Epitaph (Korean기담; Hanja奇談; RRGidam) is a 2007 South Korean film directed by brothers Jung Sik and Jung Bum-shik. The film is a horror film set primarily in 1942, while Korea was under the colonial rule of Japan. It is framed by scenes set in 1979.

Epitaph
Korean name
Hangul
기담
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGidam
McCune–ReischauerKidam
Directed byJung Sik
Jung Bum-shik
Written byJung Sik, Jung Bum-shik
Produced byJang So-jeong
StarringJin Goo
Kim Tae-woo
Kim Bo-kyung
Ko Joo-yeon
CinematographyYoon Nam-joo
Edited byKim Sang-bum
Kim Jae-bum
Music byPark Yeong-ran
Release date
  • August 1, 2007 (2007-08-01)
Running time
98 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean、Japanese
BudgetUS$2.8 million
Box officeUS$4,443,849[1]

Plot

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Dr. Park Jung-nam finds a photo album dating back to his days as an intern at the Ansaeng Hospital. This triggers memories of his life. In 1942, as a young medical intern, Jung-nam's arranged marriage ended when his fiancée, whom he had never met, committed suicide. Later he was assigned to monitor the morgue late at night. There he fell in love with a corpse, which is later revealed as the body of his deceased fiancée. Soon other mysterious events take place in the hospital, involving a young girl haunted by ghosts and a serial killer targeting Japanese soldiers.

Cast

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Critical reception

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The cinematography, directing and acting by horror film mainstays Kim Eung-soo and Ye Soo-jeong have earned the film praise as "visually as well as intellectually impressive, with some gorgeous cinematography and wonderfully composed shots,"[2] and "a significant contribution to rehabilitating K-horror's international reputation."[3]

Awards and nominations

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2007 Blue Dragon Film Awards[4][5]

  • Best Cinematography: Yoon Nam-joo
  • Best Art Direction: Kim Yu-jeong, Lee Min-bok
  • Nomination - Best New Director: Jung Sik, Jung Bum-shik
  • Nomination - Best Lighting: Kim Ji-hoon
  • Nomination - Technical Award: Kim Sang-bum, Kim Jae-bum (Editing)

2007 Korean Association of Film Critics Awards

  • Best New Director: Jung Sik, Jung Bum-shik

2007 Korean Film Awards

  • Nomination - Best Art Direction: Kim Yu-jeong, Lee Min-bok
  • Nomination - Best Sound: Jang Gwang-su, Seo Yeong-jun
  • Nomination - Best New Actress: Ko Joo-yeon

2007 Director's Cut Awards

  • Best New Director: Jung Sik, Jung Bum-shik

2008 Asian Film Awards

  • Nomination - Best Art Direction: Kim Yu-jeong, Lee Min-bok

2008 Baeksang Arts Awards

  • Nomination - Best New Director: Jung Sik, Jung Bum-shik

2008 Grand Bell Awards

  • Nomination - Best Music: Park Yeong-ran
  • Nomination - Best Visual Effects: Kim Gwang-su

2008 Golden Cinematography Awards

References

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  1. ^ "Gidam (Epitaph) (2007)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
  2. ^ Mudge, James (January 6, 2008). "Epitaph (2007) Movie Review" Archived 2008-04-16 at the Wayback Machine. Beyond Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
  3. ^ Kim, Kyu Hyun. "Epitaph". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved May 1, 2008.
  4. ^ Noh, Jean (November 26, 2007). "The Show Must Go On takes best film award at Korea's Blue Dragons". Screen International. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  5. ^ "Epitaph - Awards". Cinemasie. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
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