''M'' () is a 2007 South Korean psychological drama film starring

Gang Dong-won Gang Dong-won (born January 18, 1981) is a South Korean actor. Early life Gang Dong-won was born January 18, 1981, in Busan, and grew up in Changwon of Gyeongsangnam-do. His father, Gang Cheol-woo, was an engineer and later vice president ...

. The film premiered at the

Toronto International Film Festival The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a permane ...

, and the final cut had its Korean premiere at the

Pusan International Film Festival The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF, previously Pusan International Film Festival, PIFF), held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan (''also'' Pusan), South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festi ...

. Using visual effects, complex dream sequences, and gliding camerawork, director

Lee Myung-se Lee Myung-se (; born August 20, 1957) is a South Korean filmmaker. Lee began his career as an assistant producer under Bae Chang-ho for the films ''Hwang Jin-I'' (1986), ''Our Sweet Days of Youth'' (1988), and ''Dream'' (1990). At the 1991 Asia- ...

describes his film as "a dark labyrinth of dream and reality," and that instead of using

computer graphics Computer graphics deals with generating images with the aid of computers. Today, computer graphics is a core technology in digital photography, film, video games, cell phone and computer displays, and many specialized applications. A great de ...

, he prefers to "capture the fantasy elements through lighting and emotions."

Plot

A prominent up-and-coming author Min-woo readies his new much anticipated follow-up novel while suffering from

writer's block Writer's block is a condition, primarily associated with writing, in which an author is either unable to produce new work or experiences a creative slowdown. Mike Rose found that this creative stall is not a result of commitment problems or th ...

, as well as frequent nightmares and hallucinations. This unexplainable condition affects both his personal and professional life. Soon he can't differentiate reality from fantasy and continues to have feelings of being chased. His own paranoia leads him to a café in a dark, unassuming alley and encounters a charming young woman named Mimi. Min-woo starts to wonder how he and this girl in front of him are connected and traces long-forgotten memories of his first love.

Cast

- Min-woo *

Lee Yeon-hee Lee Yeon-hee (born January 9, 1988) is a South Korean actress. She is most known for her work in the television series '' East of Eden'' (2008), ''Phantom'' (2012), ''Miss Korea'' (2013), '' The Package'' (2017); and in the films ''A Millionair ...

- Mimi *

Gong Hyo-jin Gong Hyo-jin (born April 4, 1980) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her leading role in the film '' Crush and Blush'' (2008), as well as for her popular television series '' Sang Doo! Let's Go to School'' (2003), ''Thank You'' (20 ...

- Eun-hye *

Jeon Moo-song Jeon Moo-song (born September 28, 1941) is a South Korean actor. Jeon began his career on stage in the play 'Chunhyangjeon' in 1964 and has since been active in Korean theatre, film and television. In 1977, he performed as the title character ...

- bartender * Song Young-chang - Company president Jang *

Im Won-hee Im Won-hee (born October 11, 1970) is a South Korean actor. Im was an alumnus of the legendary Daehangno, Daehak-ro theater troupe ''Mokhwa'' (), starring in many of Jang Jin's stage plays. He made his film debut in Jang's black comedy ''The Happ ...

- Sung-woo *

Lim Ju-hwan Lim Ju-hwan (; born May 18, 1982) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the television dramas '' Tamra, the Island'' (2009), '' Ugly Alert'' (2013), ''Uncontrollably Fond'' (2016) and ''The Bride of Habaek'' (2017). ...

- umbrella man * Seo Dong-soo - editor *

Jung In-gi Jung In-gi (born September 12, 1966) is a South Korean actor. Jung made his acting debut in 1990, and has remained active in mainstream and independent film as well as television, notably in ''Jury'' (2013), '' The Five'' (2013) and ''Gap-dong ...

- doctor * Kim Dong-hwa * Yoon Ga-hyun - groom's sister * Jung Sun-hye *

Choi Dae-sung Choi Dae-sung (born February 2, 1976) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series References External links * * * 1976 births Living people South Korean male stage actors South Korean male television ...

- Min-woo's friend

Awards and nominations

;2007

Korean Film Awards The Korean Film Awards was a South Korean film awards ceremony hosted by the broadcasting network MBC from 2002 to 2010. History Originally named the MBC Film Awards, the ceremony was first established in 2002. It was renamed the Korean Film Aw ...

"M - Awards"
''Cinemasie''. Retrieved 2012-06-04. * Best Cinematography – Hong Kyung-pyo * Best Art Direction – Yoon Sang-yoon, Yoo Joo-ho * Nomination – Best Film * Nomination – Best Director –

* Nomination – Best Editing –

Ko Im-pyo Ko Im-pyo is a South Korean film editor. Selected filmography *'' First Kiss'' (1998) *'' If the Sun Rises in the West'' (1998) *''Attack the Gas Station'' (1999) *'' Kick the Moon'' (2001) *'' A.F.R.I.K.A.'' (2002) *''Public Enemy'' (2002) *' ...

* Nomination – Best Visual Effects – Jang Seong-ho * Nomination – Best New Actress –

;

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

Baeksang Arts Awards The Baeksang Arts Awards (), also known as the Paeksang Arts Awards, are awards for excellence in film, television and theatre in South Korea. The awards were first introduced in 1965 by Chang Key-young, the founder of the Hankook Ilbo newspap ...

* Nomination – Best Director –

* Nomination – Best New Actress –

;

Buil Film Awards The Buil Film Awards () is a South Korean film awards ceremony hosted by the ''Busan Ilbo'' newspaper. It began in 1958 as one of the earliest film awards in the country. During the 1950s and 1960s, it was the biggest film awards event in the B ...

* Best Art Direction – Yoon Sang-yoon, Yoo Joo-ho * Best Lighting – Choi Chul-soo * Nomination – Best Supporting Actress –

* Nomination – Best Cinematography – Hong Kyung-pyo ;

Grand Bell Awards The Grand Bell Awards (), also known as the Daejong Film Awards, is an awards ceremony presented annually by The Motion Pictures Association of Korea for excellence in film in South Korea. The Grand Bell Awards retains prestige as the oldest co ...

* Best Art Direction – Yoon Sang-yoon, Yoo Joo-ho * Nomination – Best Editing –

* Nomination – Best Visual Effects – Jeong Do-an, Yu Yeong-jae * Nomination – Best Sound – Park Jun-oh ;

Blue Dragon Film Awards The Blue Dragon Film Awards () is an annual awards ceremony that is presented by ''Sports Chosun'' (a sister brand of the ''Chosun Ilbo'') for excellence in film in South Korea. The Blue Dragon Film Awards considers only blockbusters and popula ...

* Nomination – Best Cinematography – Hong Kyung-pyo * Nomination – Best Art Direction – Yoon Sang-yoon, Yoo Joo-ho * Nomination – Best Lighting – Choi Chul-soo

Adaptation

'' Mimi'', a four-episode miniseries inspired by the film, aired on

Mnet M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...

in 2014.

References

External links

* * * * {{Lee Myung-se 2007 films 2000s psychological drama films 2000s mystery drama films 2000s mystery thriller films 2000s supernatural thriller films South Korean mystery thriller films South Korean mystery drama films South Korean supernatural thriller films Films directed by Lee Myung-se 2000s Korean-language films 2007 drama films 2000s South Korean films