For Horowitz

For Horowitz
Theatrical poster
Directed byKwon Hyung-jin
Written byKim Min-sook
Produced byCha Seung-jae
Kim Mi-hee
StarringUhm Jung-hwa
Shin Eui-jae
Park Yong-woo
CinematographyHwang Dong-guk
Edited bySteve M. Choe
Kim Chang-ju
Music byLee Byung-woo
Production
company
Distributed byShowbox/Mediaplex
Release date
  • May 25, 2006 (2006-05-25)
Running time
108 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeUS$2,534,758

For Horowitz (Korean호로비츠를 위하여; RRHorobicheu-reul Wihayeo) is a 2006 South Korean drama film directed by Kwon Hyung-jin and starring Uhm Jung-hwa, Shin Eui-jae and Park Yong-woo.[1][2][3][4]

Plot

Kim Ji-soo is a 30-year-old single woman who once dreamed about becoming a world-class pianist, but ends up opening a small neighborhood piano school on the outskirts of Seoul, where she teaches children to play.

She then meets Yoon Gyung-min, a 7-year-old orphaned boy who starts pestering her for no apparent reason. Gyung-min's parents died in a car accident, and he now lives with his uncaring grandmother. He is a troublemaker, emotionally distant from his peers, and possibly autistic.

When Ji-soo discovers that Gyung-min has untapped musical genius, she becomes determined to turn him into a renowned pianist like Vladimir Horowitz. She does this for her own selfish reasons, because if she gains the reputation of being a great piano teacher, that would lead to her school's success.

She uses music to communicate with her gifted student, ruthlessly giving him intensive piano lessons to prepare him for competitions. But their relationship turns maternal when Ji-soo realizes what the boy really needs is love.

Cast

  • Uhm Jung-hwa as Kim Ji-soo
  • Shin Eui-jae as Yoon Gyung-min
  • Park Yong-woo as Shim Kwang-ho
  • Choi Seon-ja as Gyung-min's grandmother
  • Yoon Ye-ri as Jung-eun
  • Jung In-gi as Ji-soo's older brother
  • Yang Kkot-nim as Ji-soo's sister-in-law
  • Park Young-seo as Pizza shop employee
  • Ko Tae-ho as Bo-ram
  • Lee Seung-hyun as Yoo-sik
  • Kang Soo-jin as Ye-ri
  • Choi Yoon-sun as So-young
  • Kim Bo-ra as Min-hee
  • Seo Ji-ah as Mi-ra
  • Lee Oi-seon as Cleaner Lee
  • Kim Jong-min as Taekwondo Kim
  • Jo Seok-hyun as Video Park
  • Julius Jeongwon Kim as Adult Gyung-min (cameo)[5]

Box office

For Horowitz was released in South Korea on May 25, 2006. It drew 544,656 admissions during its theatrical run.[6]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2006 27th Blue Dragon Film Awards[7] Best Actress Uhm Jung-hwa Nominated
Best New Director Kwon Hyung-jin Nominated
Best Music Lee Byung-woo Nominated
Technical Award Ryu Hyeon (Sound) Nominated
5th Korean Film Awards[7] Best Actress Uhm Jung-hwa Nominated
Best Music Lee Byung-woo Won
2007 44th Grand Bell Awards[8] Best Actress Uhm Jung-hwa Nominated
Best New Director Kwon Hyung-jin Won
Best Screenplay Kim Min-sook Nominated
Best Editing Steve M. Choe, Kim Chang-ju Nominated
Best Music Lee Byung-woo Nominated
Best Sound Ryu Hyeon, Choi Tae-young Nominated
10th Shanghai International Film Festival[9] Asia New Talent Award For Horowitz Nominated

References

  1. ^ Kim, Tae-jong (10 May 2006). "Uhm Breaks Stereotype in New Movie". The Korea Times via Hancinema. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  2. ^ "An Emotional Tour de Force for Uhm Jung-hwa". The Chosun Ilbo. 26 May 2006. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  3. ^ Kim, Tae-jong (25 May 2006). "My Piano, Neither Good Nor Bad". The Korea Times via Hancinema. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  4. ^ Sung, So-young (26 September 2006). "Musical drama falls short of potential". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  5. ^ "Like Meeting an Old Friend". The Dong-A Ilbo. 4 July 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Commercial Releases in 2006: Box-Office Admission Results". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  7. ^ a b "For Horowitz - Awards". Cinemasie. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  8. ^ Paquet, Darcy (10 June 2007). "Koreans make Grand gesture". Variety. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  9. ^ D'Sa, Nigel (13 June 2007). "8 Korean Films Screen at China's Top Fest". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2016-06-05.