''Crying Fist'' () is a 2005 South Korean sports drama film written and directed by

Ryoo Seung-wan Ryoo Seung-wan (; born December 15, 1973) is a South Korean filmmaker. He made his debut in 1996 with the short film ''Dangerous Head'', then worked as a director under director Park Chan-wook, took film lessons, and made his feature film debut ...

. It stars

Choi Min-sik Choi Min-sik (; born May 30, 1962) is a South Korean actor. Known for his intense and transformative performances, he first gained recognition with the television series ''The Moon of Seoul'' (1994). His film breakthrough came with '' Shiri'' (1 ...

and Ryoo Seung-bum as two desperate men, a washed-up former boxing champion and a troubled youth respectively, who face off in a high-stakes tournament that could change their lives. The film screened in the

Directors' Fortnight The Directors' Fortnight (, formerly ) is an independent section held in parallel to the Cannes Film Festival. It was started in 1969 by the French Directors Guild after the events of May 1968 resulted in cancellation of the Cannes festival as a ...

section of the

2005 Cannes Film Festival The 58th Cannes Film Festival took place from 11 May and ran until 22 May 2005. Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica served as jury president for the main competition. Cécile de France hosted the opening and closing ceremonies. Belgian filmmakers D ...

Plot

Kang Tae-sik, a former boxing star, promotes himself as a "human punching bag" on the streets, letting strangers beat him for money. After losing his factory, his savings, and his family, Tae-sik lives in a rooftop room and scrapes by on street fights. With his wife demanding a divorce and his son emotionally distant, Tae-sik spirals into despair until a chance encounter with a poster advertising the Rookie of the Year boxing tournament inspires him to try for one last shot at redemption. Tae-sik's situation worsens when he is tricked by an old acquaintance, Won-tae, who promises to help but instead steals his money and disappears. Humiliated and physically broken, Tae-sik is diagnosed with

early onset dementia Early onset dementia or young onset dementia refers to dementia with symptom onset prior to age 65 years. Early onset dementia is a general term that describes a group of conditions featuring progressive cognitive decline, particularly in the dom ...

caused by repeated head trauma. With nothing left to lose, he begs Won-tae to help him enter the boxing tournament. Surprisingly, Won-tae agrees, forging a registration form through Tae-sik's former boxing contacts and even offering to act as his coach. Motivated by a desperate need to reconnect with his son, Tae-sik begins training. Meanwhile, Yoo Sang-hwan is a 19-year-old delinquent who lives by fighting and petty theft. After committing a robbery that leads to the accidental death of an elderly man, he is sentenced to five years in

juvenile detention Juvenile may refer to: In general *Juvenile status, or minor (law), prior to adulthood * Juvenile (organism) Music * Juvenile (rapper) (born 1975), stage name of American rapper Terius Gray *''Juveniles'', a 2020 studio album by the band Kingsw ...

. There, a prison official notices his raw fighting talent and encourages him to join the boxing team. Though he initially struggles and resists authority, Sang-hwan finds purpose in boxing and begins to channel his anger and grief, especially after his father dies in a construction accident and his grandmother collapses from the shock. Determined to win and honor his family, Sang-hwan throws himself into training and eventually defeats his prison rival Kwon-rok. Granted temporary leave, he enters the Rookie of the Year tournament alongside Tae-sik. As both fighters climb the ranks, Tae-sik relying on experience and Sang-hwan winning by knockout after knockout, they move closer to a fateful final match. Along the way, Tae-sik reconnects with his son, while Sang-hwan visits the graves of his father and grandmother, vowing to win for them. Tae-sik and Sang-hwan battle fiercely for six rounds, their contrasting styles and motivations pushing them to the limit. Sang-hwan narrowly wins by decision. Afterward, he embraces his grandmother, overwhelmed by emotion, while Tae-sik holds his son close in the ring.

Cast

as Kang Tae-sik * Ryoo Seung-bum as Yoo Sang-hwan *

Im Won-hee Im Won-hee (; born October 11, 1970) is a South Korean actor. Im was an alumnus of the legendary 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 Happenings' ...

as Won-tae *

Byun Hee-bong Byun Hee-bong (; born Byun In-chul; 8 June 1942 – 18 September 2023) was a South Korean film, television and voice actor. In 1963, he embarked on his voice acting career by making his debut in the first season of DBS Donga Broadcasting. He fu ...

as Sang-hwan's coach * Na Moon-hee as Sang-hwan's grandmother *

Gi Ju-bong Gi Ju-bong (born September 3, 1955) is a South Korean actor. Career Gi began acting in 1977 and is notable for ''Offending the Audience ''Offending the Audience'' is a play by Austrian writer Peter Handke. It is sometimes called an ''anti-p ...

as Sang-hwan's father *

Chun Ho-jin Chun Ho-jin (; born September 9, 1960) is a South Korean actor. Early life Chun studied chemistry at Inha University but dropped out to pursue acting. His father was among the first generation of professional wrestlers in the country. Career ...

as Sang-chul * Ahn Gil-kang as head warden * Kim Su-hyeon as Kwon-rok *

Oh Dal-su Oh Dal-su (; born 15 June 1968) is a South Korean character actor who has appeared on television, film, and stage. His acting career spans over 35 years. Oh is best known for his supporting roles in director Park Chan-wook's films, having appear ...

as Yong-dae * Seo Hye-rin as Sun-ju * Lee Joon-gu * Kim Young-in * Park Joo-ah *

Kim Byeong-ok Kim Byeong-ok (born October 11, 1960) is a South Korean actor. A veteran supporting actor, he is best known for his role as Mr. Han in '' Oldboy''. Career In 2015, he was featured in a controversial Maxim Maxim or Maksim may refer to: En ...

as detective Oh

Awards and nominations

;

2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...

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 ...

"Crying Fist"
''Cinemasie''. Retrieved 2012-11-19. * Best Supporting Actress - Na Moon-hee * Best Editing - Nam Na-yeong * Special Jury Prize * Nomination - Best Film * Nomination - Best Director -

* Nomination - Best Actor - Ryoo Seung-bum * Nomination - Best Screenplay -

and Jeon Cheol-hong * Nomination - Best Cinematography - Jo Yong-gyu * Nomination - Best Lighting - Jeong Seong-cheol * Nomination - Best Music - Bang Jun-seok * Nomination - Best Visual Effects - Lee Jeon-hyeong (EON), Shin Joo-hee, Jang Jong-gyu, Jo Sung-jae, Jeong Do-an (Demolition) * Nomination - Best Sound - Jeong Gun, Kim Suk-won (Blue Cap) * Nomination - Best Planning - Im Seung-yong, Park Jae-hyeong ;

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 Actor - Ryoo Seung-bum ;2005 Korean Film Awards * Nomination - Best Film * Nomination - Best Director -

* Nomination - Best Actor - Ryoo Seung-bum * Nomination - Best Supporting Actress - Na Moon-hee * Nomination - Best Screenplay -

and Jeon Cheol-hong * Nomination - Best Editing - Nam Na-yeong ;2005

Busan Film Critics Awards Established in 2000, the Busan Film Critics Awards is run by the Busan Film Critics Association (BCFA), a small but independent-minded group of critics based in Busan, South Korea. Each year they announce their choices shortly before the opening of ...

* Best Director -

References

External links

* * * *
''Crying Fist''
at Evokative Films {{Ryoo Seung-wan 2005 films 2000s sports drama films South Korean sports drama films South Korean anthology films 2000s Korean-language films South Korean boxing films Films shot in Seoul Films directed by Ryoo Seung-wan 2005 drama films 2000s South Korean films