''The Restless'' is a

2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...

period Period may refer to: Common uses * Period (punctuation) * Era, a length or span of time *Menstruation, commonly referred to as a "period" Arts, entertainment, and media * Period (music), a concept in musical composition * Periodic sentence (o ...

fantasy film Fantasy films are films that belong to the fantasy genre with fantastic themes, usually Magic (paranormal), magic, supernatural events, mythology, folklore, or exotic fantasy worlds. The Film genre, genre is considered a form of speculative fic ...

directed by Jo Dong-oh, starring Jung Woo-sung and

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 television series such as ''Stairway to Heaven'' (2003–2004), '' Love Story in Harvard ...

. 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

* Jung Woo-sung as Yi-gwak *

as So-hwa/Yon-hwa * Huh Joon-ho as Ban-chu * Park Sang-wook as Yeo-wi *

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 * Kim Kwang-il * Yoo Ha-joon * Park Jeong-hak *

Jo Jae-yoon Jo Jae-yoon (; born October 29, 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'' (20 ...

Awards and nominations

;

2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...

Asian Film Awards The Asian Film Awards are presented annually by the Asian Film Awards Academy to recognise the excellence of the film professionals in the film industries of Asian cinema. History On January 29, 2007, Wilfred Wong, the Chairman of Hong Kon ...

* Nomination - Best Visual Effects - DTI, ETRI ;

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 ...

* Technical Award - DTI, ETRI (CG) * Nomination - Best New Actress -

* Nomination - Best Art Direction - Kim Ki-chul ;

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 - 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 Emi Wada (和田惠美, ''Wada Emi'', 18 March 1937 – 13 November 2021) was a Japanese costume designer who worked extensively in stage, screen, and ballet productions. She was born in Kyoto, and attended Kyoto City University of Arts before ...

* Nomination - Best Sound - Kim Kyung-tae, Choi Tae-young ;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 Awa ...

* 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 ENM Films & Television, formerly CJ Entertainment, () is a South Korean entertainment, film production, and distribution company under CJ ENM Entertainment Division. The company operates as a film production company, film publishing house, in ...

. # "If Memory Ran Out" (, gi uk ee ma reu myun) -

MayBee Kim Eun-ji (; born 10 September 1979), better known as MayBee (), is a South Korean singer, lyricist, actress and radio presenter. She hosted KBS Cool FM KBS Cool FM (), also known as KBS 2FM ) is a 24-hour Hot AC music and entertainment r ...

# "Memories of Midair" (, son tob dal) -

Wheesung Choi Whee-sung (; February 5, 1982 – March 10, 2025), known professionally as Wheesung or by the stage name Realslow, was a South Korean R&B singer-songwriter, record producer and musical theatre actor. Career 1982-: Early life and educati ...

# "If Memory Ran Out" (/ (Japanese Ver) ) # "Memories of Midair" (/ ( Japanese Ver.)) # "If Memory Ran Out" ( ( Chinese Ver.)) # "Memories of Midair" / ( Chinese Ver.)) # "If Memory Ran Out" ( ( Instrumental)) # "Memories of Midair" ( (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" () # "Unforgettable Her Face, Overhanging Dangers" () # "The Tragedy" () # "The Dark Place" () # "Listen To The Wisdom" () # "Perspective Melody" () # "The Bond II" () # "To The End" () # "49 Days Before Heaven" () # "Fantasy Of The Fate" () # "Clinging Feud" () # "Petal Colours From My Heart" () # "Masculine Muse" () # "Listen To The Love" () # "Beautiful Moment" () # "Spiritual World" () # "Petals Battle" () # "Impossible Love" () # "Love Supreme" () # "Catastrophe" () # "Let Me Save Her" () # "The Final Reckoning" () # "The Tragedy" () # "And The Finest Power" (그리고, 진실한 힘) # "The Quiet Of Love" ()

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