Sinkhole
Promotional poster
Hangul
싱크홀
Revised RomanizationSingkeuhol
Directed byKim Ji-hoon
Screenplay byJeon Cheol-hong
Kim Jeong-han
Produced byLee Soo-nam
Kim Yang-yeon
Starring
CinematographyShin Tae-ho
Edited byShin Min-kyung
Music byKim Tae-seong
Production
company
The Tower Pictures
Distributed byShowbox
Release dates
  • August 6, 2021 (2021-08-06) (LFF)[1]
  • August 11, 2021 (2021-08-11) (South Korea)[2]
Running time
117 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Budget₩15 billion[3]
Box officeUS$18.8 million[4][5]

Sinkhole (Korean: 싱크홀; RR: Singkeuhol) is a 2021 South Korean disaster comedy film, directed by Kim Ji-hoon and starring Cha Seung-won, Kim Sung-kyun, Lee Kwang-soo and Kim Hye-jun. It is about an average man's house, that took 11 years to obtain, but going down a sinkhole 500 meters underground in a minute.[6] The film with a production cost of ₩15 billion[3] was slated to release in the Chuseok holidays of 2020 but its release was postponed due to the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] It had its world premiere on August 6, at the 74th Locarno Film Festival held in Locarno, Switzerland.[1] It was released in theatres on August 11, 2021.[2]

At the box office, the film crossed 1 million admissions within 6 days of release and became the fastest Korean film in 2021 to do so.[8] As of December 31, 2021, it is the second highest-grossing Korean film of 2021, with a gross of US$17.97 million and 2.19 million admissions.[5][9]

Synopsis

Park Dong-won (Kim Sung-kyun) and his family move into a house purchased after 11 years of labor. They throw a housewarming party and invite their friends. A heavy overnight downpour creates an extremely big sinkhole, and in a mere minute, it engulfs the house with the people inside it. Deep down the hole, Park, his neighbor Jeong Man-soo (Cha Seung-won) and the guests have to find a way out. As luck would have it, rain again begins to pour down, filling the sinkhole with water. They must find a solution before time runs out.

Cast

  • Cha Seung-won as Jung Man-soo, a resident who struggles day and night to raise his son alone[10]
  • Kim Sung-kyun as Park Dong-won, chief at a company who worked hard for 11 years before purchasing his first apartment[11]
  • Lee Kwang-soo as Kim Seung-hyun, Dong-won's colleague[12]
  • Kim Hye-jun as Hong Eun-joo, Dong-won's colleague[13]
  • Nam Da-reum as Jung Seung-tae, Man-soo's son who is not on good terms with his father[14]
  • Kim Hong-pa as Department head Seo
  • Ko Chang-seok as Rescue captain
  • Kwon So-hyun as Young-yi, Dong-won's wife[15]
  • Lee Hak-joo as Deputy Jung
  • Han Hye-rin as Ahn Hyo-jung
  • Kim Jae-hwa as Kyung-mi
  • Na Chul as Min-joon
  • Jung Yun-ha as Young mother
  • Jang Gwang as Elderly laundryman
  • Jung Young-sook as Elderly woman Oh
  • Jun Eun-mi as Mrs. Oh's daughter
  • Oh Ja-hun as Sung-hoon
  • Lee Joo-mi as Tae-bo fitness member

Production

The film was made from a production budget of ₩15 billion.[3] In August 2019, Double SG Company confirmed the appearance of Nam Da-reum.[14]

On August 14, 2019, first script reading and examination was held. The principal photography began on August 27.[16] The location of film shooting is Seongwon Elementary School in Chuncheon and Bomnae Film Studio.[17]

Release

It was reported that Showbox locked pre-sales deals on the film to Taiwan (MovieCloud), Hong Kong (Edko Films), Indonesia (Falcon), Philippines (MVP Viva), Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and East Timor (Encore Films).[18]

The film was invited to Piazza Grande section of the 74th Locarno Film Festival held from August 4 to 14.[19][20] It had its world premiere at the film festival on August 6.[1][21] It was released in theatres on August 11, 2021, in South Korea.[2]

Sinkhole was selected as closing film at the 20th New York Asian Film Festival and screened on August 22 at Silas Theatre and SVA Theatre.[22] It was also invited at the 27th Sarajevo Film Festival held from 13th to 20 August 2021. It was showcased in 'Kinoscope' category of the festival.[23][24] It was also part of 2021 Vancouver International Film Festival in 'Gateway' section, where it was first screened on October 1, 2021.[25] It was also selected in 'Korean Cinema Today - Panorama Section' at 26th Busan International Film Festival and screened on October 7, 2021.[26] It was also screened at 10th Korean Film Festival Frankfurt on October 22, 2021.[27]

The film was invited at the 40th Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival and was screened for Belgian premiere on September 4, 2022.[28][29]

Reception

Box office

The film was released on August 11, 2021, on 1603 screens.[30] As per the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network (KOFIC) the film is ranked number one at Korean box office on the first day of its release. Giving the best opening of year 2021, it beat the record of Escape from Mogadishu by recording 154,665 cumulative audience as of August 11, 2021.[31][5] The film maintained its number 1 rank on the Korean box office on 2nd day of release with 274,794 cumulative audience.[32] The film by mobilizing 501,233 cumulative audience in 4 days of release became the second Korean film in 2021 to garner 500,000 audience in the shortest period of time. It is also maintaining its number one position at the Korean box office.[33]

The film recorded 1 million cumulative audiences on 6th day of its release, thereby becoming the fastest Korean film of 2021 to cross 1 million mark, beating record of Escape from Mogadishu.[34] It surpassed 1.5 million audience on 11th day of its release,[35] and 2 million on 21st day of release.[36]

Going by Korean Film Council (Kofic) data, it is at 2nd place among all the Korean films released in the year 2021, with gross of US$17.97 million and 2,195,683 admissions, as of as of December 31, 2021.[5][30]

Critical response

Jo Eun-ae reviewing the film for Sports Korea praised the performance of ensemble and wrote, "The actors build each character densely and show a dense breathing." Eun-ae felt that humour was built through 'light direction' and wit. Eun-ae opined that in addition to performance of actors, 'spectacular space and visuals' equally contributed to 'perfect sense of presence'. Eun-ae concluded the review as, "[..] it is a pity that the setting is somewhat unrealistic and unreasonable towards the second half. Still, it's fun enough as a disaster blockbuster. The unfamiliar world of a sinkhole 500m underground spread out on the screen is dizzying and fresh until the very end."[37]

Sports TV News reporter Kim Hyeon-rok reviewing the film wrote, "Even if the world collapses, there is room for laughter." She praised the performance of the cast and wrote, "The actors who played as a team and melted into the characters appropriately contributed to the devastating disaster and tragedy harmonized with humor." She praised the erection of set for the film and the way tremors of sinking were picturised, and termed the film as a 'parable' in her words, "It's crazy but it's real".[38]

Choi Young-joo of CBS No Cut News praising the building of set and use of gimbal to show the real shaking of house on sinking, wrote, "The vivid delivery of the message invites the audience to the center of the disaster site." But Young-joo opined that the film had followed the set pattern of a disaster film rather than bringing out the emotion that are inherent in such situations. Young-joo felt that in a disaster situation the victims generally lose the will to live, but in Sinkhole it was shown that they kept the hope for the future until the last moment. And the result was they lifted himself up 500m from the ground, Young-joo concluded, "Perhaps the message the film really wanted to show is here."[39]

Jeong Ha-eun reviewing for Sports Seoul opined that the film was combination of two contrasting genres, comedy and the disaster. She wrote that albeit the film followed the formula of a disaster film, but actors by their witty performance made it possible. She also praised the setting of the sinking building and the shaking, which was perceptibly felt through the movement of gimbal set. Describing the emotions of the characters during the rescue operation, Ha-eun felt that it was not easy to empathize between the gaps of rescue process, ".... as the desperate feelings are left to the victims' families who wait anxiously without knowing whether they are alive or dead on the ground."[40]

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Recipient Result Ref.
2021 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Lee Kwang-soo Nominated [41]
Best New Actor Nam Da-reum Nominated
41st Golden Cinema Film Festival Cinematographers’ Choice Popularity Award Cha Seung-won Won [42]
2022 Chunsa Film Art Awards 2022 Technical Award (Art) Kim Tae-young Nominated [43]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lee Jin-young (July 15, 2021). "'싱크홀', 제74회 로카르노국제영화제 초청..공식포스터 공개" ['Sinkhole' invited to the 74th Locarno International Film Festival... Official poster released]. Herald POP (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Jang Ah-reum (June 28, 2021). "초대형 '싱크홀'에 떨어진 차승원·김성균·이광수…8월11일 개봉 확정" [Cha Seung-won, Kim Seong-gyun, Lee Kwang-soo, who fell into a very large 'sinkhole'... Confirmed to be released on August 11th]. News 1 (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Han Hyun-jung (July 5, 2021). "150억 재난물 '싱크홀', 관객 빠질까[종합] - 스타투데이" ['Sinkhole', a 15 billion disaster product, will the audience fall?]. Maeil Business News (in Korean). Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Sinkhole". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2021". KOFIC. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Sinkhole - (Korean Movie, 2019, 싱크홀)". HanCinema. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  7. ↑ Shin-Jeong Mo (August 20, 2020). "[단독] 차승원·이광수 주연 '싱크홀', 추석 연휴 아닌 겨울 개봉으로 가닥" [[Exclusive] 'Sinkhole' starring Cha Seung-won and Lee Kwang-soo is set to be released in winter rather than Chuseok holidays]. Sports Korea News (in Korean). Daum. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  8. ↑ Kim Mi-hwa (August 16, 2021). "'싱크홀', 2021 韓영화 최단..개봉 6일만 100만 돌파 [공식]" ['Sinkhole', the shortest 2021 Korean movie..Exceeds 1 million in 6 days of release [Official]]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  9. ↑ "KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System): All films of Year 2021". KOFIC. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  10. ↑ Yoon Yeo-soo (June 17, 2021). "차승원, 재난영화 '싱크홀'로 여름극장가 달군다" [Cha Seung-won heats up summer theaters with disaster movie 'Sinkhole']. Sports Donga (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  11. ↑ "CHA Seung-won, KIM Sung-kyun and LEE Kwang-soo Fall into SINKHOLE". Korean Film Biz Zone. August 23, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  12. ↑ Nam Jeong-hyeon (May 9, 2019). "이광수, 재난영화 '워터홀'에도 나오나" [Will Lee Kwang-soo appear in disaster movie 'Waterhole'?]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  13. ↑ Kang Min-kyung (August 6, 2021). "김혜준 "즐겁게 찍은 '싱크홀', 개봉 기쁘고 설레..위로 받았으면"[인터뷰①]" [Kim Hye-joon "I'm happy and excited about the release of 'Sinkhole', which I enjoyed taking. I hope you receive comfort" [Interview ①]]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  14. 1 2 Kim Joo-won (August 26, 2019). "[공식] 남다름, '싱크홀' 캐스팅 확정..차승원과 부자 호흡" [[Official] Da-reum Nam, confirmed for 'Sinkhole' casting..Cha Seung-won and the rich couple]. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  15. ↑ Jo Ji-young (July 21, 2021). "'싱크홀' 권소현→장광, 재미X완성도 보장하는 충무로 신스틸러 총출동" ['Sinkhole' Kwon So-hyeon → Jang Kwang, Chungmuro scene stealer that guarantees fun X perfection]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  16. ↑ Kang Seo-jeong (August 26, 2019). "'싱크홀' 차승원X김성균X이광수, 대본리딩 현장 공개 '쟁쟁 캐스팅'..27일 크랭크인[공식]" ['Sinkhole' Cha Seung-won X Kim Sung-kyun X Lee Kwang-soo, the script reading site released 'Jangjaeng Casting'.. 27th crank-in [Official]]. Osen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  17. ↑ Lee Hyun-jung (August 13, 2021). "[새영화]땅 속으로 사라진 우리집…긴박한 상황 탈출하라" [[New Movie] Our house disappeared into the ground... Escape from a stressful situation]. Gangwon Ilbo (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  18. ↑ JEAN NOH (July 3, 2020). "Showbox scores multiple sales on disaster drama 'Sinkhole' (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  19. ↑ Grater, Tom (July 1, 2021). "Locarno Unveils 2021 Line-Up: Abel Ferrara's Ethan Hawke-Starrer 'Zeros And Ones' To World Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  20. ↑ Choi Young-joo (July 2, 2021). "'싱크홀', 로카르노 국제 영화제 공식 초청" ['Sinkhole' officially invited to the Locarno International Film Festival]. CBS Nocut News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Film Sing-keu-hol (Sinkhole) Piazza Grande". Locarno Film Festival. July 2, 2021. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  22. ↑ "20th New York Asian Film Festival". NYAFF. August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021. Closing Film
  23. ↑ Jung Mun-jeong (August 4, 2021). "'Sinkhole' to Premiere at 27th Sarajevo Film Festival". Zapzee. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  24. ↑ Lee Joo-hyun (August 6, 2021). "[리뷰] '싱크홀' <타워> 김지훈 감독 표 재난 서사와 코미디의 결합" [[Review] 'Sinkhole' and 'Tower' Director Kim Ji-hoon Combination of disaster narrative and comedy]. Cine21 (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  25. ↑ "VIFF 2021 Films Sinkhole, Gateway". VIFF. September 9, 2021. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Sinkhole, 2021 Program". BIFF. September 15, 2021. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Sinkhole / 싱크홀". Korean Film Festival Frankfurt. WordPress. October 23, 2021. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  28. ↑ Lee Yul (August 26, 2022). "브뤼셀 국제판타스틱영화제 29일 개막…'마녀2' 경쟁부문 진출" [The Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival opens on the 29th... 'Witch 2' entered the competition section]. Yonhap News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Selection 2022, Sinkhole". The Brussels International Festival of Fantastic Film. August 5, 2022. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  30. 1 2 "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Sinkhole (2021)". KOFIC. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  31. ↑ Kim ji-won (August 12, 2021). "'싱크홀' 개봉 첫날 1위 등극…올해 한국 영화 최고 오프닝 신기록 [종합]" ['Sinkhole' ranked first on the first day of release... Best opening record for a Korean movie this year [Overall]]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  32. ↑ Kim ji-won (August 13, 2021). "'싱크홀' 이틀째 1위·누적 27만…'모가디슈' 200만 눈앞" ['Sinkhole' 1st for 2nd day, cumulative 270,000... 'Mogadishu' in front of 2 million people]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  33. ↑ Cheon Yoon-hye (August 14, 2021). "'싱크홀', 올해 한국 영화 최단 시간 50만 돌파..개봉 4일차 흥행 쾌속 질주[공식]" ['Sinkhole' surpasses 500,000 in the shortest time for a Korean movie this year...]. Herald POP (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  34. ↑ Kim Ji-won (August 16, 2021). "[공식] 차승원 주연 '싱크홀', 올해 한국영화 최단기간 100만 돌파" [[Official] 'Sinkhole' starring Cha Seung-won surpasses 1 million in the shortest period of time for a Korean movie this year]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  35. ↑ Yang Yu-jin (August 22, 2021). "'싱크홀', 개봉 11일째 150만 관객 돌파…흥행 쾌속 질주" ['Sinkhole' surpasses 1.5 million viewers on the 11th day of release... box office fast run]. My Daily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  36. ↑ Kim Ji-won (August 31, 2021). "[공식] '싱크홀' 누적 200만 돌파→손익분기점 달성" [[Official] 'Sinkhole' accumulated over 2 million → Break-even point reached]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  37. ↑ Jo Eun-ae (August 3, 2021). "[리뷰] '싱크홀' 차승원표 재난 블록버스터, 스케일로 압도한다" [[Review] 'Sinkhole' Cha Seung-won-pyo's disaster blockbuster overwhelms with scale]. Sports Korea (in Korean). Hankook. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  38. ↑ Kim Hyeon-rok (August 8, 2021). "[Cine리뷰]'싱크홀' 현재진행형 재난우화…황당한데 현실입니다" [[Cine review] 'Sinkhole' is an ongoing disaster parable... It's crazy but it's real]. Sports TV News (in Korean). Spotify. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  39. ↑ Choi Young-joo (August 13, 2021). "[노컷 리뷰]'싱크홀' 추락한 삶의 의지를 끌어올리다" [[No Cut Review] 'Sinkhole' raises the will of a fallen life]. CBS No Cut News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  40. ↑ Jeong Ha-eun (August 11, 2021). "'싱크홀' 재난과 코믹의 기막힌 조합(리뷰)[SS무비]" ['Sinkhole' A wonderful combination of disaster and comic (review) [SS Movie]]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  41. ↑ Kim Nara (November 1, 2021). [제42회 청룡영화상, 후보 발표…류승완 '모가디슈' 최다 부문 노미네이트 [공식] [42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards, nominations announced... Ryoo Seung-wan 'Mogadishu' Nominated for Most Category [Official]]. My Daily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  42. ↑ Kim Cheol-gwan (November 21, 2021). "영화 <자산어보> 황금촬영상 5관왕" [Film <Jasaneobo> 5 Golden Cinematography Awards] (in Korean). ohmynews. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  43. ↑ "후보자(후보작) 리스트" [Candidate (Nominations) List]. Chunsa Film Festival (in Korean). August 26, 2022. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
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