12.12: The Day (Korean: 서울의 봄; pronounced "December 12: The Day") is a 2023 South Korean historical drama film directed by Kim Sung-su, starring Hwang Jung-min, Jung Woo-sung, Lee Sung-min, Park Hae-joon and Kim Sung-kyun.[5] The film is set against the backdrop of the December 12, 1979, military coup from the late 1970s to early 1980s.[6] It was released theatrically on November 22, 2023.[5]
12.12: The Day | |
---|---|
Hangul | 서울의 봄 |
Literal meaning | Spring of Seoul |
Revised Romanization | Seoul-ui bom |
Directed by | Kim Sung-su |
Written by |
|
Produced by | Kim Won-kuk |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Lee Mo-gae |
Edited by | Kim Sang-bum |
Music by | Lee Jae-jin |
Production company | Hive Media Corp. |
Distributed by | Megabox Plus M |
Release date |
|
Running time | 141 minutes |
Country | South Korea |
Language | Korean |
Budget | ₩23 billion[1] (~US$17 million)[2] |
Box office | US$97.5 million[3][4] |
The film has earned a worldwide gross of over US$97 million against a budget of about $17 million, making it the highest-grossing Korean film of 2023 and the fourth-highest-grossing Korean film of all time.[3][2][7] It was also selected as the South Korean entry for the Best International Feature Film category for the 97th Academy Awards.[8]
Plot
editAfter President Park's assassination, martial law is declared. Security commander Chun Doo-gwang and the officers who follow him stage a coup. Lee Tae-shin, a stubborn commander of the Capital Garrison Command who believes that soldiers should not take political action, fights against Chun Doo-gwang. As the conflict between the two men grows, the military leaders postpone their decisions, and the Minister of Defense disappears. In this chaos, spring in Seoul, which everyone longs for, heads in an unexpected direction.
Cast
edit- Hwang Jung-min as Major General Chun Doo-gwang
- Jung Woo-sung as Major General Lee Tae-shin
- Lee Sung-min as General Jeong Sang-ho
- Park Hae-joon as Major General Noh Tae-geon
- Kim Sung-kyun as Brigadier General Kim Jun-yeop
- Kim Eui-sung as Oh Guk-sang
- Jung Dong-hwan as President Choi Han-gyu
- Ahn Nae-sang as Lieutenant General Han Young-gu
- Choi Byung-mo as Brigadier General Do Hee-cheol
- Park Hoon as Colonel Moon Il-pyeong
- Lee Jae-yoon as Lieutenant Colonel Lim Hak-ju
- Kim Sung-oh as Brigadier General Kim Chang-se
- Park Won-sang as Lieutenant General Go Jae-young
- Nam Yun-Ho as Colonel Kang Dong-Chan
- Yoo Seong-joo as Lieutenant General Min Seong-bae[9]
- Hong Seo-jun as Ha Chang-soo[9]
- Ahn Se-ho as Jang Min-ki[9]
- Jeon Su-ji as Lee Tae-shin's wife
- Paul Battle as U.S. ambassador to South Korea
- Jung Man-sik as Major General Gong Soo-hyuk[10]
- Jung Hae-in as Major Oh Jin-ho[10]
- Lee Joon-hyuk as Warrant Officer Kwon Hyung-jin[11]
Production
editBackground
editDirector Kim Sung-su revealed at the press conference that he was a senior in high school at the time of the Coup d'état of December Twelfth and was living in Hannam-dong, Seoul, where the incident occurred. He left his house and was walking around the neighborhood, and when he heard a gunshot from the Army Chief of Staff's official residence, he went there, but the soldiers controlled it. He was scared because he heard gunshots all night and he couldn't get close, but he was full of curiosity and questions at the time because he couldn't figure out what was going on,[12] which led him to make this film.[13]
The scenes set at the headquarters of the South Korean army were shot at the headquarters of Kyungpook National University in Daegu, North Gyeongsang.
In the film, similar pseudonyms are used instead of the real persons' names and, although it is based on real events, there are also fictional elements.[13][14][15]
Filming
editPrincipal photography began in February 2022 and ended in July 2022.[16]
Reception
editBox office
editAs of December 3, 2023[update], 12.12: The Day has grossed $34.2 million with a running total of 4.66 million tickets sold.[17] It became the biggest film of 2023 in Korea, when it grossed $90.5 million by end of December 2023.[18] By the end of February 2024, it has grossed over $97 million.[3]
Public response
editThe film is set sometime in the 1980s, but Korean spectators consisted mostly of younger people (in their 20s and 30s) rather than middle-aged people (e.g. in their 40s and 50s).[19] There was even a heart rate challenge among them, where people would check their heart rate using their smartwatches while watching the movie, then take a picture of it and upload it on social media to express heightened stress or righteous anger while watching the film.[20][21]
As a consequence of the growing popularity of the film, Korean audiences showed an increasing interest in other film works with historical dimension, such as 5th Republic,[22] which focuses on the Korean Coup d'état of December Twelfth.[23]
Critical response
editA review for Screen Daily indicated that the film was "also entirely accessible to viewers with little knowledge of South Korean politics."[24] "It's not often that a movie that's both so historically accurate and entertaining comes around, which makes 12.12 especially laudable.", wrote The Escapist.[25] Other reviews praised the production.[26][27][28]
Accolades
editAward ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asian Film Awards | 2024 | Best Film | 12.12: The Day | Nominated | [29] |
Best Director | Kim Sung-su | Nominated | |||
Best Actor | Hwang Jung-min | Nominated | |||
Best Supporting Actor | Park Hoon | Won | |||
Best Editing | Kim Sang-bum | Won | |||
Best Cinematography | Lee Mo-gae | Nominated | |||
Baeksang Arts Awards | 2024 | Grand Prize – Film | Kim Sung-su | Won | [30][31] |
Best Film | 12.12: The Day | Won | |||
Best Director | Kim Sung-su | Nominated | |||
Best Actor | Jung Woo-sung | Nominated | |||
Hwang Jung-min | Won | ||||
Best Screenplay | Hong In-pyo, Hong Won-chan, Lee Young-jong, Kim Sung-su | Nominated | |||
Technical Award | Hwang Ho-kyun (SFX makeup) | Nominated | |||
Lee Mo-gae (Cinematography) | Nominated | ||||
Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2024 | Best Film | 12.12: The Day | Pending | [32] |
Best Director | Kim Sung-su | Pending | |||
Best Actor | Jung Woo-sung | Pending | |||
Hwang Jung-min | Pending | ||||
Best Supporting Actor | Park Hae-joon | Pending | |||
Best Screenplay | Hong In-pyo, Hong Won-chan, Lee Young-jong, Kim Sung-su | Pending | |||
Best Editing | Kim Sang-bum | Pending | |||
Best Cinematography and Lighting | Lee Mo-gae, Lee Sung-hwan | Pending | |||
Best Art Direction | Jang Geun-young, Eun Hee-sang | Pending | |||
Technical Award | Jung Do-ahn (SFX) | Pending | |||
Buil Film Awards | 2024 | Best Film | 12.12: The Day | Nominated | |
Best Director | Kim Sung-su | Won | |||
Best Actor | Hwang Jung-min | Nominated | |||
Jung Woo-sung | Won | ||||
Best Screenplay | Hong In-pyo, Hong Won-chan, Lee Young-jong, Kim Sung-su | Nominated | |||
Best Cinematography | Lee Mo-gae | Nominated | |||
Best Art/Technical Award | Jang Geun-young | Nominated | |||
Best Music | Lee Jae-jin | Nominated | |||
Director's Cut Awards | 2024 | Best Director (Film) | Kim Sung-su | Won | [33] |
Best Actor (Film) | Hwang Jung-min | Nominated | |||
Jung Woo-sung | Nominated | ||||
Best Screenplay | Hong In-pyo, Hong Won-chan, Lee Young-jong, Kim Sung-su | Won | |||
Best New Actor (Film) | Kim Eui-sung | Nominated |
Related history
edit- Fifth Republic of Korea
- The Man Standing Next - film about the assassination of President Park Chung Hee.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Kim, Da-sol (December 15, 2023). "'12.12: The Day' lifts November ticket sales in cinemas overall: KOFIC". The Korea Herald. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Lee, H. (November 24, 2023). "Jung Woo Sung and Hwang Jung Min's '12.12: The Day' Highly Praised by Both Critics and Audiences". ZAPZEE. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c "12.12: The Day". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: 12.12: THE DAY (2023)". KOFIC. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ [영화는실화다] 영화 '서울의 봄'_ 12·12 군사 반란 [[The movie is a true story] Movie '12.12: The Day'_ December 12 Military Uprising]. YTN (in Korean). November 24, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ "KOBIS(발권)통계: The [Box Office - Historical Box Office]". Korean Film Council. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
- ^ Patrick Frater, Leo Barraclough, Jamie Lang, Elsa Keslassy, Alex Ritman, Ellise Shafer (September 4, 2024). "International Oscar Race: Korea Selects Political Thriller and Box Office Sensation '12.12: The Day'". Variety. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c 고, 승아. '서울의 봄' 김의성→안내상, 긴박했던 12.12 호연으로 완성. Naver (in Korean). Retrieved December 14, 2023.
- ^ a b Kang, Hyo-jin (November 6, 2023). 서울의 봄' 정해인, 초고속 진급...일병→소령 변신 '찰떡같은 군복 핏 [Spring in Seoul's Jung Hae-in gets promoted super-fast...from private to major, 'military uniform fits perfectly]. SPOTV News (in Korean). Retrieved November 6, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ Choi, Ji-ye (November 11, 2023). 특별출연 빛난다...'대세' 이준혁·정해인, '서울의 봄' 존재감甲 신스틸러 [TEN피플] [Special Appearance Shines...'Dae Se' Lee Jun Hyuk-Jung Hae In, 'Seoul Spring' Presence Kwon Shin Stiller [TEN People]]. 10Asia (in Korean). Retrieved November 13, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ [이원 기자의 영화 人 a view] '서울의 봄' 김성수 감독 [[Reporter Won Lee's film People a View] '12.12: The Day' Director Kim Seong-soo]. The Kookje Daily News (in Korean). November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ a b "Director Kim Sung-su blends fact with fiction to recreate 1979 coup d'état". Korea JoongAng Daily. November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ "Korea Box Office: '12.12: The Day' Brings Crowds Back to Cinemas". Variety. November 27, 2023.
- ^ "The harrowing real-life stories of the Korean military coup depicted in "12.12: The Day"". English Edition: The Hankyoreh. November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ '서울의 봄' 김성수 감독 "연출 제안받고 '이게 나한테? 운명이다' 싶었다" [인터뷰①] ['12.12: The Day' Director Kim Seong-soo "When I received the offer to direct, I thought, 'This is for me? It's fate.'" [Interview ①]]. ChosunBiz (in Korean). November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (2023). "Korea Box Office: Political Thriller '12.12: The Day' Enjoys $13 Million Second Weekend Haul". Variety. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ Shackleton, Liz (January 3, 2024). "Korean Action Drama '12.12: The Day' Grosses $90M At Local Box Office To Become Biggest Film Of 2023". Deadline. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ [파고들기]MZ는 왜 '서울의 봄' 전두광에 분노할까 [[Dig into] Why is MZ angry at Jeon Doo-gwang for '12.12: The Day'?]. No Cut News (in Korean). November 30, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ "'12.12: The Day' hits 4M moviegoers in 12 days". Korea JoongAng Daily. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ "내 심박수 봄?" ...영화 서울의봄 SNS 챌린지 열풍 ["Do you see my heart rate?" ...Film 12.12: The Day SNS Challenge Craze]. Kookmin Ilbo (in Korean). November 28, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ "12·12 다룬 '서울의 봄'과 '제5공화국' ...뭐가 같고 뭐가 다른가" ['12.12: The Day' and '5th Republic', both of which were covered on Coup d'état of December Twelfth... What's the same and what's different?]. Ilyo Shinmun (in Korean). November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ '남산의부장' OTT순위 재진입... '서울의봄' 인기에 근현대사 콘텐츠 열풍 ['The Man Standing Next' re-enters OTT rankings... Modern and contemporary history content craze due to popularity of '12.12: The Day']. Sports DongA (in Korean). November 30, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ Berra2024-03-04T13:05:00+00:00, John. "'12.12: The Day': Review". Screen. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Review: "12.12: The Day" Offers Faithful and Entertaining Dramatization of South Korea's 12.12 Military Insurrection". Cinema Escapist. July 8, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ "12.12: The Day – South Korea's darkest day faithfully recounted". South China Morning Post. April 12, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ Gorham, Luke (July 24, 2024). "12.12: The Day — Kim Seong-su [NYAFF '24 Review]". In Review Online. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ "Udine 2024 Review: 12.12: THE DAY, Riveting Drama Brings Dark Episode of Korean History Into the Light". ScreenAnarchy. April 27, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ Lee, Edmund (January 12, 2024). "Asian Film Awards 2024 nominations in full: Evil Does Not Exist and 12.12: The Day lead the field; 2 Hong Kong movies earn nods in 3 categories". South China Morning Post. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ^ Lee, Seung-hoon (May 7, 2024). '무빙'→'서울의 봄' 대상..'파묘'는 4관왕 [제60회 백상예술대상][종합] ['Moving' → 'Seoul Spring' Grand Prize..'Buried Grave' wins 4 awards [60th Baeksang Arts Awards] [Comprehensive]]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ Hwang, So-young (April 8, 2024). 60회 맞은 '백상예술대상' TV·영화·연극 후보 공개 [60th 'Baeksang Arts Awards' TV, Film and Theater Candidates Revealed]. JTBC News (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ [청룡영화상] 1312만 '서울의 봄'부터→ 컴백 '베테랑2'까지..스크린 빛낸 韓영화 청룡으로 집결 [[Blue Dragon Film Awards] From 13.12 million 'Spring in Seoul' → Comeback 'Veteran 2' Korean films that lit up the screen gather at Blue Dragon]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). October 30, 2024. Retrieved October 30, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ Krishkim (March 8, 2024). "The 22nd Director's Cut Awards Unveils the Winners: Lee Byung Hun, Ahn Jae Hong & More". Zapzee. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
External links
edit- 12.12: The Day at the Korean Movie Database (in Korean)
- 12.12: The Day at IMDb
- 12.12: The Day at HanCinema