After witnessing the deaths of his mother and sister as a child, Sang-hoon (YANG Ik-june) grew up with rage and hatred towards his father who was responsible for their deaths. The shadow of his past overrules his present. Sang-hoon, now a merciless debt collector, regularly beats his father who returned home after 15 years in prison. Though he hesitates to become close, he often comes to see his half sister and nephew, who is left alone while his mother is out to make ends meet. One day, he meets a high school girl, Yeon-hee (KIM Kkobbi) who is also having a tough life after her mother’s death 4 years ago. in the hands of local gangsters like Sang-hoon. Her violent younger brother, a high school dropout, and the former Vietnam veteran father harrass her endlessly and treat her like a slave. Without realizing how their lives may be connected, Sang-hoon and Yeon-hee share some moments of relief and escape from brutal physical and emotional abuse and pain they face everyday. He slowly discovers that perhaps he too can change and affect the lives of those around him, but it may be too late to repent his ways and start his life over again.
Anything could happen within a family, and it's always forgiven. We take the pain for granted, and assume everyone else is dealing with the same issue within the blood-bonded group. But an internal disease takes much longer time to heal than the external wound. How could one cure the pain, solitude, anger and loss caused by the family? Can the cure be bought? The movie is about a long journey set to obtain that cure and reconcile with one another.
“YANG Ik-june's Breathless closely follows the characters’ emotions with careful observation and filled with energy just as the indie legend John Cassavetes has done. The film has the power to make the audience gaze at the character’s furious face.”
LEE Sang-yong, Pusan Int’l Film Festival programmer
“The film's final moment seamlessly blends an ending that is filled with hope and joy, and shockingly tragic and despair.”
HUR Nam-woong, Film 2.0
“Breathless doesn’t put eyes on the realities of the characters but on our presences and wills to change them.”
HUR Ji-woong, Premiere
“Breathless reps a head-turning debut by South Korean thesp Yang Ik-june as producer, director, writer and even star. One of the few films to attract attention in the Pusan fest's Vision strand.“
Written by Derek Elley, Variety
“Breathless will mark Yang as a name to watch.”
Screen International
The Cast
YANG Ik-june as Sang-hoon
After discharge from his military service, YANG studied theater and after graduation, he trained at Actor’s 21 Academy (an institute founded by theater performers) for 6 months before delving into film production. In 6 short years he has starred in 30 short films and over 10 feature films. He won Best Actor Award at Mise-en-Scene Short Film Festival for 2005 short film 'Ooh, You Make Me Sick’.
KIM Kkobbi as Yeon-hee
Having performed on the stage since elementary school, KIM has joined France's Image Aigue theater production in 1997 and attended theater festivals around the world. She has starred in PARK Chan-ok's 2002 film <Jealousy is My Middle Name> as MOON Sung-keun's daughter and captured her allure on screen. In 2006, she beat the 100:1 odds to land the starring role in JEON Kye-soo's debut film <Midnight Ballad for Ghost Theater>. She has also starred in many short films.
Director, YANG Ik-june
Unlike other directors, YANG did not study at a film school nor was active as assistant director for a number of years. Rather, he first got started in the field as an accomplished actor and learn the tools of the trade and gained experience on location. In 2005 his first short film 'Always Behind You’ earned him the audience award at Seoul Independent Short Film Festival as well as numerous domestic film festivals, and earned him wide attention as a director. Thereafter he completed two more short films and having endured hardship trying to produce his debut independent feature, <Breathless> was selected for Pusan International Film Festival's Asia Cinema Fund, thus giving him indispensable post-production support. This film had world premier at 2008 Pusan International Film Festival.
The 2009 Festival has now ended and we are concentrating on bringing an even more exciting line-up to London for 2010!
Thank you to everybody who came and showed their support, we look forward to seeing you again next year.
More news will appear here soon, please check back!
