Seoul Raider: Twenty fun facts about City Of Violence.
I’m in Korea to speak at a digital media conference, Dicom, to discuss ways in which local cinema can better sell itself to the western market. I give a talk to a Korean audience, who are getting a simultaneously translation through their headsets. This means the laughs for the jokes arrive a beat late (or not!) which is disconcerting. They’re quite undemonstrative, but afterwards the organizers tell me it was well-received. I also get to meet local producers keen on selling their product to the west, all of whom are pitching animation projects. By the end of the day, I’m seeing animated characters dancing on the ceiling of my hotel room (and I haven’t even hit the soju yet…)
The next day, I take time out to meet director Ryoo Seung-wan, helmer and star of the kimchi-flavoured kombat flick Jakpae, out now from Dragon Dynasty as City Of Violence. I find, to my happy surprise, that, on this sunny Seoul day, his R & S Productions is within walking distance of the Intercontinental, where I’m staying. Ryoo currently sports a new haircut that leaves him rather resembling a mid-career Jet Li. I tell him I’ve just met his co-star and frequent collaborator Jung Doo-hong on the set of The Good, The Bad and the Weird.
I also mention I’m writing a blog about City Of Violence, and he kindly offers to give me some little-known facts about it. Over a long lunch with director Ryoo, his lovely wife and two charming female members of his office staff, we discuss all manner of matters filmic and otherwise and also come up with the following list. So slam in the City Of Violence DVD and impress your friends with your inside knowledge of Dragon Dynasty’s 1st Korean actioner…
1) Most of the film was shot in Chung-ju city, which was designated a tourism region by the government, and thereafter attracted a heavy gangster element.
2) When Tae-su arrives at the railway station, the sign outside should read ‘Chung-ju Station’.A blue sign saying ‘On Sung Station’ was CGI-ed in. On Sung is a fictitious city where the film is set. (A sign seen in the same shot indicates that ‘On Sung’ has been designated a tourist zone.)
3) The funeral scenes were shot in a real funeral home in Chung-ju.
4) Though the bar scenes are set at night, the location, a real Chung-ju bar, was only available during the day, so the crew put black sheets over the windows.
5) The comedy show playing on the TV at Seok-hwan’s home is called ‘Family Of Love’. Its Ryoo’s ironic statement, as Seok-hwan’s family is falling apart.
6) Tae-su’s hotel room is actually the hotel room of one of the film’s crew.
7) The song heard through the flashback scenes is a Korean oldie performed by ‘Nami’, and is called ‘Forever Friends’.
8) The temple seen in the film is called Kwan Um-sa, and really offers that spectacular view of the city from its entrance. Ryoo calls this his ‘Infernal Affairs’ shot.
9) Tae-su’s brother’s home was actually that of a Christian pastor living in Chung-ju.
10) Though Coca-Cola bottles appears throughout the film, the soft drink giant was not in fact a sponsor. Ryoo claims he used the logo to symbolize the ‘big business’ mentality threatening the city.
11) The elegant bathhouse where we see villain Pil-ho is located at the Riverside Hotel in Seoul, as is the underground car park seen in the film.
12) The hooker that Seok-hwan confronts in the washroom is played by former child star Lee Nari.
13) Though the yo-yo that menaces Tae-su was real, the baseball and hockey puck hurled his way were both created with CGI.
14) The 2nd hand car dealership where Tae-su and Seok-hwan hide out after the street fight is actually a parking lot in downtown Chung-ju.
15) When Tae-su and Seok-hwan storm a kickboxing gym, the fighter in the ring who turns to greet them is veteran Jackie Chan stuntman Mong Cha-cha.
16) In the scene where So Ji-woo (one of the four white-suited enforcers) invades the police station, all the guys he fights are actually Korean action directors (as is he).
17) The reservoir seen in the film is actually located right next to the funfair seen earlier in the movie.
18) The restaurant seen in the finale was the only major set constructed for the film, and was built at the ‘Seoul Comprehensive Studio’.
19) The long-haired enforcer, Im Chun-il, is an expert in the Brazilian art of Capoeria, and has since starred in his own Korean action film.
20) The end fight was shot during the cold of the Korean winter, with the exterior sequence taking 5 days to shoot, and the interior the same amount of time.
I hope the above enhances your appreciation of City Of Violence, and look forward to receiving your comments on our first venture into the Korean action arena.
Comments
- Andrew Gorham, Kalamazoo, Mi | 2007-09-17 12:44:17
- YokelX, N/A | 2007-09-16 20:43:24
- Chris L., Virginia, United States | 2007-09-14 19:32:20
- Clinton, Kansas | 2007-09-14 07:29:53
- Kev, Boston MA | 2007-09-13 19:57:10
- John Baxter, Brookhaven, PA | 2007-09-19 03:53:20