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Windstruck
View on Wikipedia| Windstruck | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Hangul | 내 여자친구를 소개합니다 |
| Hanja | 내 女子親舊를 疏開합니다 |
| RR | Nae yeojachingureul sogaehamnida |
| MR | Nae yŏjach'in'gurŭl sogaehamnida |
| Directed by | Kwak Jae-yong |
| Written by | Kwak Jae-yong |
| Produced by | Jeong Hun-tak |
| Starring | Jun Ji-hyun Jang Hyuk |
| Cinematography | Jeong Han-cheol |
| Edited by | Kim Sang-bum |
| Music by | Choi Seung-hyun |
| Distributed by | CJ Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 123 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | US$25.8 million |
Windstruck (Korean: 내 여자친구를 소개합니다; lit. Let me introduce (you to) my girlfriend) is a 2004 South Korean romantic drama film written and directed by Kwak Jae-yong, starring Jun Ji-hyun and Jang Hyuk.[1] The film held its premiere in Hong Kong, attended by Jang and Jun, on 28 May 2004, being the first Korean film to do so.[2] It was released on June 3, 2004, by CJ Entertainment and ran at 123 minutes.
Plot
[edit]The film stars Jun Ji-hyun as Officer Yeo Kyung-jin, an ambitious young female police officer serving on the Seoul police department. One day while chasing a purse snatcher, she accidentally captures Go Myung-woo (played by Jang Hyuk), a physics teacher at an all-girls school, who was actually trying to catch the thief. Later, Myung-woo discovers the stolen purse, but just as he picks it up, Kyung-jin spots him and tries to arrest him again. Kyung-jin is then given the job of escorting Myung-woo through a dangerous district, only to be distracted when she tries to break up a meeting between Russian Mafia and Korean gangsters. With Myung-woo handcuffed to her, Kyung-jin almost single-handedly brings down the two rival gangs (although she is helped when she accidentally causes the groups to start shooting at each other).
The first half of the film, told from Myung-woo's point of view, details the couple's growing attraction and love for each other, which climaxes with a trip to the countryside where Myung-woo tells Kyung-jin that if he were ever to die, he wanted to come back to earth as the wind. Soon after, he is almost killed in a freak automobile accident, but Kyung-jin saves his life.
The film takes a turn into the fantasy genre in its second half after Myung-woo is accidentally shot and killed by another officer (although the situation is such that Kyung-jin thinks that it was her shot that killed him) as Kyung-jin chases after a criminal. Kyung-jin falls into a suicidal depression over his death and attempts to kill herself several times, almost succeeding when she throws herself off a building, only to be saved when a giant balloon floats under her. Soon after, she experiences visitations from Myung-woo, who appears as the wind, sending her messages and, at one point, he even appears in her dreams in order to give her the will to live after she is nearly shot to death by a criminal.
Ultimately the film follows a similar path set out by the American film Ghost with Myung-woo and Kyung-jin communicating and sharing one final gesture of love before he moves on to the afterlife. Myung-woo said that he will whisper, when she hears him whisper in the wind, she will meet someone with a soul like him. Myung-woo told Kyung-jin that he will always be beside her inside a book with a photo left by Myung-woo in the restaurant before he rushed to meet Kyung-jin who was chasing the insane criminal.
In the first half of the film, Myung-woo told that his only memory of high school was his high school trip. The book and the photo is found and returned to Kyung-jin in the police station. The photo showed that on Myung-woo's trip, Kyung-jin was nearby. This proved Myung-woo's "I'm always beside you" was true to Kyung-jin. Kyung-jin rushed out to locate the finder of the book, ultimately ending up in the train station, where she is saved by Cha Tae-hyun's character (credited as The Guy). Myung-woo whispered that The Guy is the one with the soul like him. Kyung-jin whispers that "he is always beside her."
Cast
[edit]- Jun Ji-hyun as Officer Yeo Kyung-jin
- Jang Hyuk as Go Myung-woo
- Kim Jung-tae as Kim Young-ho
- Kim Soo-ro as hostage taker
- Lee Ki-woo as Prince
- Im Ye-jin as female cop of police substation
- Kim Chang-wan as chief of police substation
- Jung Ho-bin as criminal Shin Chang-soo
- Jung Dae-hoon as runaway boy 1
- Jeon Jae-hyung as runaway boy 2
- Oh Jung-se as police corporal Jo / prince 1
- Jeon Sung-ae as police deputy
- Kim So-yeon as female student
- Woo Ki-hong as gangster
- Son Young-soon as old woman
- Kim Kwang-kyu as undercover cop / prince 3
- Lee Sang-hoon as Detective Min
- Seo Dong-won as Moon-ho
- Kim Jin-soo as high school student
- Min Young as hostage
- Lee Jung-hoon as doctor
- Kim Jong-min
- Cha Tae-hyun as man on train platform (cameo)
Connections to My Sassy Girl
[edit]Windstruck shares the same leading actress and director as an earlier popular South Korean film, My Sassy Girl. As a result, Windstruck contains several subtle references to the previous film. It is also worth noting that throughout both movies Jun Ji-hyun's characters have an overall cheerful and sassy personality but soon revealing sadness and emotion.
Jun Ji-hyun also plays the piano in both movies, where a photo of Jun Ji-hyun from My Sassy Girl is visible on Kyung-jin's piano.
When Kyung-jin is chasing Sin Chang-su she tells a random citizen to act as a steppingstone to climb over the wall, just like when she accidentally steps on a runaway soldier (played by the same actor) when she and Tae-hyun visited the amusement park during her birthday.
In the start of My Sassy Girl she is distraught over a boyfriend that died (though the reason was never disclosed) before meeting Cha Tae-hyun, and in Windstruck her boyfriend (Myung-woo) died due to hunting Sin Chang-su. The explains why the final scene of Windstruck in which Kyung-jin is saved by new soul mate (played by Cha Tae-hyun, the male lead from My Sassy Girl) on a train platform, is very similar to the beginning of My Sassy Girl, essentially setting up Windstruck as a spiritual prequel to My Sassy Girl.
Soundtrack listing
[edit]There are several editions of the OST CD made for release in Korea, Japan, and other countries. The original 2005 Korea & Japan versions issued by Trax contains 23 tracks, 17 on disc 1 and the 5 by YouMe on disc 2. Other versions may not have all tracks. The theme song "Tears" composed by Yoshiki and performed by X Japan, was the first Japanese song to be featured in a Korean film after World War II.[3]
- 재회의 테마 [Reunion Theme]
- "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (Orchestra Ver.)
- II명우의 수난 [The Passion of Myung-woo]
- 옷 바꿔입기 [Changing Clothes](Stay Pizzicato Ver.)
- 일하자 [Let's Begin!](Le Piccadilly) - Erik Satie
- 까페에서 [At the Cafe]
- "Stay" - Maurice Williams & Zodiacs
- 오프로드 [The Road Trip](Stay String Version)
- 다섯 번째 청혼자 [The Fifth Suitor]
- 새끼손가락의 전설 [Legend of Joining Pinkies]
- 강물 속으로 [Into The River]
- 거기 어디야? [Where are you?]
- "BK Love" - MC Sniper
- "Tears" - X Japan
- 애드벌룬 - 그의 손 [An Ad-balloon - His Hand]
- 종이비행기 [Paperplane]
- 재회의테마 [Reunion Theme](Fast Ver.)
On CD2:
- 바람이라도 좋아 - 유미 (YouMe)
- "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" (ノッキン・オン・ヘブンズ・ドア)/ ユミ (YouMe)
- 시계를 돌리면 - 유미 (YouMe)
- "Wind Of Soul [I Will Stay For You]" - 유미 (YouMe)
- "Going Back To The..." [Piano ver.] - 유미 (YouMe)
Reception
[edit]The film was ranked 8th best-selling Korean film of 2004, selling 2,199,359 tickets.[4] In Japan, the film was released on November 12, 2004, and grossed US$17,773,061.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Korean Movie Synopsis: Windstruck". Korea Tourism Organization. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
- ^ "Windstruck to Premier in Hong Kong". The Chosun Ilbo. May 28, 2004. Archived from the original on August 14, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
- ^ 이, 서규 (June 4, 2004). "X-Japan'영화 여친소 내 노래 테마곡써 기쁘다'". No Cut News (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2021-02-06.
- ^ "Korean Movie Reviews for 2004" Archived 2011-10-08 at the Wayback Machine. Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
- ^ "Box office by Country: Windstruck" Archived 2017-01-31 at the Wayback Machine. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
External links
[edit]- Windstruck at the Korean Movie Database (in Korean)
- Windstruck at IMDb
Windstruck
View on GrokipediaNarrative and cast
Plot
Yeo Kyung-jin is introduced as a bumbling yet enthusiastic police officer in Seoul who, while off-duty, pursues a purse snatcher through the streets and mistakenly arrests Ko Myung-woo, a mild-mannered high school physics teacher who bears a resemblance to the suspect.[7] As punishment for the wrongful arrest, Kyung-jin is required to supervise Myung-woo's community service, pairing them to patrol a popular lovers' lane aimed at apprehending underage couples; to ensure compliance, they are often handcuffed together, leading to a series of comedic mishaps and initial tensions that gradually foster mutual understanding.[1][7] Their relationship evolves into a tender romance amid shared adventures, including a botched police operation where Myung-woo sustains an injury and Kyung-jin cares for him devotedly, as well as a scenic trip to the countryside where they share vulnerable moments and seal their bond with a pinky swear promise to remain together forever, reversing traditional gender roles with Kyung-jin's assertiveness contrasting Myung-woo's gentle nature.[7] This budding love blends humor and heartfelt intimacy, highlighting themes of unexpected connection and emotional growth.[8] The narrative takes a tragic turn during a tense hostage situation at a store, where Myung-woo impulsively intervenes to protect Kyung-jin from armed criminals, only to be fatally shot by a stray bullet from a fellow officer who mistakes him for one of the perpetrators; overwhelmed by guilt and loss, Kyung-jin spirals into profound grief, attempting suicide multiple times while perceiving Myung-woo's lingering presence through subtle supernatural cues, such as whispers in the wind.[1][7] In the resolution, Kyung-jin confronts her sorrow on the edge of a skyscraper, reflecting on their time together via flashbacks, and ultimately chooses to honor their love by moving forward, embodying redemption and resilience; the story culminates at a train station where Kyung-jin, standing perilously close to the platform edge, is saved by a young man, with whispers in the wind (Myung-woo's spirit) suggesting an eternal spiritual connection and a path to healing, the recurring "wind" motif symbolizing love's fleeting yet enduring essence and the film's fusion of comedy, melodrama, and fantasy.[7]Cast
The lead role of Yeo Kyung-jin, an energetic and clumsy police officer central to the film's romantic and comedic elements, is played by Jeon Ji-hyun.[9] Her portrayal highlights the character's spirited determination and vulnerability in balancing her demanding job with budding romance.[2] Jang Hyuk portrays Ko Myung-woo, a mild-mannered physics teacher who becomes entangled in Kyung-jin's life as her unlikely love interest, emphasizing a gentle and introspective contrast to typical romantic leads through his depiction of quiet resilience and emotional depth.[2][9] In supporting roles, Kim Jung-tae appears as Kim Yeong-ho, Kyung-jin's reliable assistant inspector and colleague who provides practical support amid the chaos.[10] Kim Soo-ro plays the hostage taker, serving as the primary antagonist and source of tension in key action sequences.[1] Lee Ki-woo is cast as the Prince, a slick criminal figure involved in the film's criminal underworld elements.[10] Additional notable supporting actors include Im Ye-jin as the female police officer at the substation, offering comic relief in procedural scenes, and Kim Chang-wan as the chief of the police box, representing authoritative oversight.[1] Minor roles, such as Myung-woo's students and Kyung-jin's family members, are filled by actors like Jeong Han-cheol and others, contributing to the ensemble's everyday warmth without credited specifics.[11] Brief cameos feature Cha Tae-hyun as a man at the train station and various uncredited performers as hostage victims and police superiors, enhancing the film's bustling urban atmosphere.[10]Production
Development
Windstruck was conceived by director and screenwriter Kwak Jae-yong as a follow-up project to his earlier success with My Sassy Girl (2001), with the explicit intent to reunite with lead actress Jun Ji-hyun, whose star status had been elevated by the Korean Wave's global rise. Kwak wrote the screenplay specifically for Jun, aiming to craft a romantic drama that incorporated comedic elements, supernatural twists, and profound explorations of loss and eternal love, drawing on the director's vision for a blend of humor, action, and emotional resonance.[12][13][14] Development of the project began around 2003, shortly after Kwak's release of The Classic, capitalizing on the burgeoning popularity of Korean cinema internationally. The script was developed in 2003, emphasizing a narrative structure that integrated high-energy action sequences—such as police chases and hostage scenarios—with deep emotional themes of grief and enduring connection, setting the stage for principal photography in early 2004.[15][16] Casting decisions centered on ensuring tonal balance, with Jun Ji-hyun confirmed in the lead role of the spirited police officer Yeo Kyung-jin to leverage her established chemistry from prior collaborations. Jang Hyuk was selected as the male lead, Ko Myung-woo, for his ability to convey both vulnerability and romantic intensity opposite Jun, following auditions that highlighted their on-screen rapport. Supporting roles were filled by actors including Kim Su-ro as the antagonist hostage-taker, contributing to the film's mix of thriller and heartfelt drama elements.[11][1] The production was a co-production between South Korea's iFilm Co., Ltd. and Hong Kong's Edko Films, entirely funded by foreign investors, with CJ Entertainment handling distribution planning and marketing strategies, reflecting the era's growing investment in high-profile romantic films amid South Korea's cinematic export boom.[15][17]Filming
Principal photography for Windstruck took place in 2004, primarily in Seoul, South Korea, to capture the film's urban police chases and high-rise settings, including sequences on skyscraper rooftops.[18] The production utilized the city's bustling streets and school environments for key scenes involving the protagonists' initial encounters and comedic mishaps. Surrounding rural areas were also used for romantic getaway sequences, contrasting the metropolitan action with more serene landscapes.[2] The film was shot on 35mm film in color, with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and Dolby Digital sound mix, contributing to its dynamic visual and audio presentation.[19] Cinematographer Jung Han-cheol handled the photography, focusing on the vibrant urban backdrops to support the blend of comedy and drama.[20] Action sequences, such as the drug bust and hostage situations, involved stunt work coordinated by fight choreographer Jeon Yu-jun and stunt performer Bae Jae-il, emphasizing practical effects for the police-oriented plot.[21] Lead actress Jun Ji-hyun faced significant physical demands in portraying the energetic police officer Kyung-jin, training rigorously for challenges including swimming in rough currents and diving from high buildings to perform key action moments convincingly.[22] The 123-minute runtime was achieved through editing by Kim Jae-bum, with early post-production incorporating basic visual effects for the film's supernatural ghostly elements.[2][20]Release
Distribution and marketing
Windstruck had its world premiere screening in Hong Kong on May 28, 2004, attended by lead actors Jun Ji-hyun and Jang Hyuk, marking the first Korean film to hold such an event there before its official release on June 3, 2004, in Hong Kong and June 4, 2004, in South Korea. The film rolled out across Asia shortly thereafter, with theatrical releases in Singapore on June 24, 2004; Thailand on August 12, 2004; Taiwan on August 27, 2004; and Japan on December 11, 2004.[23][24] In South Korea, CJ Entertainment handled domestic distribution, leveraging its position as a major player in the local film industry to secure wide theatrical release.[1] For Hong Kong and international sales, Edko Films managed the rollout, facilitating the film's entry into key Asian markets.[3] In Japan, Warner Bros. oversaw distribution, contributing to the film's expanded reach in the region amid growing interest in Korean cinema.[25] Marketing efforts centered on Jun Ji-hyun's established star power from her breakout role in My Sassy Girl (2001), positioning Windstruck as a spiritual prequel to capitalize on that franchise's fanbase.[1] Trailers emphasized the romantic comedy elements intertwined with action sequences, showcasing Jun's character as a spirited police officer alongside Jang Hyuk's earnest partner, often highlighting emotional depth and humorous mishaps.[26] Posters featured the leads in dynamic action-romance poses, such as Jun in uniform amid urban chases or tender couple moments, to evoke the blend of excitement and sentimentality.[27] Promotional strategies tied into the burgeoning Korean Wave (Hallyu), incorporating fan events and television advertisements that promoted the film's themes of love and loss to attract young audiences across Asia.[28] Key promotional activities included press junkets in Seoul and Hong Kong, where the cast discussed the film's narrative links to My Sassy Girl to draw in existing fans, alongside screenings and media interviews to build pre-release buzz. These efforts underscored the film's role in the early 2000s Korean cinema boom, emphasizing its accessible rom-com appeal for international expansion. For home media, CJ Entertainment issued an early DVD release in South Korea on December 4, 2004, featuring a two-disc special edition with English subtitles and behind-the-scenes content to extend the film's accessibility post-theatrical run.[29] International subtitled versions followed soon after through Edko Films, supporting ongoing distribution in Asian markets.[30]Music
Soundtrack listing
The original soundtrack album for Windstruck was released on June 9, 2004, in South Korea by T-Entertainment, consisting of 22 tracks that combine vocal pop songs with instrumental compositions to complement the film's romantic and emotional narrative.[31] The album features contributions from various artists, including vocal performances by Youme, and incorporates both original pieces and covers that underscore key scenes, such as romantic encounters and tender moments.[31] Key vocal tracks include "바람이라도 좋아 (Even If It's the Wind)" performed by Youme, which opens the album with a breezy, heartfelt melody; "Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Orchestra Ver.)" also by Youme, offering an orchestral rendition of Bob Dylan's classic; and "시계를 돌리면 (If I Turn Back the Clock)," featuring multiple contributors evoking themes of longing and reflection.[31][32] Another notable inclusion is the 1960 doo-wop song "Stay" by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, which plays during a pivotal scene in the film.[32] The tracklist mixes these vocal highlights with instrumentals composed to enhance the story's intimate and whimsical tone, such as themes associated with reunions, cafe settings, and wardrobe changes. Below is a representative selection of tracks from the album:| Track No. | Title | Artist/Performer | Type | Duration (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reunion Theme | Choi Seung-hyun | Instrumental | 4:09 |
| 2 | Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Orchestra Ver.) | Youme | Vocal/Orchestral Cover | 5:48 |
| 3 | The Passion of Myung-woo | Instrumental Ensemble | Instrumental | N/A |
| 4 | Changing Clothes (Stay Pizzicato Ver.) | Instrumental Ensemble | Instrumental | N/A |
| 22 | Wind of Soul [I Will Be With You] | Various | Vocal | N/A |
