Swing Kids (2018 film)
Swing Kids (Korean: 스윙키즈; RR: Seuwingkijeu) is a 2018 South Korean musical drama film directed by Kang Hyeong-cheol and based on the Korean musical Roh Ki-soo. The film stars Doh Kyung-soo, Park Hye-su, Jared Grimes, Oh Jung-se and Kim Min-ho.[2][1][3][4][5] The film was released on December 19, 2018.[6]
Swing Kids | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
Hangul | 스윙키즈 |
Revised Romanization | Seuwing kijeu |
McCune–Reischauer | Sŭwing k'ijŭ |
Directed by | Kang Hyeong-cheol |
Produced by | Lee An-na Yoo Sung-kweon |
Screenplay by | Kang Hyeong-cheol |
Based on | Rho Ki-soo (musical) by Jang Woo-sung |
Starring | Doh Kyung-soo Park Hye-su Jared Grimes Oh Jung-se Kim Min-ho |
Music by | Kim Jun-seok |
Cinematography | Kim Ji-yong |
Edited by | Nam Na-yeong |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Next Entertainment World |
Release date |
|
Running time | 133 minutes |
Country | South Korea |
Language | Korean English |
Budget | ₩15 billion[1] {US$13.3 million) |
Box office | US$10.9 million |
Swing Kids was screened at The 2019 1st PyeongChang International Peace Film Festival on August 18, 2019.[7]
Plot summary
The story takes place in Geoje prison camp during the Korean War in 1951. Ro Ki-soo (Do Kyung-soo), a rebellious North Korean soldier, falls in love with tap dancing after meeting Jackson (Jared Grimes), an American officer and former Broadway star who has been tasked with putting together a dance company. Kang Byung-sam (Oh Jung-se) auditions for the company in hopes of finding his wife, Xiao Pang (Kim Min-Ho), a Chinese soldier and born dancer who cannot dance for more than a minute due to Angina. Yang Pan-rae (Park Hye-su) who needs money but says there's no money through dancing, also joins the group.[8]
Cast
Main
- Doh Kyung-soo as Roh Ki-soo[9]
- Park Hye-su as Yang Pal-lae
- Jared Grimes as Jackson
- Oh Jung-se as Kang Byung-sam
- Kim Min-Ho as Xiao Pang
Others
- Ross Kettle as Brigadier General Roberts
- A.J. Simmons as Jamie
- Song Jae-ryong as Sam Sik
- Lee Gyoo-seong as Man-cheol
- Lee David as Kwang-gook
- Joo Hae-eun as Mae-hwa
- Lee Yool-rim as Hwang Ki-dong
- Kim Dong-geon as Ro Gi-jin
- Park Jin-joo as Linda
- Joo Hae-eun as Mae-hwa (Japanese apricot flower)
- Park Hyoung-soo as Interpreter
- Lee Dong-yong as Black marketeer
- Choi Eun-kyung as Nancy
- Lee Rang-seo as Stacy
- Lim Seo-yeong as Candy
- Kim Eun-joo as Wendy
- Park Ji-eun as Barbara
- Oh Kyeong-hwa as Julia
Cameo
- Kim Min-jae as Ro Gi-jin's voice dub
Production
Director Kang Hyeong-cheol is known for his hit films Scandal Makers, Sunny, and Swing Kids marks the director's return after three year from directing his hit film Tazza: The Hidden Card. Filming of Swing Kids started on October 18, 2017[1] and ended on February 20, 2018 in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.[10]
Release
Swing Kids was released in 23 countries including America, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia. The film was released in Hong Kong and Macao in January 2019.[11]
The VIP premiere of Swing Kids was held On December 6.[12][13]
Promotion
On November 12, 2018, the director and main cast of Swing Kids held a press conference where they discussed the film and answered reporters' questions.[14][15] On the same day, a showcase for the film was held, where Do Kyung-soo, Park Hye-su and Oh Jung-se performed a segment of Tap dancing along with other tap dancing professionals, and later talked about the film along with director Kang Hyeong-cheol.[16] On November 26, the director and the cast attended a movie talk on V Live.[17]
On December 4, the cast and director attended a media distribution preview event for the film.[18] On December 17, The cast and directory attended an event called "Chewing Chat" at Lotte Cinema World Tower, and also held a stage greeting in the same place. On December 18, Do Kyung-soo, Park Hye-su and Oh Jung-se went on the radio show Cultwo Show were the talked about the movie,[19] and later held another stage greeting at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall.
Reception
Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 63% based on 8 reviews, with an average rating of 6.33/10.[20]
The film received mixed reviews from critics. Praise was given to the film's production design and music,[21] with criticisms directing towards the long running time and the structure of the film.[22] Guy Lodge from Variety, wrote about the film: "Too often, it simply feels like two films wrestling in one roomy framework, sometimes overlapping to awkward effect".[23]
Park Boram from Yonhap News Agency , wrote: "The film's booming tapping sounds set against the film's throwback soundtrack -- which includes David Bowie's "Modern Love," Benny Goodman's "Sing Sing Sing," The Beatles' "Free as a Bird," as well as Korean veteran singer Jung Su-ra's popular 1988 song "Joy"—drive colorful vibrancy into the film, making the audience twitch with amusement throughout the film's 133-minute running time.", Park also added that the "musicality and a Christmas scene close to the end make the production a perfect film choice for the holiday season."[21]
The film was ranked No.3 by Pierce Conran from Modern Korean Cinema in Top 15 Korean Films of 2018. Conran wrote: "Swing Kids was without a doubt the best theatrical experience I had all year. Infectiously rhythmic, this Korean War POW camp tap dance extravaganza will have you yearning for old-school Hollywood showmanship and begging for more when the curtain falls."[24]
Box office
Prior to its release, Swing Kids ranked first in the pre-sales, with 70,256 viewers and 21.6% reservation rate.[25] The film ranked second place on Korean theaters among Korean movies, since its release.[26] On December 25, Swing Kids began its seat sales and ranked first in the box office, surpassing Aquaman and The Drug King by 32% and 56% respectively.[27] On December 27, Swing Kids attracted more than 1 million viewers.[26]
In the United States it made $222,001, South Korea $10,672,098, Australia $17,141, and in New Zealand $2,157.[28]
Soundtrack
No. | Title | Artist | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Caldonia" | Louis Jordan | 2:40 |
2. | "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake" | Eileen Barton | 2:37 |
3. | "Shout" | The Isley Brothers | 2:15 |
4. | "Hava Nagila" (하바나길라) | Rita Kim | 3:26 |
5. | "Joy" (환희) | Jung Su-ra | 4:43 |
No. | Title | Artist | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 846" (평균율 1권 1번 다장조) | Bach | |
2. | "Modern Love" | David Bowie | 3:56 |
3. | "The Christmas Song" | European Jazz Trio | 4:02 |
4. | "Sing Sing Sing" | Benny Goodman | 5:23 |
5. | "Free as a Bird" | The Beatles | 4:58 |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 19th Golden Trailer Awards | Best Foreign Holiday Trailer Award | Swing Kids | Won | [30] |
2019 | 55th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Director | Kim Hyeong-cheol | Won | [31] |
Best New Actor | Kim Min-ho | Nominated | |||
Technical Award | Kim Jun-seok (Music) | Nominated | |||
39th Golden Cinema Film Festival | Best New Actress | Park Hye-su | Won | [32] | |
28th Buil Film Awards | Nominated | [33] | |||
Popular Star Award | Nominated | ||||
39th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Best Soundtrack | Kim Jun-seok | Won | [34] | |
40th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best New Actress | Park Hye-su | Nominated | [35][36] | |
Best Film | Nominated | ||||
Best Director | Nominated | ||||
Best Cinematography-Lighting | Won | ||||
Best Editing | Won | ||||
Best Art Direction | Nominated | ||||
Technical Award | Nominated | ||||
Best Music | Nominated | ||||
2020 | 56th Grand Bell Awards | Best Music | Kim Jun-seok | Nominated | |
Best costume Design | Kwon Yujin | Nominated |
References
- 강형철 감독 "도경수, 아이돌 인지도 몰랐다..운명 같다"(직격 인터뷰) (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-02-28.
- "DOH Kyung-soo Signs Up as Tap Dancer in Korean War-Era Swing Kids". Korean Film Biz Zone. May 26, 2017.
- [공식입장] 도경수 측 "'스윙키즈' 출연 확정..9월 크랭크인" (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-02-28.
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- [단독] 도경수, '써니' 감독 신작 주인공…북한군 로기수 역. Nate News (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-02-28.
- 도경수 주연 '스윙키즈', 12월 19일 개봉 확정. YTN (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-10-18.
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- [프로젝트⑪] 〈스윙키즈〉 강형철 감독 - 춤으로 이 시대를 관통하니 비극에 유머가. 씨네21 (in Korean). 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
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- '스윙키즈' 도경수 "엑소 춤과 다른 탭댄스, 즐기면서 연습해" (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-11-14.
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External links
- Swing Kids at HanCinema
- Swing Kids on IMDb
- Swing Kids at Naver (in Korean)
- Swing Kids at Daum (in Korean)