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Swing Kids (2018 film)

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Swing Kids
Theatrical release poster
Hangul
스윙키즈
Revised RomanizationSeuwing kijeu
McCune–ReischauerSŭwing k'ijŭ
Directed byKang Hyeong-cheol
Screenplay byKang Hyeong-cheol
Based onRho Ki-soo (musical)
by Jang Woo-sung
Produced byLee An-na
Yoo Sung-kweon
StarringDoh Kyung-soo
Park Hye-su
Jared Grimes
Oh Jung-se
Kim Min-ho
CinematographyKim Ji-yong
Edited byNam Na-yeong
Music byKim Jun-seok
Production
company
Annapurna Films
Distributed byNext Entertainment World
Release date
  • December 19, 2018 (2018-12-19)
Running time
133 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguagesKorean
English
Budget15 billion[1]
(US$13.3 million)
Box officeUS$10.9 million

Swing Kids (Korean스윙키즈) is a 2018 South Korean musical drama film directed by Kang Hyeong-cheol and based on the Korean musical Roh Ki-soo. The film stars Doh Kyung-soo, Park Hye-su, Jared Grimes, Oh Jung-se and Kim Min-ho.[2][1][3][4][5] The film was released on December 19, 2018.[6]

Swing Kids was screened at The 2019 1st PyeongChang International Peace Film Festival on August 18, 2019.[7]

Plot summary

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The story takes place in Geoje prison camp during the Korean War in 1951. Ro Ki-soo (Doh Kyung-soo), a rebellious North Korean soldier, falls in love with tap dancing after meeting Jackson (Jared Grimes), an American officer and former Broadway star who has been tasked with putting together a dance company. Kang Byung-sam (Oh Jung-se) auditions for the company in hopes of finding his wife, alongside Xiao Pang (Kim Min-ho), a Chinese soldier and born dancer who cannot dance for more than a minute due to angina, and Yang Pan-rae (Park Hye-su), who needs money but says there's no money through dancing.[8]

Cast

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Main

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Others

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  • Ross Kettle as Brigadier General Roberts
  • A.J. Simmons as Jamie
  • Song Jae-ryong as Sam Sik
  • Lee Kyu-sung as Man-cheol
  • Lee David as Kwang-gook
  • Joo Hae-eun as Mae-hwa
  • Lee Yool-rim as Hwang Ki-dong
  • Kim Dong-geon as Ro Gi-jin
  • Park Jin-joo as Linda
  • Joo Hae-eun as Mae-hwa (Japanese apricot flower)
  • Park Hyung-soo as Interpreter
  • Lee Dong-yong as Black marketeer
  • Choi Eun-kyung as Nancy
  • Lee Rang-seo as Stacy
  • Lim Seo-yeong as Candy
  • Kim Eun-joo as Wendy
  • Park Ji-eun as Barbara
  • Oh Kyeong-hwa as Julia

Cameo

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Production

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Director Kang Hyeong-cheol is known for his hit films Scandal Makers, Sunny, and Swing Kids marks the director's return after three year from directing his hit film Tazza: The Hidden Card. Filming of Swing Kids started on October 18, 2017[1] and ended on February 20, 2018 in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.[10]

Release

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Swing Kids was released in 23 countries including America, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia. The film was released in Hong Kong and Macao in January 2019.[11]

The VIP premiere of Swing Kids was held On December 6.[12][13]

Promotion

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On November 12, 2018, the director and main cast of Swing Kids held a press conference where they discussed the film and answered reporters' questions.[14][15] On the same day, a showcase for the film was held, where Doh Kyung-soo, Park Hye-su and Oh Jung-se performed a segment of Tap dancing along with other tap dancing professionals, and later talked about the film along with director Kang Hyeong-cheol.[16] On November 26, the director and the cast attended a movie talk on V Live.[17]

On December 4, the cast and director attended a media distribution preview event for the film.[18] On December 17, The cast and directory attended an event called "Chewing Chat" at Lotte Cinema World Tower, and also held a stage greeting in the same place. On December 18, Doh Kyung-soo, Park Hye-su and Oh Jung-se went on the radio show Cultwo Show were the talked about the movie,[19] and later held another stage greeting at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall.

Reception

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Critical response

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On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 63% based on eight reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10.[20]

The film received mixed reviews from critics. Praise was given to the film's production design and music,[21] with criticisms directing towards the long running time and the structure of the film.[22] Guy Lodge from Variety, wrote about the film: "Too often, it simply feels like two films wrestling in one roomy framework, sometimes overlapping to awkward effect".[23]

Park Boram from Yonhap News Agency , wrote: "The film's booming tapping sounds set against the film's throwback soundtrack -- which includes David Bowie's "Modern Love," Benny Goodman's "Sing Sing Sing," The Beatles' "Free as a Bird," as well as Korean veteran singer Jung Su-ra's popular 1988 song "Joy"—drive colorful vibrancy into the film, making the audience twitch with amusement throughout the film's 133-minute running time.", Park also added that the "musicality and a Christmas scene close to the end make the production a perfect film choice for the holiday season."[21]

The film was ranked No.3 by Pierce Conran from Modern Korean Cinema in Top 15 Korean Films of 2018. Conran wrote: "Swing Kids was without a doubt the best theatrical experience I had all year. Infectiously rhythmic, this Korean War POW camp tap dance extravaganza will have you yearning for old-school Hollywood showmanship and begging for more when the curtain falls."[24]

Box office

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Prior to its release, Swing Kids ranked first in the pre-sales, with 70,256 viewers and 21.6% reservation rate.[25] The film ranked second place on Korean theaters among Korean movies, since its release.[26] On December 25, Swing Kids began its seat sales and ranked first in the box office, surpassing Aquaman and The Drug King by 32% and 56% respectively.[27] On December 27, Swing Kids attracted more than 1 million viewers.[26]

In the United States it made $222,001, South Korea $10,672,098, Australia $17,141, and in New Zealand $2,157.[28]

Soundtrack

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[29]

Side A
No.TitleArtistLength
1."Caldonia"Louis Jordan2:40
2."If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake"Eileen Barton2:37
3."Shout"The Isley Brothers2:15
4."Hava Nagila" (하바나길라)Rita Kim3:26
5."Joy" (환희)Jung Su-ra4:43


Side B
No.TitleArtistLength
1."Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 846" (평균율 1권 1번 다장조)Bach 
2."Modern Love"David Bowie3:56
3."The Christmas Song"European Jazz Trio4:02
4."Sing Sing Sing"Benny Goodman5:23
5."Free as a Bird"The Beatles4:58

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2018 19th Golden Trailer Awards Best Foreign Holiday Trailer Award Swing Kids Won [30]
2019 55th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Director Kang Hyeong-cheol Won [31]
Best New Actor Kim Min-ho Nominated
Technical Award Kim Jun-seok (Music) Nominated
39th Golden Cinema Film Festival Best New Actress Park Hye-su Won [32]
28th Buil Film Awards Best New Actress Park Hye-su Nominated [33]
Popular Star Award Doh Kyung-soo Won
39th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards Best Soundtrack Kim Jun-seok Won [34]
40th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best New Actress Park Hye-su Nominated [35][36]
Best Film
Swing Kids
Nominated
Best Director
Kang Hyeong-cheol
Nominated
Best Cinematography-Lighting
Kim Ji-young, Jo Gyu-young
Won
Best Editing
Nam Na-yeong
Won
Best Art Direction
Park Il-hyun
Nominated
Technical Award
Im Seung-hui, Gwon Yu-jin (Costumes)
Nominated
Best Music
Kim Jun-seok
Nominated
2020 56th Grand Bell Awards Best Music Kim Jun-seok Nominated
Best costume Design Kwon Yujin Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c 강형철 감독 "도경수, 아이돌 인지도 몰랐다..운명 같다"(직격 인터뷰) (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  2. ^ "DOH Kyung-soo Signs Up as Tap Dancer in Korean War-Era Swing Kids". Korean Film Biz Zone. May 26, 2017.
  3. ^ [공식입장] 도경수 측 "'스윙키즈' 출연 확정..9월 크랭크인" (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  4. ^ [단독] '써니' 강형철 감독, 뮤지컬 '스윙키즈'로 3년만 컴백 (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  5. ^ [단독] 도경수, '써니' 감독 신작 주인공…북한군 로기수 역. Nate News (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  6. ^ 도경수 주연 '스윙키즈', 12월 19일 개봉 확정. YTN (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  7. ^ "평창남북평화영화제". pipff.org. Retrieved 2019-08-03.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ [프로젝트⑪] 〈스윙키즈〉 강형철 감독 - 춤으로 이 시대를 관통하니 비극에 유머가. 씨네21 (in Korean). 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  9. ^ "SM 측 "도경수, '스윙키즈' 확정…강형철 감독과 작업 영광" [공식]" (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  10. ^ "'스윙키즈' 도경수X박혜수X자레드 그라임스X오정세X김민호 4개월 간의 촬영 종료 | MBC 연예 스포츠". MBC 연예 (in Korean). 28 February 2018. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  11. ^ "영화수다 - '스윙키즈' 세계 23개국 선 판매". extmovie.maxmovie.com. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
  12. ^ "도경수-박혜수-오정세-강형철 감독, 주역들 (스윙키즈 VIP 시사회)". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-12-08.
  13. ^ "[S영상] 도경수-오정세-박혜수 응원에 나선 엑소-최시원-이연희 등 'SM 사단~' ('스윙키즈' VIP 시사회)". Star Daily News (in Korean). December 7, 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
  14. ^ '스윙키즈' 도경수 "엑소 춤과 다른 탭댄스, 즐기면서 연습해" (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  15. ^ 스윙키즈 “포로수용소의 춤꾼들” (제작보고회) (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  16. ^ 도경수 "'스윙키즈' 너무 신나고 가슴 뛰어"..'써니' 감독 만나 흥행 이을까[종합] (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  17. ^ "[V라이브 종합]'스윙키즈' 도경수X박혜수X오정세의 탭댄스 열정과 사랑" (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  18. ^ 도경수·박혜수·오정세·강형철 감독, 영화 '스윙키즈' 기대해주세요. sports.hankooki.com (in Korean). 4 December 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  19. ^ '컬투쇼' 도경수 "'스윙키즈' 위해 탭댄스만 5개월 연습". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-12-18.
  20. ^ "Swing Kids". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  21. ^ a b 박보람 (2018-12-05). "(Movie Review) 'Swing Kids' enthrallingly taps into Korean War savagery". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  22. ^ "South Korean tap-dance musical 'Swing Kids' soars even as it stumbles - HoustonChronicle.com". www.chron.com. 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  23. ^ Lodge, Guy (2018-12-24). "Film Review: 'Swing Kids'". Variety. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  24. ^ Conran, Pierce. "Top 15 Korean Films of 2018". Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  25. ^ 실시간 영화예매 순위, 2018/12/18 현재 1위 '스윙키즈' (예매율 21.6%). 내외뉴스통신 (in Korean). 2018-12-18. Retrieved 2018-12-18.
  26. ^ a b ‘스윙키즈’ 힘겨운, 그러나 의미 있는 100만 돌파. entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  27. ^ '스윙키즈' 좌석판매율 1위..강형철 흥행뒷심 시작됐다. entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  28. ^ "Swing Kids (2018)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  29. ^ '스윙키즈', 韓영화 최초 비틀즈 원곡 삽입…"이례적으로 사용 승인". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-12-08.
  30. ^ "해외서도 통했다"…'스윙키즈', 베스트 해외 홀리데이 트레일러상 수상 [공식]. entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-12-17.
  31. ^ Cho, Yeon-gyeong (April 5, 2019). 55회 백상예술대상 영화부문 최종 후보 공개. Is Plus (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  32. ^ "Korea Gold Awards honors winners". Korea JoongAng Daily. 31 July 2019.
  33. ^ "2019 부일영화상". Buil Film Awards (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 29, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  34. ^ "'기생충', 제39회 영평상 3관왕…신하균·김향기 남녀주연상". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-10-21.
  35. ^ "[공식] 제40회 청룡영화상, 韓영화 후보 공개..'기생충' 11개 부문 최다 노미". Sports Chosun (in Korean). Naver. October 31, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  36. ^ MacDonald, Joan (November 21, 2019). "2019 Blue Dragon Awards Honor Veteran Actors And Newcomers". Forbes. Archived from the original on November 22, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
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