''Libera Me'' () is a 2000 South Korean

action Action may refer to: * Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person * Action principles the heart of fundamental physics * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video gam ...

disaster film A disaster film or disaster movie is a film genre that has an impending or ongoing disaster as its subject and primary plot device. Such disasters may include natural disasters, accidents, offensive (military), military/terrorism, terrorist att ...

directed by

Yang Yun-ho Yang Yun-ho (; born November 11, 1966) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. His feature film debut ''Yuri'' (1996) screened at the Critics' Week of the Cannes Film Festival. Among the films Yang has directed since are ''Libera Me'' ( ...

, starring

Choi Min-soo Choi Min-soo (; born March 27, 1962) is a South Korean actor. One of the leading actors in Korean film and television in the 1990s, he has received numerous accolades throughout the span of his career, including five Baeksang Art Awards, six Bl ...

and

Cha Seung-won Cha Seung-won (; born June 7, 1970) is a South Korean actor, who began his career as an in-demand model (person), fashion model in the 1990s. Cha achieved stardom through the hit comedy films ''Kick the Moon'' (2001), ''Jail Breakers'' (2002), ' ...

. It follows a mentally-unbalanced

arsonist Arson is the act of willfully and deliberately setting fire to or charring property. Although the act of arson typically involves buildings, the term can also refer to the intentional burning of other things, such as motor vehicles, waterc ...

and the firefighters who struggle to stop him. The film was theatrically released on November 11, 2000.

Plot

Yeo Hee-soo, who was incarcerated as a

juvenile offender Juvenile delinquency, also known as juvenile offending, is the act of participating in unlawful behavior younger than the statutory age of majority. These acts would be considered crimes if the individuals committing them were older. The term ...

, is released on parole after serving a long 12-year sentence. The moment he steps out, the prison's boiler room explodes as if following a predetermined script, engulfing the gray building in flames. Five months later, an unexplained fire breaks out at a pharmacy in the middle of

Busan Busan (), officially Busan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's second list of cities in South Korea by population, most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.3 million as of 2024. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economi ...

, claiming the life of firefighter Lee In-soo, the younger brother of the

fire chief A fire chief or fire commissioner is a top executive rank or commanding officer in a fire department. Nomenclature Various official English-language titles for a fire chief include ''fire chief'', ''chief fire officer'' and ''fire commissioner ...

. The entire fire department is plunged into grief over the loss of their colleague, and In-soo's partner, Jo Sang-woo, is deeply shaken. In-soo had deliberately turned off his flashlight in his final moments to prevent Sang-woo from being drawn into danger, sacrificing himself. A few days later, another fire erupts in an apartment complex. The old building is on the verge of collapse. Sang-woo throws himself into the rescue efforts with relentless determination, while his new partner, Kim Hyun-tae, senses an unsettling unease in him. The entire city is gripped by fear as the fires continue. While the police attempt to downplay the causes of the incidents, investigator Jeon Min-seong becomes convinced that all of these fires are acts of

arson Arson is the act of willfully and deliberately setting fire to or charring property. Although the act of arson typically involves buildings, the term can also refer to the intentional burning of other things, such as motor vehicles, watercr ...

Cast

as Jo Sang-woo *

as Yeo Hee-soo *

Yoo Ji-tae Yoo Ji-tae (; born April 13, 1976) is a South Korean actor. After a stint as a fashion model, Yoo launched his acting career in 1998 then rose to fame through the films '' Attack the Gas Station'' (1999) and '' Ditto'' (2000). In the succeeding ...

as Kim Hyun-tae *

Park Sang-myun Park Sang-myun (; born January 27, 1968) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his comic roles, notably in '' My Wife Is a Gangster'' (2001). Career Park Sang-myun graduated in 1987 with a Theater degree from Seoul Institute of the Art ...

as Park Han-mo * Jung Joon as Lee Jun-seong * Kim Ae-ran as Seon-ah * Kim Gyu-ri as Hyun Min-seong *

Kim Soo-ro Kim Soo-ro (; born Kim Sang-joong on May 7, 1970) is a South Korean actor. Career Early career Kim Soo-ro studied Theater at the Seoul Institute of the Arts and Dongguk University, then joined the Mokwha Repertory Company. In 1993, he mad ...

* Lee Ho-jae as Kim In-ho *Park Jae-hoon *

Huh 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. Huh began his career in theater became active in film and televisio ...

as Lee In-soo *

Jung Ae-ri Jung Ae-ri (; born August 11, 1960) is a South Korean actress. Career Jung Ae-ri made her acting debut after she was chosen at the KBS talent audition in 1978. In 1980, she moved to another network, MBC. She rose to stardom in the 1984 drama ...

as Jung Myung-jin *Park Ji-mi *Jeong Won-jung

Production

The film was shot in

, with the support of the local government and fire department. Instead of using miniatures, it was filmed in real buildings throughout Busan using a special synthetic oil that allowed the crew to use actual fire. For a key scene involving a gas station, a life-sized set was constructed and detonated at a cost of .

Awards

2000

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 ...

*Best Visual Effects: Jeong Do-an 2001

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 introduced in 1965 by Chang Key-young, the founder of the newspaper ''Hankook Ilbo'', ...

*Grand Prize *Best Film *Best Actor:

2001

Chunsa Film Art Awards The Chunsa Film Art Awards (also known as the Icheon Chunsa Film Festival) have been presented in South Korea since the founding of the prize by the Korea Film Directors' Society in 1990. The awards take their name from the pen name of the earl ...

*Best Cinematography: Seo Jeong-min *Technical Award: Jeong Do-an 2001

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 Cinematography: Seo Jeong-min *Best Editing: Park Soon-deok *Best Lighting: Shin Joon-ha

References

External links

* * * {{Paeksang Arts Award Best Film South Korean action thriller films 2000 films Films about firefighting 2000 action thriller films Grand Prize Paeksang Arts Award (Film) winners 2000s South Korean films 2000s Korean-language films