Directed by:
Park Chan-Wook
In Seoul, Ryu, a deaf worker has a sister who needs a kidney transplant. He tries to donate his own kidney to his sister, but his blood type is not compatible with hers. When Ryu is fired from Ilshin Electronics, he meets illegal dealers of organs, and the criminals propose that he give them his kidney plus ten millions Won to obtain a kidney suitable for his sister. Ryu accepts the trade, but he does not have money to pay for the surgery. His anarchist revolutionary girlfriend Cha Young-mi convinces him to kidnap Yossun, the daughter of his former employer Park, who owns Ilshin Electronics. However, a tragedy happens, generating revenge and a series of acts of violence.
Cast:
- Song Kang-ho as Park Dong-jin, Yu-sun's father and the President of a manufacturing company who is a friend of Ryu's employers.
- Shin Ha-kyun as Ryu, a deaf-mute factory worker trying to pay his sister's hospital bills.
- Bae Doona as Cha Yeong-mi, Ryu's girlfriend of several years.
- Han Bo-bae as Yu-sun, Dong-jin's young daughter.
- Im Ji-eun as Ryu's sister, who is in need of a kidney transplant.
Critical Response:
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 54% based on 56 reviews, with an average rating of 6.16/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "Though Park directs with stylistic flair, this revenge thriller is more excessively gruesome than thrilling." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 56/100 based on 21 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance opened in South Korea on March 29, 2002 and had a worldwide box office gross of US$1,954,937. The film received a low-profile North American theatrical release from Tartan Films beginning August 19, 2005, over three years after it debuted in South Korea. In its opening weekend, it collected US$9,827 (US$3,276 per screen) from three New York City theaters. It played on six screens at its most widespread, and its total North American box office take was US$45,243.
