Smugglers (2023 Film)

''Smugglers'' () is a 2023 South Korean crime film directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, who co-wrote the film with Kim Jeong-yeon. The film stars Kim Hye-soo, Yum Jung-ah, Zo In-sung, Park Jeong-min, Kim Jong-soo, and Go Min-si. It was released theatrically on July 26, 2023.

The film is said to be based on the motif of ''haenyeo'' who participated in smuggling in the 1970s, overlapping with the fact that a female smuggling ring was active in Busan at the time.

Plot

In 1974, in the small coastal village of Guncheon, a group of female divers (''haenyeo''), including Jo Chun-ja and Um Jin-sook, struggle to make a living due to pollution from a nearby chemical plant. With their catches spoiled, Jin-sook's father, Captain Um, is persuaded by a smuggling broker to use their fishing boat, Maengryong-ho, for underwater smuggling. Initially hesitant, the ''haenyeo'' eventually agree to retrieve goods dumped underwater in exchange for money, leading to sudden prosperity in their impoverished village.

As the smuggling escalates, Chun-ja convinces the others to participate in a gold smuggling operation without informing Captain Um. During the mission, a box accidentally breaks open, revealing the gold, just as customs officers arrive. In a frantic escape, the ship's anchor gets stuck, and Jin-sook's brother, Jin-goo, is knocked unconscious. Captain Um dies trying to save him, leaving Jin-sook devastated. Chun-ja escapes unnoticed, while the rest of the ''haenyeo'' are arrested and jailed, Jin-sook for the longest.

Years later, Chun-ja is running her own smuggling business in Seoul, but when she encroaches on a major gangster's turf, she is forced to offer Guncheon as an alternative smuggling route. Reconnecting with her old community, Chun-ja finds the ''haenyeo'' ruined by the past, with Jin-sook now working under a corrupt former crewman, Jang Do-ri. Tensions rise as Chun-ja tries to win control over the smuggling network while growing closer to the gangster Kwon, and Jin-sook begins to suspect Chun-ja of betrayal.

Chun-ja and Jin-sook briefly unite when they uncover that Jang Do-ri and customs officer Jang-chun were behind the tragic betrayal years earlier. They devise a plan to pit the two against each other. However, Do-ri, now ambitious and ruthless, brings in gangsters to seize full control, resulting in a violent confrontation where Chun-ja is kidnapped and forced into another smuggling dive under duress. With clever manipulation and coordination, the ''haenyeo'' stage a counterattack and begin to turn the tide.

Do-ri is tricked and overpowered by the ''haenyeo''. Though Jin-sook is tempted to kill him, Chun-ja stops her from crossing the line. As the women claim the sea and their freedom, Do-ri meets his gruesome end. It is revealed Kwon survived and is surprised by Chun-ja, who slyly returns one of the stolen diamonds, tucked atop a bowl of rice.

Cast

* Kim Hye-soo as Jo Chun-ja
* Yum Jung-ah as Um Jin-sook
* Zo In-sung as Kwon Pil-sam
* Park Jeong-min as Jang Do-ri
* Kim Jong-soo as Lee Jang-chun
* Go Min-si as Go Ok-bun
* Kim Jae-hwa as Pig mom
* Park Jun-myeon as Yang Geum-ne
* Park Kyung-hye as Dok-soon
* Joo Bo-bi as Eok-cheok
* Baek Joo-hee as Somers
* Jin Kyung as Laura
* Yoon Kyung-ho as Chief Detective

Production

Principal photography began on June 5, 2021 and ended on October 13.

Release

The film was officially invited to the Special Presentations section at 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, which held from September 7 to 17 following the Locarno International Film Festival.

Reception

Box office

The film was released on July 26, 2023 in South Korea. The opening recorded 318,084 admissions and topped the South Korean box office for two weeks.
The film surpassed 1 million admissions on fourth day of its released and surpassed 4 million on their 17th days of released. ''Smugglers'' became the second movie to reach break-even point in 2023 after '' The Roundup: No Way Out''.

Accolades

References

External links

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Smugglers
at IMDb''

{{Next Entertainment World

2023 crime action films
2023 films
2020s South Korean films
2020s Korean-language films
Films directed by Ryoo Seung-wan
South Korean crime action films
South Korean action comedy films
South Korean crime comedy films
Films about smuggling
Films featuring underwater diving
Films set in the 1970s
Underwater action films
Next Entertainment World films
IMAX films
4DX films
ScreenX films