Directed by:
Kim Ki-Duk
Tae-suk (Jae Hee) is a lonely drifter who spends his nights in one empty vacation home after another. However, Tae-suk is not your usual squatter, as the courteous young man always makes sure to show his absent -- and unknowing -- hosts his gratitude by doing small household tasks or making simple improvements before moving on. One day, Tae-suk mistakes a quiet home for an empty one and stumbles across an abused housewife, Sun-Hwa (Lee Seung-yeon), in urgent need of his intervention. Seeing her, Tae-seok quickly leaves but after witnessing her on the phone with her husband, he goes back to comfort the emotionally depleted woman. When her violent husband comes home, the outsider punishes him using golf balls hit by a 3 iron. Tae-suk and Sun-hwa flee on his motorbike. Their relationship unfolds in a series of stays at other houses. No words pass between them but their bodies commune at last when they share a bed.
Cast:
- Lee Seung-yeon, as Sun-hwa
- Jae Hee, as Tae-seok
- Kwon Hyuk-ho, as Min-gyu
Critical Response:
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 87% based on 92 reviews, with an average score of 7.4/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "A tender and moving romance from Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... And Spring's director Kim Ki-Duk." The film holds a score of 72 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 28 reviews, indicating "Generally favorable reviews". A. O. Scott of The New York Times noted the "sophisticated modern sound design" exhibited in 3-Iron, and called the film "a teasing, self-conscious and curiously heartfelt demonstration of [Kim's] mischievous formal ingenuity." Jamie Woolley of BBC.com gave the film three out of five stars, writing: "3-Iron isn't going to win any prizes for furthering of the cause of female emancipation. But if the snail's pace doesn't send you to sleep, you'll be rewarded with a tender and unusual love story."
The film opened in South Korea on April 29, 2005, and went on to gross $241,914 domestically. It grossed $3,403,957 worldwide.
