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The Spy Gone North

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"Gongjak" redirects here. For the mountain, see Gongjaksan.
The Spy Gone North
Theatrical poster
Hangul
공작
Hanja
工作
Revised RomanizationGongjak
Directed byYoon Jong-bin
Written by
  • Kwon Sung-hwi
  • Yoon Jong-bin
Produced by
  • Kuk Su-ran
  • Han Jae-duk
  • Son Sang-bum
Starring
CinematographyChoi Chan-min
Edited by
Music byCho Young-wuk
Production
companies
  • Sanai Pictures
  • Moonlight Film
Distributed byCJ E&M
Release dates
  • May 11, 2018 (2018-05-11) (Cannes)
  • August 8, 2018 (2018-08-08) (South Korea)
Running time
137 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
Languages
  • Korean
  • Mandarin
  • Japanese
BudgetUS$14 million
Box officeUS$38.5 million[1]

The Spy Gone North (Korean: 공작; Hanja: 工作; RR: Gongjak) is a 2018 South Korean spy drama film directed by Yoon Jong-bin. It stars Hwang Jung-min, Lee Sung-min, Cho Jin-woong and Ju Ji-hoon.[2][3][4] The film is loosely based on the true story of Park Chae-seo, a former South Korean agent who infiltrated North Korea's nuclear facilities.[5] It was released in theaters on August 8, 2018.[6]

Plot

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The story follows a South Korean spy who infiltrates the North to obtain intelligence on the country's nuclear-weapons plans in the mid-1990s only to find his own side is manipulating his country's political elections with the help of the North.

Cast

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Production

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Filming began on January 24, 2017 and concluded on July 25, 2017.[8] Some parts of the film that were set in Beijing and North Korea were filmed in Taiwan.[9]

Release

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The film made its world premiere in 2018 Cannes Film Festival.[10] It released theatrically in South Korea on August 8, 2018, with age 12-rating.[2] The film was sold to more than 100 countries, and was released theatrically in North America on August 17, 2018.[11] The Wilson Center's Center for Korean History and Public Policy hosted the film's U.S. East Coast premiere on August 14, 2018.[12]

The Spy Gone North was released on VOD by CJ E&M on September 13, 2018.[13]

Reception

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Favorable response

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On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, The Spy Gone North has an approval rating of 100% based on 20 reviews and an average rating of 7.1/10.[14] On Metacritic, the film received average score of 69 out of 100 based on 6 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[15]

Charles Bramesco of The Guardian rated the film 3 out of 5 and wrote: "Yoon [Jong-bin] executes all the classic double-agent set pieces with finesse, and those enamoured of the genre will appreciate a change of setting."[16]

Maggie Lee of the Variety wrote: "Instead of the usual dose of action and suspense one expects of this genre, watching this dense 140-minute political drama unfold is like fumbling through a long tunnel that’s nonetheless worth it when the ray of light emerges at the end."[9]

Deborah Young of The Hollywood Reporter described the film as "a stylish, blood-pounding thriller of the type Asian cinema is so good at making...For sheer topicality, the film is hard to beat, and to find a full-blown entertainment yarn in Cannes' midnight section that's partially set in newsworthy North Korea is rather astounding."[17]

Gary Goldstein of The LA Times wrote: "Park and Ri’s evolving friendship adds depth and humanity to this timely, ambitious tale which boldly reflects some of the region’s more unsettling aspects. Eerily vivid re-creation of Jong-il’s insular, lockstep-oriented world, plus a stirring score by Cho Young-Wuk, are highlights."[18]

Yoon Min-sik of The Korea Herald wrote: "The scene of South and North Koreans sitting together and conspiring over what to do in order to retain power shows that things are not always so black and white. Heukgeumseong, taught to regard all elements of the hermit kingdom as evil, sees the human side of the North Koreans through his interaction with them, extending his perspective to beyond what is presented to him... The flick looks at the event that occurred more than two decades ago, yet the message is strangely contemporary. The search for what is right and wrong is an eternal question."[19]

Boon Chan of The Straits Times wrote: "Things get really riveting in the last act when larger forces come into play, proving the cynics' case that politics makes for the strangest of bedfellows and the fundamental aim of those in power is to stay in power."[20]

Critical response

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James Marsh of the South China Morning Post rated the film 3.5/5 and wrote: "Rather than strive for a James Bond-style spy caper, Yoon explores his characters’ patriotic motivations, and in the process humanises many of the film’s primary antagonists, while exposing endemic corruption in South Korean politics. Thankfully these moments are countered by some expertly executed sequences of high-stakes espionage, balancing the film’s even-handed politics with similarly assured thrills."[21]

Nicola Chan of the SCMP Young Post wrote: "There are, however, some logical flaws in the plot. While Park is a highly skilled double agent, there are a few traps in the movie that even he shouldn’t have been able to avoid. And the ending, while touching, is somewhat cliché."[22]

Box office

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The film finished second during its opening week behind Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days, with US$15.7 million gross over five days of screening (Wednesday to Sunday).[23] On its second weekend, the film finished second behind The Witness, with a 45% drop in gross to US$6.3 million.[24] After finishing second for two consecutive weekends, the film placed third during its third weekend, behind On Your Wedding Day and The Witness. It had a 59% drop in gross, earning US$2.6 million from 317,447 attendance.[25]

On August 28, 2018, the film reached its break-even point with 4.7 million audience members having watched the film.[26] During its fourth weekend, the film had a 74% drop in gross compared to its third weekend, finishing at seventh place with 86,336 attendance.[27] The film stable on seventh place during its fifth weekend.[28]

As of September 24, 2018, the film grossed US$38.3 million from 4,970,004 total attendance.[1]

Awards and nominations

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Awards Category Recipient Result Ref.
27th Buil Film Awards Best Film The Spy Gone North Won [29][30]
Best Director Yoon Jong-bin Nominated
Best Actor Hwang Jung-min Nominated
Lee Sung-min Won
Best Supporting Actor Ju Ji-hoon Won
Best Screenplay Kwon Sung-hwi & Yoon Jong-bin Won
Best Art Direction Park Il-hyun Won
55th Grand Bell Awards Best Film The Spy Gone North Nominated [31][32]
Best Director Yoon Jong-bin Nominated
Best Actor Hwang Jung-min Won
Lee Sung-min Won
Best Supporting Actor Gi Ju-bong Nominated
Best Screenplay Kwon Sung-hwi & Yoon Jong-bin Nominated
Best Cinematography Choi Chan-min Nominated
Best Editing Kim Sang-bum & Kim Jae-bum Nominated
Best Art Direction Park Il-hyun Won
Best Lightning Yoo Suk-moon Nominated
Best Costume Design Chae Kyung-hwa Nominated
Technical Award The Spy Gone North Nominated
Best Planning Nominated
2nd The Seoul Awards Best Film Won [33][34]
Best Actor Lee Sung-min Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Ju Ji-hoon Won
38th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards Top 11 Films The Spy Gone North Won [35]
Best Director Yoon Jong-bin Won
Best Actor Lee Sung-min Won
Best Supporting Actor Ju Ji-hoon Won
39th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Film The Spy Gone North Nominated [36]
Best Director Yoon Jong-bin Won
Best Screenplay Kwon Sung-hwi & Yoon Jong-bin Nominated
Best Actor Lee Sung-min Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Ju Ji-hoon Nominated
Best Cinematography and Lightning Choi Chan-min & Yoon Suk-moon Nominated
Best Editing Kim Sang-bum & Kim Jae-bum Nominated
Best Music Jo Yeong-wook Nominated
Best Art Direction Park Il-hyun Won
26th Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards Best Film The Spy Gone North Won [37]
5th Korean Film Producers Association Awards Best Cinematography Choi Chan-min Won [38]
Best Lighting Yoo Seok-moon Won
Best Art Direction Park Il-hyun Won
18th Director's Cut Awards Best Actor Lee Sung-min Won [39]
10th KOFRA Film Awards Best Film The Spy Gone North Won [40]
Best Actor Lee Sung-min Won
Best Supporting Actor Ju Ji-hoon Won
55th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Film The Spy Gone North Won [41]
Best Director Yoon Jong-bin Nominated
Best Actor Lee Sung-min Won
Best Screenplay Kwon Sung-hwi & Yoon Jong-bin Nominated
Technical Award Park Il-hyun (Art) Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b "The Spy Gone North (2018)". Korean Film Biz Zone. 23 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b "공작". Movie.naver.com. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  3. ^ "Daum영화 <공작>". Movie.daum.net. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  4. ^ "영화 [공작] 상세정보". Cine21. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  5. ^ "'The Spy Gone North' is about a spy undergoing identity change, says director". Yonhap News Agency. 2018-05-14.
  6. ^ "Movie about real-life Korean 'double' agent becomes box office hit". 14 August 2018.
  7. ^ "이효리, 황정민 만날까?…영화 '공작' 출연". News.mt.co.kr. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  8. ^ "HWANG Jung-min Wraps NK Action-Drama BLACK VENUS". Koreanfilm.or.kr. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Cannes Film Review: 'The Spy Gone North' (Gong Jak)". Variety. May 17, 2018.
  10. ^ "Cannes title 'The Spy Gone North' sells to over 100 territories". Screen Daily. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  11. ^ "S. Korean spy thriller 'The Spy Gone North' released in U.S., Canada". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  12. ^ ""The Spy Gone North" Film Screening | Wilson Center". www.wilsoncenter.org. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  13. ^ "씨네폭스, 13일부터 '공작' VOD 서비스 시작!". Busan Daily (in Korean). Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  14. ^ "The Spy Gone North (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  15. ^ "The Spy Gone North (2018)". Metacritic. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  16. ^ "The Spy Gone North review – timely Korean spy thriller proves a real nail-biter". The Guardian. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  17. ^ Young, Deborah (2018-05-12). "'The Spy Gone North' ('Gongjak'): Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  18. ^ Goldstein, Gary (2018-08-08). "Review: A double agent, nuclear weapons and election meddling in taut South Korean thriller 'The Spy Gone North'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  19. ^ Min-sik, Yoon (2018-08-02). "[Herald Review] Words spark tension in 'The Spy Gone North'". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  20. ^ Chan, Boon (2018-09-04). "South Korean thriller The Spy Gone North with Hwang Jung-min sizzles in its final act". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  21. ^ "The Spy Gone North review: exploits of a South Korean secret agent". South China Morning Post. 2018-09-04. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  22. ^ "'The Spy Gone North' starring Hwang Jung-min is not your typical spy thriller [Review]". Young Post. 2018-09-02. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  23. ^ "Korea Box Office: 'Along With the Gods' Sequel Beats Trio of Prominent Newcomers". Variety. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  24. ^ "Korea Box Office: Local Films, Headed by 'The Witness,' Dominate the Weekend". Variety. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  25. ^ "South Korean Box Office August 24-26, 2018". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  26. ^ '공작', 손익분기점 돌파…웰메이드 영화의 경쟁력 입증. SBS funE (in Korean). 29 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  27. ^ [무비:스코어] '너의 결혼식' 194만 돌파, 1위 수성…'서치'·'상류사회' 2·3위. Xports News (in Korean). 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  28. ^ [영화순위]'서치' 박스오피스 1위…2위 '너의 결혼식'·3위 '업그레이드', '신과함께2' 역대 12위 등극. Kyungin Daily (in Korean). Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  29. ^ [23회 부산국제영화제] 부일영화상. Busan Daily (in Korean). 20 September 2018.
  30. ^ 5관왕 ‘공작’, ‘허스토리’와 함께 부산 품었다(종합) [27회 부일영화상]. MK Sports (in Korean). 5 October 2018.
  31. ^ 제55회 대종상, 각 부문 후보 공개…'공작' 12개 최다부문 노미네이트. Sports Seoul (in Korean). 21 September 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  32. ^ '버닝', 대종상 작품상 영예...1주기 故김주혁, 특별상 수상 [종합]. Osen (in Korean). 22 October 2018.
  33. ^ ‘제2회 더 서울어워즈’ 10월27일 개최, 드라마-영화 각 부문별 후보공개. iMBC (in Korean). September 28, 2018.
  34. ^ [2회 더서울어워즈] '나의아저씨·공작' 대상…이병헌·김남주·하정우·손예진 주연상(종합). Ilgan Sports (in Korean). October 27, 2018.
  35. ^ [공식]이성민·한지민 '영평상' 남녀주연상…'1987' 작품상. Sports Chosun (in Korean). October 22, 2018.
  36. ^ 청룡영화상 후보 발표, ‘1987’ 최다·‘공작’도 9개부문 후보. Newsen (in Korean). November 1, 2018.
  37. ^ 2018년 제 26회 "대한민국 문화연예대상" 성황리 개최. NB News (in Korean). November 29, 2018.
  38. ^ 주지훈·한지민, 한국영화제작가협회상 남녀주연상 영광. Newsen (in Korean). 11 December 2018.
  39. ^ "EXO's D.O., Kim Tae Ri, and more win awards at the '18th Director's Cut Awards!". Allkpop. 14 December 2018.
  40. ^ "'올해의 영화상' 이성민X한지민, 남녀주연상..작품상 '공작'[종합]". Osen (in Korean). 30 January 2019.
  41. ^ Cho, Yeon-gyeong (April 5, 2019). 55회 백상예술대상 영화부문 최종 후보 공개. Is Plus (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
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