Gangnam Blues (2015) on Netflix
Gangnam, the shantytown south of Seoul, is slated for redevelopment in the 1970s as gangs compete for land. Jong-dae and Yong-ki collect paper and empty bottles until thugs demolish their homes.
- Netflix3.1/5
- IMDb6.2/102,377 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes60%
Trailer
Plot summary
In the 1970s, the South Korean government decides to redevelop Gangnam, the shantytown area south of Seoul, into an extension of the capital. Property owners, developers and corrupt politicians stand to gain as land values rise. Gangs also move in, fighting over plots and frequently acting for political figures. Jong-dae and Yong-ki are childhood friends in Gangnam who collect paper and empty bottles for a living. Local thugs demolish their shanty homes, and the two, desperate for cash, take part in violent political clashes. A skirmish separates them. After three years, Jong-dae is living with Kil-su, a former gang leader, while Yong-ki has joined the Myeongdong-pa, Seoul's most powerful criminal organization.
Cast
- Gwi-hwa Choias Good-for-nothing 1 of Nam Soon-Chul gang
- Sung-Woong Hwangas Choon-ho's soccer player
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Gangnam Blues (2015)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Writer-director Yoo Ha originally didn't want to cast Lee Min-ho in the lead, finding his Boys Over Flowers performance "a bit cheesy" and the actor "so handsome he was like a manhwa character"; his wife convinced him, and the two then worked to "burn to the ground" Lee's chaebol's-son screen persona.
- Yoo Ha asked Kim Rae-won to shed 15 kilograms because his character begins the film as a rag man; Kim lost the weight in one month, which he said also made his fist-fighting scenes as a gangster more realistic.
