''The Restless'' is a 2006 South Korean fantasy film directed by Jo Dong-oh, starring

Kim Tae-hee Kim Tae-hee (; born 29 March 1980) is a South Korean actress. Considered one of South Korea's most beautiful actresses, she is best known for her roles in Korean dramas such as ''Stairway to Heaven'' (2003), ''Love Story in Harvard'' (2004), '' ...

and

Jung Woo-sung Jung Woo-sung (born March 20, 1973) is a South Korean actor and the first Korean UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. Jung started his career as a fashion model, rising to stardom and teenage cult status with the gangster movie '' Beat'' (1997), for which ...

. The film's Korean title, ''Joong-cheon'', is literally translated as "Midheaven". ''Demon Empire'' is an alternative English name for the film.

Plot summary

In ancient Korea, Yi Gwak is a former chief of a disbanded elite ghost-hunting military unit who makes a living as an itinerant demon hunter. Betrayed and poisoned by the destitute villagers of a town he saved from demons, he flees the town and passes out in an abandoned shrine. He awakes in Midheaven (a transitional place for the spirits of the deceased) and finds the spirit of his lover Yon-hwa (who had been accused of witchcraft and killed); he finds that she has voluntarily discarded her memories and suffering in order to assume a new name and title. Yi Gwak also encounters his former mentor Ban-chu, who is revealed to be masterminding a demonic rebellion in Midheaven along with other members of their former elite unit in order to invade the living world and take revenge for the injustices done to them when they were alive. Yon-hwa (now going by So-hwa) is entrusted with guarding the soul essence of Lord Chon-hon, which is needed by Ban-chu to access the world of the living, and as a result is being hunted by Ban-chu and his forces. While initially reluctant to fight his former comrades and his mentor, Yi Gwak chooses to protect So-hwa and finds himself at odds with Ban-chu and his former brothers-in-arms.

Cast

as Yi-gwak *

as So-hwa/Yon-hwa *

So Yi-hyun So Yi-hyun (; born Jo Woo-jung, 조우정; August 28, 1984) is a South Korean actress, with starring and supporting roles in ''Hyena'', '' Assorted Gems'', '' Gloria'', '' Heartstrings'', ''Glowing She'', '' Cheongdam-dong Alice'', and '' Who Ar ...

as Hyo *

Heo Joon-ho Huh Joon-ho (, born April 14, 1964) is a South Korean actor. His name was previously officially romanized as Hur Joon-ho and is sometimes romanized unofficially as Heo Joon-ho. His father was Heo Jang-kang, a well-known Korean actor. Huh bega ...

as Ban-chu * Park Sang-wook as Yeo-wi * Kim Kwang-il * Yoo Ha-joon * Park Jeong-hak *

Jo Jae-yoon Jo Jae-yoon (born September 15, 1974) is a South Korean actor. He made his acting debut in 2003 and has since starred as a supporting actor in numerous films and television series, including '' The Man from Nowhere'' (2010), ''The Chaser'' (2012 ...

Awards and nominations

; 2007

Asian Film Awards Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

* Nomination - Best Visual Effects - DTI, ETRI ; 2007 Blue Dragon Film Awards * Technical Award - DTI, ETRI (CG) * Nomination - Best New Actress -

* Nomination - Best Art Direction - Kim Ki-chul ; 2007 Grand Bell Awards * Best Art Direction - Kim Ki-chul * Best Visual Effects - DTI, ETRI, Shin Jae-ho, Jeong Do-an * Nomination - Best New Actress -

* Nomination - Best Cinematography - Kim Young-ho * Nomination - Best Costume Design -

Emi Wada was an Academy Award-winning theatrical, movie and ballet costume designer from Japan. Life and career Wada was born in Kyoto Prefecture. At 20, she married Ben Wada, a television director. Wada had initially gone to school to become a painte ...

* Nomination - Best Sound - Kim Kyung-tae, Choi Tae-young ;2007 Korean Film Awards * Nomination - Best New Actress -

* Nomination - Best Visual Effects - DTI, ETRI, Shin Jae-ho, Jeong Do-an * Nomination - Best Sound - Kim Kyung-tae, Choi Tae-young

Soundtrack

''Memory of the Restless'' OST

The first soundtrack, ''Memory of The Restless'' OST, was released as an EP on Dec 14, 2006 by

CJ Entertainment CJ Entertainment (Hangul: CJ 엔터테인먼트) is a South Korean film production and distribution company under CJ ENM. The company operates as a film production company, film publishing house, investment and exhibition. History During early 1 ...

. # "If Memory Ran Out" ( ko, 기억이 마르면, gi uk ee ma reu myun) - MayBee # "Memories of Midair" ( ko, 손톱달 - 휘성, son tob dal) -

Wheesung Choi Whee-sung (; born February 5, 1982), known professionally as Wheesung or by the stage name Realslow, is a South Korean R&B singer, record producer, and musical theatre actor. Career 1982: Early life and education Wheesung was born on ...

# "If Memory Ran Out" ( ja, 記憶の果てに/ ko, 기억이마르면 (Japanese Ver) ) # "Memories of Midair" ( ja, 三日月/ ko, 손톱달 ( Japanese Ver.)) # "If Memory Ran Out" ( ko, 기억이 마르면 ( Chinese Ver.)) # "Memories of Midair" / ko, 손톱달 ( Chinese Ver.)) # "If Memory Ran Out" ( ko, 기억이 마르면 ( Instrumental)) # "Memories of Midair" ( ko, 손톱달 (Instrumental))

''The Restless OST''

A longer soundtrack, titled ''The Restless OST'', was released on Jan 19, 2007 by CJ Entertainment. It consists of the background music played throughout the film. All music was composed by

Shirō Sagisu is a Japanese composer, arranger and music producer. With a career spanning over 40 years (beginning in the late 1970s), he is best known for his works as a record producer for acts including various choir members Mike Wyzgowski, Misia, Satosh ...

. # "lawrence" (폐허의 마을) # "Unforgettable Her Face, Overhanging Dangers" (지울 수 없는 얼굴) # "The Tragedy" (비련(悲戀)) # "The Dark Place" (어둠의 공간) # "Listen To The Wisdom" (지혜의 말) # "Perspective Melody" (피안(彼岸)) # "The Bond II" (비운(悲運)) # "To The End" (비운의 끝) # "49 Days Before Heaven" (천상으로 가는 49일) # "Fantasy Of The Fate" (운명 영원히 끝나지 않을 인연) # "Clinging Feud" (비련의 다른 얼굴) # "Petal Colours From My Heart" (마음에 피는 꽃) # "Masculine Muse" (기억의 울림) # "Listen To The Love" (사랑에게 듣다) # "Beautiful Moment" (축복의 시간) # "Spiritual World" (영혼계) # "Petals Battle" (날카로운 꽃잎) # "Impossible Love" (이룰 수 없는 사랑) # "Love Supreme" (사랑이 할 수 있는 것) # "Catastrophe" (파국(破局)) # "Let Me Save Her" (그녀에게 가는 길) # "The Final Reckoning" (최후의 전투) # "The Tragedy" (비극(悲劇)) # "And The Finest Power" (그리고, 진실한 힘) # "The Quiet Of Love" (사랑을 위한 침묵)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Restless, The 2006 films 2006 fantasy films 2000s action adventure films South Korean fantasy films South Korean action adventure films Films about the afterlife Films scored by Shirō Sagisu CJ Entertainment films 2000s Korean-language films 2006 directorial debut films 2000s South Korean films