Breathless

Sang-hoon works as a debt collector. For him, brutality and vulgarity are the only forms of communication, and so his blows and punches are freely dispensed not only to his debtors, but also to his colleagues and those closest to him. His need for real communication stifled deep inside him finds an ideal conductor in the flippant student Yeon-hee, with whom he later starts up a relationship. The narrative gradually uncovers parallels and direct links between the families of both characters and, without superficial moralising or clichéd solutions, it reveals the far-reaching consequences of domestic violence.

Awards & Festivals: Bangkok 2009, Fribourg 2009, Tiger Award - Rotterdam 2009, Netpac Award - Karlovy Vary 2009, Grand Prix - Deauville 2009, Silver Screen Award - Singapore 2009, Audience Award, Grand Prize - Tokyo FILMeX 2009