Archive - 10th Five Flavours Film Festival
The Wailing
Awards and festivals
Film description
A sleepy village somewhere in the Korean province experiences a series of shocking, violent deaths – possibly murders. On top of that, some villagers show signs of a mysterious disease, which drives them into madness. The investigation is led by a kind-hearted, drowsy Jong-goo, whose professional routine has so far been limited to hanging around in the police station and "patrolling" the neighborhood. Though he is utterly unprepared for leading this complicated case, he will have to treat is very seriously, as his beloved daughter starts showing symptoms of the possession...
The situation soon gets out of control, turning into a sequence of terrifying, illogical events. A confrontation with powerful forces will push Jong-goo to suspend his belief in the world he knew. What should he do? Whom should he trust?
Na Hong-jin is a master of deception and emotional rollercoasters, enhancing the feeling of paranoia and entrapment, leading his characters into the ever-darker depths of the nightmare. Flooded with heavy rain and dark colors, "The Wailing" is a unique cinematic experience and a mystery that will give you goosebumps.
The film was a great hit in Korean cinemas and was successfully marketed abroad. Already in Cannes, it was hailed one of the best, most blood-chilling masterpieces of the recent years.
Marcin Krasnowolski
Na Hong-jin
South Korean director, writer and screenwriter born in 1974. His 2008 debut, a shocking thriller "Chaser" was a big hit in Korea and gained fame abroad. His next film, co-produced by 20th Century Fox, "Yellow Sea," was shown in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes FF in 2011.
It took him six years to make his next film. The world premiere of "The Wailing," produced by Fox International Production, took place in Cannes, and the film continues to be a highlight of numerous festivals ever since. It was also o huge financial success in the director's home country.
2008 W pogoni | Chaser | Chugyeokja
2010 Morze Żółte | Yellow Sea | Hwang hae
2016 Lament | The Wailing | Gokseong