The Book of Fish explained

The Book of Fish
Native Name:
Hangul:자산어보
Hanja:玆山魚譜
Rr:Jasaneobo
Director:Lee Joon-ik
Producer:Kim Seong-cheol
Starring:Sol Kyung-gu
Byun Yo-han
Music:Bang Jun-seok
Cinematography:Lee Eui-tae
Editing:Kim Jeong-hun
Studio:Cineworld
Distributor:Megabox Plus M
M-Line Distribution
Runtime:126 minutes
Country:South Korea
Language:Korean
Gross:US$2.6 million[1]

The Book of Fish is a 2021 South Korean black-and-white historical drama film directed by Lee Joon-ik. The film starring Sol Kyung-gu and Byun Yo-han, is about an exiled Joseon era scholar and a fisherman and their exchange of knowledge in writing a book.[2] [3] It was theatrically released on March 31, 2021.[4]

The film won the Grand Prize at 57th Baeksang Arts Awards in May 2021.[5]

Premise

The Book of Fish is a black-and-white historical film set in 1801 about the Joseon era scholar Jeong Yak-jeon (1758–1816) (Sol Kyung-gu). He was exiled to Heuksando Island during the Catholic Persecution of 1801 in King Sunjo of Joseon’s reign. There he wrote a piscine encyclopaedia titled Jasaneobo. In the film a fictional character Chang-dae (Byun Yo-han), a young, conservative and eager to learn fisherman is introduced.

Cast

Production

The Book of Fish is a black and white film, which are making a comeback in South Korea.[7]

FilmingFilming was wrapped up on November 15, 2019.[8]

Release

The film was theatrically released on March 31, 2021 by Megabox.

The Book of Fish has been invited at the 20th New York Asian Film Festival. It was featured in 'Standouts’ strand and screened at Lincoln Center and SVA Theatre in the two-week festival held from August 6 to 22, 2021 in New York.[9] [10] It was also selected in 'Korean Cinema Today - Panorama Section' at 26th Busan International Film Festival and will be screened in the festival in October 2021.[11] The film was also screened at 10th Korean Film Festival Frankfurt on October 23, 2021.[12] On May 6, 2022, it was screened at the Habitat International Film Festival (HIFF), at the Habitat Center in New Delhi.[13]

In 2022, it was selected as one of the films in 'The Actor, Sol Kyung-gu' special exhibition event at 26th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival to honour actor Sol Kyung-gu.[14]

Reception

Box office

The film released on March 31, 2021, on 1250 screens.[15] It was at the number 1 place at the Korean box office by collecting 54,000 audiences on the weekend, taking its total commutative audience to 255,000 persons in the second week of its release.[16]

According to Korean Film Council data, it is at 14th place among all the Korean films released in the year 2021, with gross of US$2.71 million and 342,540 admissions, .[17]

Critical response

Going by Korean review aggregator Naver Movie Database, the film holds an approval rating of 9.11 from the audience.[18]

Kim Boram reviewing The Book of Fish for Yonhap wrote that the film keeps interest of the viewers alive as the tone is not serious. He considered that the beautiful scenery of Heuksando Island made the viewing pleasurable. He praised the performances of Sol Kyung-gu as an open-minded scholar and Byun Yo-han as Chang-dae, a young but conservative fisherman. Concluding the review Boram said, "The black-and-white cinematography makes the movie feel like a Joseon Dynasty ink painting, .... and the viewers even get the sense that color is not really important in the script-driven and performance-based piece."[19]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardsCategoryRecipientResultRef.
202157th Baeksang Arts Awards
The Book of Fish [20] [21]
Kim Se-kyum
Best Cinematography Lee Eui-tae
Chunsa Film Art Awards 2021Best Director [22]
Best Actor
Best Screenplay Kim Se-gyeom
30th Buil Film AwardsBest FilmThe Book of Fish[23] [24]
Best DirectorLee Joon-ik
Best ActorByun Yo-han
Best Supporting ActorJo Woo-jin
Best Supporting ActressLee Jung-eun
Best ScreenplayKim Se-gyeom
Best Cinematography AwardLee Eui-tae
Best Art/Technical AwardLee Jae-Sung
15th Asian Film AwardsBest FilmThe Book of Fish[25]
Best DirectorLee Joon-ik
Best Costume DesignShim Hyun-seob
Best Art DirectorLee Jae-Sung
42nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest FilmThe Book of Fish[26] [27] [28]
Best DirectorLee Jun-ik
Best ActorSol Kyung-gu
Byun Yo-han
Best ScreenplayKim Se-gyeom
Best CinematographyLee Eui-tae
Best EditingKim Jeong-hun
Best MusicBang Jun-seok
Technical AwardShim Hyun-seob (Costume)
Best Art DirectionLee Jae-Sung
Korean Association of Film Critics AwardsBest FilmThe Book of Fish[29]
Best ActorSol Kyung-gu
Best ScreenplayKim Se-gyeom
FIPRESCI AwardLee Jun-ik
41st Golden Cinematography AwardsBest ActorSol Kyung-gu[30] [31]
Best FilmThe Book of Fish
Best DirectorLee Jun-ik
Best CinematographyLee Eui-tae
Best New ActressMin Do-hee
8th Korean Film Writers Association AwardsBest DirectorLee Jun-ik[32]
Best Actor
Best MusicBang Jun-seok
Busan Film Critics AwardsBest ActorByun Yo-han[33]
2022Director's Cut AwardsBest DirectorLee Joon-ik[34]
Best ScreenplayKim Se-gyeom

Notes and References

  1. The Book of Fish. 14371900. August 2, 2024.
  2. News: Choi Young-joo. 이준익 감독·설경구·변요한 '자산어보', 2021년 개봉. Director Joon-ik Lee, Gyeong-gu Seol, and Yohan Byeon,'Sasaneobo', released in 2021. 15 December 2020. No Cut News. April 12, 2021. ko.
  3. Web site: The Book of Fish. HanCinema.
  4. Web site: '자산어보' 이준익 "과도한 세금, 백성 착취하던 시대 돌아본 건…" . Jun-ik Lee,'Asset Looking' “I looked back at the era of excessive taxes and exploitation of the people… ” . Kang Hye-ran. M News. March 28, 2021. April 12, 2021. ko.
  5. News: 유재석·이준익, '백상예술대상' 대상…'괴물' 3관왕(종합) . Lee Jae-hoon . Jae-Seok Yoo and Jun-ik Lee, Grand Prize in'Baeksang Arts Awards'... 'Monster' 3 crowns (Total) . . Naver. May 14, 2021 . May 14, 2021 . ko.
  6. News: [무비IS] 류승룡·조우진, 이토록 특별한 '우정]. Jo Yeon-kyung. [Movie IS] Ryu Seung-ryong and Jo Woo-jin, such a special'friendship' . Daily Sports. Naver. April 6, 2021. April 12, 2021. ko.
  7. Web site: [HanCinema's News] Black-and-white Films Making a Comeback in South Korean Film ]. . William Schwartz . April 12, 2021. March 17, 2021. en.
  8. Web site: [Photo] Wrap-up Still Added for the Korean Movie "The Book of Fish" ]. . William Schwartz . April 12, 2021. November 15, 2019. en.
  9. Web site: 20th New York Asian Film Festival Screens Several South Korean Films . MacDonald . Joan . July 20, 2021 . July 25, 2021 . Forbes.
  10. Web site: Korean Films on Show at 20th Anniversary of New York Asian Film Festival . Conran . Pierce . July 15, 2021. July 25, 2021. KOFIC.
  11. Web site: 2021 Program . BIFF. September 15, 2021. September 15, 2021.
  12. News: The Book of Fish / 자산어보. Korean Film Festival Frankfurt. WordPress. October 23, 2021. December 29, 2021. December 29, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211229111528/https://projectkffm.de/en/film-the-book-of-fish. dead.
  13. News: 인도 순수예술영화제에 '자산어보' 등 한국 영화 5편 상영 . Five Korean films including 'Jasaneobo' screened at the Indian Fine Arts Film Festival. Kim Young-hyun . . Naver. May 3, 2022. May 3, 2022. ko.
  14. Web site: 26th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival: THE ACTOR, SEOL KYUNG GU. Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. June 16, 2022. June 14, 2022.
  15. Web site: KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The box office for The Book of Fish (2021). June 1, 2021. KOFIC.
  16. News: [박스오피스] '자산어보' 개봉 2주차에 주말 1위(종합)]. [Box Office] Ranked #1 on the weekend in the 2nd week of 'Sanjango' opening (Total). Han Mi-hee. 12 April 2021. . Naver 영화. ko.
  17. Web site: KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) Korean films box office for Year 2021. December 11, 2021. KOFIC.
  18. Web site: 자산어보, The Book of Fish. 19 April 2021. Naver 영화.
  19. Web site: (Movie Review) 'The Book of Fish' tells story of struggle during historic upheaval in black and white . Kim . Boram. March 19, 2021. April 12, 2021. Yonhap News.
  20. Web site: 5월 13일 개최 '57회 백상예술대상', TV·영화·연극 부문 최종 후보 공개 . '57th Baeksang Arts Awards' held on May 13th, final nominations for TV·Film·Theatre are revealed . Dong-je . Park . BreakNews . April 12, 2021 . April 12, 2021 . ko . May 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210516110007/https://m.breaknews.com/a.html?uid=798828 . dead .
  21. News: Kim Jin-seok and Jo Yeon-kyung. 57회 백상예술대상, TV·영화·연극 부문 최종 후보 공개. 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, final nominations for TV, film, and theater released. Daily Sport. Naver . April 12, 2021. April 12, 2021. ko.
  22. News: 춘사국제영화제, 본상 후보작 발표…자산어보·승리호 등 23편 . Chunsa International Film Festival Announces Main Award Nominations... 23 episodes including Jasaneobo and Seungri . Kim Ji-eun . July 5, 2021. . Naver . July 5, 2021. ko.
  23. Web site: 모가디슈' ·'자산어보' 13개 부문 중 8개 부문 후보에 올라. Jo Young-mi. Mogadishu’ and ‘Jasaneobo’ were nominated for 8 out of 13 categories. . Naver. August 26, 2021. September 3, 2021. ko.
  24. News: '모가디슈' 작품상 포함 6관왕→유아인·전종서 주연상 쾌거(종합)[2021 부일영화상] ]. 'Mogadishu' 6 awards including Best Picture → Yoo Ah-in and Jeon Jong-seo's Best Leading Achievement (Comprehensive) [2021 Buil Film Awards] . Kim No-eul . Newsen . Naver . October 7, 2021 . October 7, 2021 . ko.
  25. Web site: [공식]'소리도없이' 유아인X'콜' 전종서, 亞필름어워즈 男女주연상 노미네이트]. Lee Seung-mi. [Official] 'Silent' Yoo Ah-in X 'Call' Jeon Jong-seo, 亞Film Awards Nominee for Best Leading Actress. Sports Chosun. Naver . September 9, 2021 . September 9, 2021 . ko.
  26. News: 42회 청룡영화상 11월26일 개최..'모가디슈' 최다 후보 . 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards held on November 26th... Most nominations for 'Mogadishu' . Jeong Hyung-hwa . Star News . Naver . November 1, 2021 . November 1, 2021 . ko.
  27. News: https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=117&aid=0003550938 . ko:[제42회 청룡영화상, 후보 발표…류승완 '모가디슈' 최다 부문 노미네이트 [공식]|trans-title= 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards, nominations announced... Ryoo Seung-wan 'Mogadishu' Nominated for Most Category [Official] |author=Kim Nara |date=November 1, 2021 |access-date=November 1, 2021|work=My Daily |publisher=Naver|language=ko.
  28. News: '모가디슈', '청룡' 작품상 등 5관왕…설경구·문소리 주연상[종합] ]. 5 crowns including Best Picture for 'Mogadishu' and 'Blue Dragon'... Seol Kyung-gu, Moon So-ri Best Leading Actor [Comprehensive]. Han Hyun-jung . Star Today . Naver . November 26, 2021 . November 26, 2021 . ko.
  29. News: 설경구·문소리, 제41회 영평상 남녀주연상…'자산어보' 최우수작품상 [종합] ]. Seol Kyung-gu and Moon So-ri, 41st Youngpyeong Awards Best Actress... 'Jasaneobo' Best Picture [General] . Kim Yu-jin . Export News . Naver . November 10, 2021 . November 11, 2021. ko.
  30. Web site: 자산어보' 설경구, 황금촬영상 남우주연상 . Seol Kyung-gu, Golden Cinematography Award, Best Actor. Kim Mi-hwa. Star News. Naver. November 21, 2021. November 21, 2021. ko.
  31. News: 영화 <자산어보> 황금촬영상 5관왕 . The movie wins 5 Golden Cinematography Awards . Kim Cheol- gwan . OhmyNews. November 21, 2021 . November 25, 2021 . ko.
  32. News: '모가디슈', 영화제작가협회상 작품상…고두심·설경구 주연상 . 'Mogadishu' wins Best Picture at the Film Producers Association... Go Doo-shim and Seol Kyung-gu Best Actor . Lee Jae-Hoon . . Naver . December 6, 2021 . December 6, 2021. ko.
  33. News: 변요한·김선영, 부산영화평론가협 연기자상 [연예뉴스 HOT④] ]. Byun Yo-han and Kim Seon-young, Busan Film Critics Association Actor Award [Entertainment News HOT④] . . Naver. November 29, 2021. December 11, 2021 . ko.
  34. News: Squid Game' wins best series screenplay, director and actress at Director's Cut Awards . Lee Gyu-lee. The Korea Times. February 26, 2022. May 24, 2022. en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "The Book of Fish".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.