A Normal Family

A Normal Family
Theatrical release poster
Hangul
보통의 가족
Hanja
普通의 家族
Revised RomanizationBotong-ui gajok
Directed byHur Jin-ho
Screenplay byHur Jin-ho
Park Eun-kyo
Park Jun-seok
Based onThe Dinner
by Herman Koch
Starring
CinematographyGo Nak-seon
Music byJo Seong-woo
Production
company
Hive Mediacorp
Distributed byHive Mediacorp
Mindmark
Release dates
  • September 14, 2023 (2023-09-14) (TIFF)
  • October 9, 2024 (2024-10-09) (South Korea)
Running time
116 minutes[1]
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeUS$4.3 million[2]

A Normal Family (Korean: 보통의 가족) is a 2023 South Korean drama film directed by Hur Jin-ho, and starring Sol Kyung-gu, Jang Dong-gun, Kim Hee-ae, and Claudia Kim.[3] Adapted from Herman Koch's novel The Dinner, the film centres on two wealthy families who meet for dinner to discuss and decide how to handle a violent crime committed by their children.[4]

The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2023.[1][5] It was released theatrically on October 9, 2024.[6]

Plot

Jae-wan is a successful lawyer who is hired to defend a wealthy executive's son who intentionally killed a man and severely injured the man's daughter. Jae-wan's younger brother, Jae-gyu, is a principled paediatrician who prioritizes his patients' health over personal gain and profit. The brothers and their wives meet monthly and enjoy luxurious meals at high-end restaurants, but when they learn of a violent crime committed by their teenagers, it challenges their moral values and changes the tone of their usual dinner discussions. As the situation escalates, their seemingly close brotherly bond starts to fade.[7]

Cast

Release

The film was officially invited to the Gala Presentation section of the 48th Toronto International Film Festival, where it was screened on September 14, 2023 worldwide, and was invited to 19 overseas film festivals, including the 26th Udine Far East Film Festival, the 18th London Korean Film Festival, the 35th Palm Springs International Film Festival, and the 26th Taipei Film Festival. It won Best Screenplay Award at the Director's Fortnight at the 44th Fantasporto International Film Festival and the Screenplay Award at the 39th Mons International Film Festival. It had domestic premiere in the 'Korean Cinema Today - Special Premiere' at the 29th Busan International Film Festival in October 2024, before its release in theaters.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "A Normal Family". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  2. ^ "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2024". KOFIC. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Brzeski, Patrick (July 24, 2023). "Korean Drama 'A Normal Family' Inks Distribution Deals Ahead of Toronto Premiere". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  4. ^ Rosser, Michael (July 25, 2023). "Korean drama 'A Normal Family' lands key deals ahead of Toronto debut". Screen Daily. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  5. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 24, 2023). "TIFF Lineup Unveiled Amid Strikes: Awards Contenders 'Dumb Money', 'The Holdovers', 'Rustin'; Starry Pics For Sale With Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton, Viggo Mortensen & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  6. ^ Kim Bo-young (September 11, 2024). "'보통의 가족' 10월 9일 개봉 확정…아이들의 살인, 4인의 균열" ['Ordinary Family' confirmed for release on October 9th... Children's murder, cracks in four people] (in Korean). Edaily. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Naver.
  7. ^ "A Normal Family". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  8. ^ a b c d Peter Debruge (September 14, 2023). "'A Normal Family' Review: Two Korean Couples Face Tough Choices When Their Kids Break the Law". Variety. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  9. ^ Yang Yu-jin (July 26, 2023). "신예 홍예지 주연작 '보통의 가족', 제48회 토론토 국제영화제 초청". My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved October 25, 2023 – via Naver.
  10. ^ Jo Yeon-kyung (August 27, 2024). "해외 도장깨기 '보통의 가족' 韓서도 영화제로 최초 공개" [Overseas stamp-breaking 'Ordinary Family' to be released for the first time at a film festival in Korea]. JTBC (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 31, 2024.