Thirst

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Movie: Thirst
Revised Romanization: Bakjwi
Hangul: 박쥐
Director: Park Chan-Wook
Writer: Jeong Seo-Kyeong, Park Chan-Wook
Producer: Ahn Soo-Hyun
Cinematographer: Chung Chung-Hoon
Release Date: April 30, 2009
Runtime : 133 min. / 145 min. (2009 PIFF)
Studio: Moho Films, Universal Pictures
Distributor: CJ Entertainment
Country: South Korea
Language: Korean

Plot

Sang-hyun is a priest who volunteers his time conducting his ministry to patients in a small town hospital. Although well respected for his strong faith and dedicated service to those around him, he suffers from overwhelming feelings of doubt and despair about living in a world that seems to be drowning in suffering and death. With the hope of saving even one life, he volunteers to participate in a risky experiment in Africa and ends up contracting the deadly Eve virus. With the transfusion of a mysterious blood, Sang-hyun then comes back to life as a vampire.

Upon his arrival back in South Korea, news of his miraculous recovery spreads quickly, and devoted parishioners, thinking that he has the gift of healing, flock to his services. Among the visitors are Kangwoo, Sang-hyun’s childhood friend, and his family. Later, Kang-woo invites Sang-hyun to join the weekly mahjong night at his house, and there Sanghyun finds himself dangerously drawn to Kang-woo’s wife, Tae-ju.

Living with her sick husband and his over-protective mother, Tae-ju leads a dreary, unhappy life. She is drawn to Sang-hyun and his strange new physicality, and he is unable to resist his desire. So they begin an affair. But when Tae-ju discovers the truth about his new life, she retreats in fear, only at first. When Sang-hyun asks her to run away with him, she turns him down, suggesting that they kill her impotent husband instead.

Director's Statement

This film was originally called "The Bat" to convey a sense of horror - after all, it is about vampires. But it is also more than that. It is about passion and a love triangle. I feel that it is unique because it is not just a thriller, and not merely a horror film, but an illicit love story as well. -- Chan-wook Park

Notes

Thirst is the first South Korean film to be jointly produced by Hollywood. Universal Pictures International Studios invested in the film during its production stage and secured North American distribution rights.
First promotional poster of "Thirst" was banned in Korea for its sexually suggestive pose of a priest. [1]
Chan-wook Park was first inspired to make "Thirst" ten years ago after reading the 1867 novel "Therese Raquin" by Émile Zola.
Chan-wook Park handpicked Bach's "Cantata MWV 82" and the traditonal Korean pop songs by Nan-young Lee and In-soo Nan to appear in the movie.
"Thirst" opened #1 at the South Korean box office selling 634,486 tickets (30.4% of all ticket sales) during its opening May 1st - May 3rd weekend.
"Thirst" tallied 2.2 million ticket sales, grossing 14.8 billion ₩, through its domestic theatrical run (staying in the top ten for 6 weeks).
During the 14th Pusan International Film Festival (October 8th-16th, 2009) "Thirst" will screen at the festival with over 10 minutes of additional footage.[2]
"Thirst" opened #24 in the U.K. during its opening October 16th-18th weekend. The movie received a limited release, playing on 12 screens & averaging £1,902 ($3,161 USD) per screen and taking in a total of £22,829 ($37,951.69).[3]

Cast



Song Kang-Ho	Kim Ok-Bin	Shin Ha-Kyun	Kim Hae-Suk	Park In-Hwan
Sang-hyun	Tae-ju	Kang-woo	Mrs. Ra	Old Priest

Additional Cast Members:

Trailer (South Korea)

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Trailer (U.S.)

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Trailer (Japan)

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Image Gallery

Film Festivals

2009 (62nd) Cannes Film Festival - May 13th-24th - Competition Section (International Premiere)
2009 (13th) Fantasia Film Festival - July 9th-29th (North American Premiere)
2009 (42nd) Sitges Film Festival - October 1st-12th - Sitges Oficial Fantàstic
2009 (14th) Pusan International Film Festival - October 8th-16th - Korean Cinema Today - Panorama (World Premiere *Extended Cut)
2009 (6th) Hong Kong Asian Film Festival - October 15th-30th - Opening Film
2009 (10th) TOKYO FILMeX - November 21st-29th - Special Screenings / Closing Film
2010 (12th) Deauville Asian Film Festival - March 10th-14th - The Panorama

Awards

"Prix du Jury - Jury Prize" - 2009 (62nd) Cannes Film Festival - May 13th-24th
"Best Asian Film (Silver)" - 2009 (13th) Fantasia Film Festival
"Best Actress" (Kim Ok-Bin) - 2009 (42nd) Sitges Film Festival - October 1st-12th
"Best Supporting Actress" (Kim Hae-Suk) 2009 (30th) Blue Dragon Film Awards - Dec. 2nd
"Best Music" 2009 (30th) Blue Dragon Film Awards - Dec. 2nd

Comments

Comment #2
ButterflyJoe Says:
May 17 2010 10:25 pm

He didn't try to do anything to the girl, he just wanted to make it look that way so that the people in the tents would stop believing in him, so that they could go on and live there lifes rather than waiting for him forever.... Something like that.
Comment #1
iliekater Says:
May 09 2010 12:53 am

It was a good movie , especially as moving towards the end . However , I can't understand one thing : why did Song Kang-Ho go and tried to rape that girl in the tent ? It doesn't make sense . Any opinions ?