Yoo Sun Nominated
Best Lighting Kang Dae-hee Won
Technical Award (Make-up) Jang Jin Nominated
8th Korean Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Yoo Hae-jin Won
2011 5th Asian Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Yoo Hae-jin Nominated
47th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Film Moss Nominated
Best Director (Film) Kang Woo-suk Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Box office by Country: Moss Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-06-04
  2. ↑ "정재영 박해일 '이끼', 7개월간 대장정 마치고 크랭크업 - 노컷뉴스". Cbs.co.kr. 2010-03-19. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  3. ↑ "13억원 투입된 영화 '이끼' 세트장 철거, 홍보 마인드의 부재?". Sports.chosun.com. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
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