Wow, I was already excited to see Gong Yoo‘s dramatic turn in his first serious, weighty film, but this trailer blew me away. It gave me proper chills. This movie’s subject matter is as dark as dark can be, but damn does it look GOOD. Here’s a look at Gong Yoo and Jung Yumi in the upcoming film The Crucible, an adaptation of a novel by bestselling author Gong Ji-young, based on a true story about a rape at a school for the deaf.
Gong Yoo plays a new teacher at the school who finds that his students harbor a lot of pain and distrust. Over time he slowly earns their trust and discovers the horrifying truth — that they’ve been abused, violently and sexually. Jung Yumi plays a passionate human rights activist who helps him uncover the crimes and try to bring the guilty to justice, against insurmountable odds.
In the trailer the students give testimonies, and Gong Yoo narrates as they sign. He becomes their voice, and as they begin to open up about the abuse, it’s his moment of discovery too — it’s terrifying, and gripping, and dramatically really well done.
The story is based on a case at a school for the deaf in Gwangju that went on from 2000-2005. The accused famously had enough clout to get off with a ridiculously light sentence, which enraged author Gong Ji-young at the time, and inspired her to write the book. The film adaptation is directed by PD Hwang Dong-hyuk (My Father), who said, “I worried that it was dark subject matter, but once I found out that the victims were fighting to appeal and reopen the investigation, I thought that the film might help that effort in a small way, so I decided to make it.” That’s the best reason to make a movie I’ve ever heard of.
The Crucible premieres September 22.
Via TV Report
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Wow… that really is a good reason…. hope it does well
that gave me intense chills
second this. i could not fathom how such a thing can go on for years. i feel for those kids.
You’re not the only one. After reading the synopsis and seeing that it was based on true story, a chill ran up my spine and my heart ached for the children’s pain.
Agreed, it looks like a well put together, intense, and horrifying movie. I’m not going to lie, although this looks excellent and Gong Yoo is one of my favorite Korean actors, I won’t be watching. The subject matter is just too hard to watch for me not to have nightmares about it for ages. Still, I appreciate that they are bringing issues like child abuse to the forefront for those who will watch it, and perhaps inspire some public scrutiny and outrage in the future.
The reason behind the making of this film makes me realise how strong a tool cinema can be and I pray that through this film the actual case will be looked into and reopened. How emotionally draining must it have been for all the actors to tell this story, just the thought of it being based on a real life event makes me feel sick. For people to use their power and authority to cause such horrendous harm on these children breaks my heart.
Glad that Gong Yoo chose this project as his comeback, those eyes of his can tell a story by itself. Hoping for the film to be a success.
Love your comment!
Woww I’m sooo looking forward to this, and I really hope it would help to bring justice to all those who were wronged.
As much as the premise is dark, being a true story makes it just that more darker and influential for the viewers.
It is darker and scarier than any horror film.
So many adults abuse children and get away with it – it’s like they’re part of an evil private club where lawyers, judges and religious orders protect them instead of protecting the children. Utterly frightening!
Yes I just watched it. The abusers were evil but equally so, were those who knew and kept silent ! It was horrifying, harrowing.
wowza!! what an amazing trailer….not gonna lie, i kinda cried!!
Oh my goodness, that trailer is intense! Yes, movies are powerful tools, and the fact that its a real story makes me feel sick to my stomach, especially since it happened so recently. I think Gong Yoo is going to do extremely well with this role, but it must have been difficult.
aww. it remind me of another movie Voice of Murderer, which is also based on a true story. :’(
Looks absolutely gripping and definately worth the wath even though the content and outcome will be depressing and upsetting!
Great to see it in final print
whoa, that was indeed terrifying, to the point where it’s almost suffocating. How could any one do such heinous things to those children??!! bastards. I hope this movie will help the victims in some way to get the case reinvestigated, the criminals deserve to be punished for life.
Yeah way to go, the movie would give the case media power and interest which could only help. If enough people could see this and feel the pain and rage.
I’m not from Korea but I’m currently searching for pictures of the culprits to put a hex on them.
WOW this trailer looks amazing and powerful…..Goog Yoon and Yung Yumi look excellent, they sure brought their A game while making the movie…..
OMG. Gong Yoo! My heart just skipped a bit.
OMG this looks SOOO GOOD!
Thank you for posting this. Really, really, thank you.
I’m not sure why I feel this emotion for a trailer of a film ~ maybe I need a nap or a coffee ~ because I usually balk at stuff like this.
Actually, well, I know why, but it’s involved. I guess I’m just *inspired* (said in bored British accent).
As much as I love it here, I’m surrounded by a lot of racism, on both sides of the fence, and it’s unbelievably…nice, heh…to see that, although terrible terrible things happen here (and everywhere) there’s also people fighting it, in the way they know how.
And, Gong Yooooooooooooooo! Ah, I need a shower.
Wow..what an intense feeling from the trailer. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I’ll definitely watch it when it becomes available. Gong Yoo really gives all his heart in this. It is sated on asianmediawiki that he was the first to bring the idea of the book’s adaptation to movie. He read the book when he was in the army and finds the author when he got chance on his leave.
Whoa. Really?
I wish a lot of good karma for Gong Yoo then!
Really? He did that?! Not that I need another reason to adore Gong Yoo.
oh yeah, I read it on Korea Herald !!
http://www.koreaherald.com/entertainment/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110822000665
such a powerful trailer….I can use a bit of LSF (French Sign Language), and I worked with deaf people, but really, you don’t even need to know any sign language when the girls shows how she was raped….
Painfully eloquent
I also hope the end will follow reality, as it’ll remember people that justice need to be respected and supported.
Too see the crude reality will maybe help for the appeal…
It really looks good, and it really is a good reason to make a movie.
My heart is breaking just from the trailer even though I couldn’t understand a word.
Anyone knows from where I can get english subbed korean movies?
GONG YOOOOOOO’S BACK ONCE MOOOOOORE *fangirl self*
Man, this IS a good reason to do a movie. Yes, cinema is a powerful media – although many movies nowadays (coff, Hollywood, coff) tend to make it more of a business than a path for truth to dwell on. That’s some strong engagement from PD Hwang Dong-hyuk, cheers to him !
This makes me so sad… I hope this movie does amazingly well and that lots of people go to see it and that it somehow helps the case ): I’m definitely going to see it. I don’t even care if the theaters sub it or not.
is this gong yoo’s first serious movie?
LOOOOOOVE her.
Loooove him.
I hope we get to see this ever.
some people deserve to die in the most horrible ways….no that’s too good for them -________-
Looking forward to watching it!!
*sniffles* It hurts that this is based on a true story. I’d really love to watch it.
got goosebumps after watching the trailer…..waiting eagerly to watch it…..hope it’s DVD get released ASAP in Nepal.
aww mehn. that looks like my kind of movie. cant wait!
This story just about breaks my heart. How could he live with himself after committing such atrocious acts over and over again? How could the people that knew what was happening turn their backs on defenseless children that needed their help? How could the principle get off with a 10 month prison sentence? Why were the teachers and the people responsible allowed to go back to the school? Why didn’t this become known until after the case was over and done with? Where the fuck is karma?
Good questions, with absolutely no good answers.
Most powerful movie trailer I’ve seen in a while. I feel shaky and a little sick inside.Thank heavens for people with convictions and the courage to stand up for them.
Is all of what you stated true – the teacher’s were allowed to go back to the school? What?! This is the first I’ve heard of this whole event. Are you aware of where I can look up English articles on it?
Off topic for anyone: how long does it generally take for movies, once they’ve come out in Korea, to make it online and subbed in America? This looks so well done from the trailer and I hate that I have to wait so long to see it.
And where can you watch subbed korean movies online? I can find dramas perfectly well, but not current movies.
http://www.koreaherald.com/entertainment/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110822000665 I’m not Korean so I have no way to verify it and I’ve been looking for other sources but haven’t gotten anywhere.
I’m more of a drama watcher and I don’t know too much about Gong Yoo’s star power so I thought I’d check how long it took for his last movie to be subbed (Finding Mr. Perfect). Released 2010/12/08 and I found subtitles on asiatorrents dated 19/03/2011. But a romantic comedy might gain more interest within the fansubbing community than a darker movie.
Don’t worry, karma is coming to those who thought they’ve escaped without repenting. This movie is just the beginning and another reason why freedom of speech is so crucial. I really hope those children will get the justice they deserve and future students will be prevented from enduring the torture.
Thanks for posting this. It looks intense. It reminds me vaguely of the American film Sleepers.
“That’s the best reason to make a movie I’ve ever heard of.”– i agree! This trailer gave me tears and goosebumps!
I hope this movie becomes huge, puts to shame all those involved in giving out such a light sentence, and gets some true justice for those kids.
I haven’t read the book – will justice prevail at the end of the movie or will it end up like real life?
I’m hoping it ends up faithful to the real life events, because that might spur people to action.
Giving them closure through the movie might defeat the purpose of making the film in the first place.
I’m glad that a korean pd/writer is doing this. It’s time the media realize their influence and use it to give back to society.
Woah, I can’t wait to see the movie.
First for the good reason that the PD already stated, this is his contribution to the society. Second, to see Gong Yoo’s acting.
I’ve watched his movie, the one after he was released from the army. I can tell that Gong Yoo picked his projects carefully so that it will enrich his acting as well as his career. I love how he take a serious movie like this, and we shall see his accomplishment.
I’m going to get scars watching this, but I’m going to watch this all the same. These are the kinds of scars that will remind all of us to keep fighting for those who cannot yet fight for themselves.
Damn the trailer looks awesome. I totally want an english subbed version of the trailer and movie! which… I have to hunt for after it’s released haha.. They REALLY need to start releasing more Korean movies here in Malaysia….
This seems intense. The kind of movie that I am going to need to keep tissues close at hand when I finally see it. Well, I hope that it does really well and helps the victims in their case.
…so they won the case by using his past against him……i seriously hate messed up shit like this…if the movie is this sad the actual thing is worse, how can you not want those ppl to be punished!!
that promises to be quite something. will have to watch it.
OMG i wanna throttle the criminal with my own hands!!!!
the trailer gave me goosebumps!!
My God, that looks amazing.
Uwaah, the movie is so intense, it gives me chills
not sure if I can take to watch all the abuse
but thumbs up for the movie to bring up this kind of dark topic
It was so painful to watch that trailer. My heart was so broken for those children. I’m so thankful the director, and author took this undertaking, despite the opposition I’m sure they ran into.
Breaking the silence is paramount.
My thoughts and prayers are with all the children involved, as well as those who fought for their right to be heard, and bring the perpetrator to justice.
ahhh touching….gong yoo read the book and personally met the author because he believed that an unfair situation like this should be made into a movie…
so moving
I don’t even know much about the case, but it sure enraged me, just reading a little about it here. These children, especially they have a disability, are vulnerable and are sometime view helpless. It gives no right to the suspect(s) to take advantage of them. I could go on!!! ANYWAY, the film is interesting enough to bring light (again) to the case. Gong Yoo, although I can’t get the image of you in Coffee Prince out of my head, you look fantastic in this new role of yours!
I’m so glad he is not playing the rapist, but the teacher.
Wow, I really hope this movie does well so the case will get re-opened and the accused gets what they deserve.
Seems amazing. Gong Yoo is a great actor, and the lead od Que sera sera is really amazing too. Can’t wait to watch, although I think my stomach can’t tolarate it.
Thanks
WOW, so wanna see this. Looks awesome a love movies inspired in true events. I hope the victims can have the proper justice.
i hope this movie makes everyone realise what has happened and ostracizes, shames and hurts those monsters. also that this movie helps those victims find closure in some way. hopefully the ending will stay true to what actually happened and will enrage people enough to get them to do something and give media support in the appeal.
wow,the movie looks good. I was bumped that gong yoo might be more involved in movies now but i’m glad that he chose to be part of this movie. He can act and he will have more chances to show his talents in movies like this.
it sounds like a really well thought out movie. hopefully we can get the subs soon. also more importantly, i hope that the law can be properly applied this time round. its so sad to hear about these kinds of stories, but when they can be told like in this case, they really should be.
i know this is a serious thread, but again going to share the fact that I SAW GONG YOO THIS WEEKEND!!! hehe…
didn’t recognize him at first cuz i he kinda looked scruffy. a friend pointed him out. was pretty cooooool ~ (end of fangirlyness)
mannnn i got goose bumps though i didnt understand it…but the feeling came through thanks to yr description……
Same here. I almost cry.