A Man of Reason

For the 1984 book by Genevieve Lloyd, see The Man of Reason.

A Man of Reason
Theatrical release poster
Hangul	보호자
Hanja	保護者
Literal meaning	Guardian
Revised Romanization	Bohoja
Directed by	Jung Woo-sung
Screenplay by	Jung Hae-sin Jung Woo-sung
Produced by	Song Dae-chan
Starring	Jung Woo-sung Kim Nam-gil Park Sung-woong Kim Jun-han Park Yoo-na
Cinematography	Go Rak-sun
Edited by	Kim Man-geun
Production company	Studio Take
Distributed by	Ace Maker Movie Works[1]
Release date	September 13, 2022 (2022-09-13) (Toronto)
Running time	103 minutes[2]
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean
Box office	US$941,592[3]

A Man of Reason (Korean: 보호자; Hanja: 保護者; RR: Bohoja; lit. Guardian) is a 2022 South Korean action thriller film directed by Jung Woo-sung, in his feature directorial debut. The film stars Jung, Kim Nam-gil, Park Sung-woong, Kim Jun-han and Park Yoo-na. It had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2022.[4] The film was released theatrically in South Korea on August 15, 2023.[5][6]

Synopsis

Soo Hyuk who spent 10 years in jail covering for his boss, is finally released. After learning that, during his time on the inside, he has become the father of a baby girl, Soo Hyuk wants to live a normal life with his former girlfriend, Min-seo, and their daughter, In-bi and cut his ties with the criminal world, but the boss doesn't want to release Su-hyuk. The boss hires an assassin to silence him and the hitman holds Soo Hyuk's daughter hostage.

Cast

• Jung Woo-sung as Soo-hyuk[7]
• Kim Nam-gil as Woo-jin[8]
• Park Sung-woong as Eung-guk[8]
• Kim Jun-han as Seong-joon[9]
• Park Yoo-na as Jin-ah[6]
• Lee Elijah as Min-seo[10]
• Kim Joo-hun as Jun-ho[11]

Production

Principal photography began on February 10, 2020.[12]

Release

The film was invited to the Special Presentations section at 2022 Toronto International Film Festival where it had its world premiere on September 13, 2022.[13][4] It was screened at Orivita section at the 55th Sitges Film Festival in October 2022.[14] It was also invited at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in 'Korean Cinema Today - Panorama' section and will be screened on October 5, 2023.[15]

The film was released theatrically in South Korea on August 15, 2023.[5][6]

Reception

As of October 9, 2023, the film has grossed US$941,592 at the local box office and accumulated 128,485 admissions.[3]

Awards and nominations

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref.
Hawaiʻi International Film Festival	2022	Halekulani Career Achievement Award	Jung Woo-sung	Won	[16]

References

1. Yeon Hwi-seon (December 16, 2019). "정우성 연출 '보호자', 김남길X박성웅→박유나 "검토 중"...드림팀 꾸릴까 [종합]" [Directed by Jung Woo-sung 'Guardian', Kim Nam-gil X Park Seong-woong → Park Yu-na "under review"... Shall we form a dream team [General]]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved July 29, 2022 – via Naver.
2. "A Man of Reason 보호자". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
3. "A Man of Reason (2023)". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
4. Kim Boram (July 29, 2022). "Two Korean films invited to Toronto film fest". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved July 29, 2022 – via Naver.
5. Lim Soo-yeon (January 12, 2023). "[2023 기대작⑧] 정우성 감독 '보호자', "감독 정우성의 관점이 담긴 평범함의 딜레마"" [[2023 Anticipated Work⑧] Director Jung Woo-sung's 'Guardian', "The Dilemma of Ordinaryness with Director Jung Woo-sung's Perspective"]. Cine21 (in Korean). Retrieved January 12, 2023.
6. "정우성, 첫 장편 연출…'보호자' 8월 15일 개봉 확정". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved July 6, 2023.
7. Jo Ji-young (July 29, 2022). "[공식] "전세계 주목하는 'K-깐부'"…정우성X이정재, 연출 데뷔 '보호자'→'헌트' 들고 토론토영화제 간다" [[Official] "The world's attention 'K-Kanbu'"... Jung Woo-sung X Lee Jung-jae, director debut 'Guardian' → 'Hunt' to Toronto Film Festival] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved July 29, 2022 – via Naver.
8. Jeong Hyung-hwa (December 16, 2020). "[단독]정우성 첫 연출·주연 영화 '보호자' 김남길·박성웅 호흡" [[Exclusive] Kim Nam-gil and Park Seong-woong in the movie 'Guardian' directed by Jung Woo-sung for the first time]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved July 29, 2022 – via Naver.
9. Hwang Hye-jin (February 5, 2020). "김준한 측 "정우성 연출작 '보호자' 출연 확정" 김남길 박성웅과 호흡할까" [Kim Jun-han's side "Confirmed to appear in Jung Woo-sung's 'Guardian'" Will work with Kim Nam-gil and Park Seong-woong?]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved July 29, 2022 – via Naver.
10. Yoo Soo-kyung (January 30, 2020). "[단독] 이엘리야, 정우성 연출작 '보호자' 출연 확정" [[Exclusive] Elijah Lee confirmed to appear in 'Guardian' directed by Jung Woo-sung]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved July 29, 2022 – via Naver.
11. Kang Seo-jeong (August 23, 2023). "김주헌, 영화 '보호자' 깜짝 등장..정우성 옛 동료로 특별출연" [Kim Joo-heon, a surprise appearance in the movie 'Guardian'.. Jung Woo-sung made a special appearance as an old colleague] (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved August 23, 2023 – via Naver.
12. Heo Min-nyeong (February 6, 2020). "영화 감독 데뷔 정우성 "2월10일 크랭크인 설렌다"" [Jung Woo-sung, who debuted as a film director, "I'm excited to crank-in on February 10"]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved July 29, 2022 – via Naver.
13. Park Jae-hwan (July 29, 2022). "정우성 감독 작품 '보호자' 토론토국제영화제 공식초청" [Official invitation to Toronto International Film Festival for 'The Guardian' directed by Jung Woo-sung]. KBS Entertainment (in Korean). Retrieved July 29, 2022 – via Naver.
14. Jung Tae-yoon (August 29, 2022). "'보호자', 시체스 영화제 초청…"정우성, 감독 겸 배우로 참석"" ['Guardian' invited to the Sitges Film Festival... "Jung Woo-sung attends as a director and actor"]. Dispatch (in Korean). Retrieved January 13, 2023 – via Naver.
15. "The 28th Busan International Film Festival: Selection List". Busan International Film Festival. September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
16. Kim Jeong-jin (November 16, 2022). "정우성 하와이국제영화제 공로상 수상" [Jung Woo-sung Hawaii International Film Festival Achievement Award]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved November 16, 2022 – via Naver.

External links

• A Man of Reason at IMDb
• A Man of Reason at HanCinema
• A Man of Reason at the Korean Movie Database (in Korean)