The movie "The Yellow Sea" is a Korean film released in 2010, based on the sinking of the Daema Island in the northeastern coast of the Korean Peninsula. Here's a breakdown of the information regarding the production and critical reception:
- Total production cost: Approximately 100 billion won was invested.
- Filming period: It took place from December 16, 2009, to November 1, 2010.
**Critics' Reviews and Audience Response:**
- Before the release, critics gave generally positive reviews. However, some critics and audiences raised concerns about the film's shooting techniques and editing, describing it as confusing.
- After its release during the year-end peak season, it surpassed 1.05 million viewers in just five days, showing the fastest box office performance among films released that year.
- However, it faced challenges as it didn't resonate well with its target audience of women in their 20s due to its violent depiction, lengthy runtime, and comparisons with "The Chaser." These factors affected its performance negatively.
- The film itself received considerable acclaim, particularly for its first and second acts, which were praised as masterpieces in Korean cinema history. The unique theme, atmosphere, and impressive performances by Ha Jung-woo and Kim Yoon-seok were highlighted. The later car chase scenes were also noted for their difference from typical action films, offering unprecedented intensity and realism.
"The Yellow Sea" was a significant project with a substantial budget and production period, and it received a mixed reception from critics and audiences. Nonetheless, it made a notable impact on the Korean film industry, particularly for its bold attempt in the thriller genre.
The child appearing as Gunam's daughter in the film is said to be not an actress, but the actual daughter of the cinematographer. However, some scenes featuring Gu-nam, played by actor Ha Jung-woo, with women were quickly shot while the daughter was asleep.
There are some associations with buses in the movie. Some scenes, including Gunam's escape, were filmed at the Sangjin Bus Garage.
When Gunam is about to smuggle himself into Korea, the name of the ship he boards is "Happiness," and the inn where he hides from the police in the latter part is called "Hope." There's no special significance; it's just how they ended up choosing the names. Given the atmosphere of the film, it's quite ironic that they're the exact opposite of the words.
Both the actors and the staff suffered a lot due to the extended shooting schedule and the need to split scenes. Ha Jung-woo mentioned the difficulty of maintaining his appearance during shoots that spanned across different seasons, having to manage his beard and hair length consistently over several months.
Some of the actors who appeared on a daily wage basis were initially worried about the scene where they had to jump into the cold winter sea to catch Gunam, expecting it to be shot around late summer. However, due to delays, it ended up being filmed in late October, causing them to endure the cold sea unexpectedly.
Scenes where Gunam fights off the men sent by the gambling house, while he's being teased by brokers while attempting to go to China, were shot at the Central Pier near the rear entrance of Busan Station.
Due to the shortage of shooting schedules, many scenes in which Kim Gu-nam (played by Ha Jung-woo) drives alone or wanders around in China were shot with minimal staff and Ha Jung-woo himself using a digital camera. Especially the driving scenes, which alternate between various locations in China, creating an illusion of a single city. In reality, it's like a person teleporting hundreds of kilometers multiple times.
The various stories behind the production process of the film often contain interesting facts. The story of Ha Jung-woo deciding to give himself an event gift after a long period of shooting to erase the stuffy feeling, and accompanying his close friend and college junior, Yoon Jong-bin, who is also the director of the film, on his honeymoon trip, demonstrates the bond and collaboration between actors and directors.
The fact that the film "The Yellow Sea" was mentioned by Guillermo del Toro and James Gunn shows that it garnered attention not only domestically but also internationally.
Additionally, the controversial aspects of the superhuman abilities of characters like Myunghak and Gu-nam sparked discussions among audiences. Particularly, the intense actions and stories of characters like Myunghak and Gu-nam left a deep impression on the viewers.
Of course, these anecdotes provide a lighter comedic aspect compared to the overall evaluation of the film and enhance the charm and enjoyment of the movie.
Furthermore, the revelation that many actors who appeared as supporting or minor roles in the film became famous in the 2020s after about ten years indicates that the film acknowledged their acting skills and elevated their careers. Especially, the fact that director Na Hong-jin, impressed by Kwak Do-won's acting, later cast him as the lead in his next project, shows how this film provided significant opportunities for the actors.
The fact that Han Suk-kyu watched the film 20 times signifies how deeply the film resonated with both actors and audiences. These various stories illustrate how much of an impact "The Yellow Sea" had on many people.