Korea reunites for sports film As One
by javabeans
Add another North-South project to Ha Ji-won‘s resumé; in addition to her current drama The King 2 Hearts, where she plays a North Korean soldier who falls for a South Korean prince, she’s got a movie coming out that deals with a united North-South team in international competition. No, it’s not The King’s WOC war-games contest, but a based-on-a-true-story dramatization of the 1991 World Team Table Tennis Championships, where the two Koreas played as one team.
The movie is titled Korea, which is confusingly generic and therefore also has adopted the English title As One. (Note: The title “Korea” is spelled phonetically in hangul as koh-ree-ah, rather than using the names Hanguk or Bukhan, since those denote South and North, respectively. Ostensibly this depoliticizes the name and emphasizes the team’s unity. So the title is actually more unique in Korean its English translation.)
The movie follows the players of the joint Korean team over the 46 days they spent together training for and playing in the championships in Chiba City, Japan. The trailer above starts off documentary style, cutting in an interview with one of the team’s members over archival footage. She’s former player Hyun Jung-hwa, who was also Ha Ji-won’s body double in the movie.
She narrates how she was 22 at the time, and they were all around the age: “We felt like friends.” She explains that they were all young, but felt the burden of expectations and trained extremely hard: “We were together 46 days, but all I can remember is training. I wish we’d gotten closer, I wish I’d done more for them… I feel disappointed that couldn’t do more.” Bae Doo-na plays Rhee Bun-hee, a player from the North.
Perhaps it’s the sincerity the words that makes it an incredibly moving clip, even though it lacks much in the way of big budgets or movie magic. It’s a human story, universal and heartfelt, and it’s enough to bring tears to your eyes.
Korea / As One opens in May.
Via Sports Seoul
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Tags: Bae Doo-na, Ha Ji-won
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1 tari
April 12, 2012 at 11:19 AM
me interested to this movie! a different breeze from the current kind of korean movies and dramas. at any rate, aside from the plot, the magnets are the actresses. it got me hook and sink :D
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2 Rovi
April 12, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Well, so much for being "As One" in RL, what with the North's obsession to rocketry and nuclearization... *angry sigh*
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3 janet lee
April 12, 2012 at 11:39 AM
when did "fighting!" start as a cheer? does the stance in that group shot predate the cheer? or is that cheer a whole lot older than I thought?
cheers
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Bengbeng
April 12, 2012 at 12:24 PM
i watched in Arirang TV that the word "fighting" started when Boxing became popular in South Korea. I think somewhere around the '60s. It is sort of a cheer to boxers.
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4 nomu nomu nomu
April 12, 2012 at 11:50 AM
I'm assuming Ha Ji-won is going up against other female athletes, thus won't be able to use her famous "Oppa" attack
http://www.dramabeans.com/2012/03/running-man-episode-86/
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5 jomo143
April 12, 2012 at 12:17 PM
What I would like to see is HJW and BDN play against Forrest Gump.
Which leads me to wonder if the ping pong will be real or CGI...
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toak
April 13, 2012 at 4:07 AM
It will be real as far as I understand - the real-life player Ha Ji Won portrays served as a coach for the two, and said after the training period was over they looked like pro players.
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6 Bengbeng
April 12, 2012 at 12:21 PM
gosh! 2 of my favorite Korean actressess!!! i totally agree to you JB, this film will surely bring me to tears. Hope i can watch it too.
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7 Daniella
April 12, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Those pictures leave a great impression. I'd check it out even though it's not my kind of movies (:
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8 Mystisith
April 12, 2012 at 12:30 PM
I'm wondering: Is Ha Ji-won some kind of unofficial ambassador for North and South friendship? Coincidence? Or is it a cause she personally wants to defend? If so, then i admire her even more. I'm not a fan of sport movies, but i will check it out for sure, just because of the cast and the unusual topic.
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mooses
April 12, 2012 at 8:57 PM
I think it's just a coincidence. I read another article where she stated that she didn't care about the reunification before, but after doing this movie, it changed her mind.
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9 anna
April 12, 2012 at 12:31 PM
Wow, Bae Doo-na, do you NOT age???
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10 canxi
April 12, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Bae Doo Na! My most favorite actress not just in Korea but everywhere. She pretty much trumps everyone in my book-- she's that good. I've pretty much watched anything starring or featuring her that I could find and enjoyed all of them, so that says something.
I've been really interested in this movie for a while; it looks awesome.
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11 Schmazel
April 12, 2012 at 1:14 PM
Looking forward to watching Bae Doo Na in this!
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12 Ani
April 12, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Man, it's weird, but Bae Doo-na looks so badass in these - even more badass than Ha Jiwon *gasp* - which is weird since Ha Jiwon is the one with the action films/drama under her belt.
I love movies likes these - the whole all for one and teamwork type stuff. *puts on list for watching later*
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Ennui Young
April 12, 2012 at 11:28 PM
Because Doona is a real badass!! In fact, she is one of the few known actress in the art house cinema outside Korea, but she rarely cares to and bothers to make herself known since it's not necessary. Her works speak for her and that's what matters.
For a person who is really more into cinema than dramas like me, it's difficult to explain Donna's stature. Let's just put it this way. My friend, who curates films for Lincoln Center in New York, only knows three Korean actresses: Donna, Jeon Du-yeon, and Yoon Jeong-hee (the actress from the ever great Poetry). Just think about the fact Donna was born in 1979 , which means she is still in her early 30s but she already accomplished a lot!
I think this explains all!
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Ani
April 13, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Hrm. I didn't mean it in that way - to pit the two actresses against each other. I was thinking about the characters they're portraying and how I find the selection interesting since the kdramas I've seen or know of with Bae Doona always had her as a fragile flower of sorts. So I was surprised that she was chosen to act the part of the North Korean player that seems to be the embodiment of a serious, competitive athlete with aggression bottled up and only released/channeled through ping-pong. I've never seen her movies, but she's all of a sudden on my radar again because her intensity in the preview and those photos above *grumbles about the cheesiness of her next line* seriously took my breath away. *rolls eyes at self*
But that's not me saying one actress is better than the other, especially since I haven't actually watched any Ha Jiwon or Bae Doona kdramas/films recently. So I'm not a judge of who's best, but I'm impressed with your knowledge of Bae Doona's accomplishments. I will be sure to keep both actresses on my radar.
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13 sweetyo0on
April 12, 2012 at 1:47 PM
Is Bae Do Na a good actress? I've only seen her act in God of Study and boy~! She was so lifeless and horrible in that drama. So I've mentally placed her as a pretty-face-can't-act actress but she has some mighty works on her resume.
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canxi
April 12, 2012 at 1:51 PM
She's awesome! Watch The Host, Symapthy for Mr. Vengeance, Take Care of My Cat, and Linda Linda Linda (:
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luci8le
April 12, 2012 at 2:01 PM
and Air Doll !!
she's such an amazing actress !
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oh so hot
April 12, 2012 at 4:22 PM
she's better than Ha Ji Won actually. Ha Ji Won is overrated, more of Media hype. Sector 7 proves that.
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Anonymous
April 12, 2012 at 4:32 PM
I really hate it when some fans can't seem to be able to praise the artistes they love without bashing other artistes.
Love Ha Ji Won, not interested in sports movie in general but I am gonna watch this one for her.
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Ennui Young
April 12, 2012 at 11:12 PM
Well. As much as I like HJW, I have to say Doona is in a completely different league. HJW is an excellent actress, but Bae Donna is simply phenomenal and out of this world. HJW's acting style still belongs to mainstream category, but Doona is more eclectic. It's true that you cannot compare these two, since they have a completely different career path. HJW tends to take upon blockbuster type of film, but Doona is a favorite for art house director. I fell in love with Doona BEFORE I got interested in Korean dramas. She is amazing in Japanese films "Linda Linda Linda" and "Air Doll." There is a reason why Japanese film directors, Joon-ho Bong and Joe Odagiri love her.
For me, Donna is not one of the best Korean actresses, but one of the best actresses in the world.
Yes. She is that good because she has the potential that can match up with Maggie Cheung from Hong Kong. I don't like any of her TV projects though because she is more of a film person. She has this aura that a TV drama cannot capture or manage.
I am excited to see Korea though since I think I want to see how HJW and Doona interact with each other. Yeah!
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zsa
April 12, 2012 at 5:37 PM
That's true...pls don't do that...they are both incredible in their own ways...let's not pit them against each other coz we hate to choose. I think there are things HJW can do but BDN cant and vice versa...but we never know,,,maybe they were never offered those roles...so comparing them is actually not fair!!
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14 dingdongbl
April 12, 2012 at 1:57 PM
I am so gonna watch this for ha ji won and bae doo-na but the plot seems really interressing too. so this in definitly n my plan to watch list.
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15 sartorius
April 12, 2012 at 4:00 PM
NOT related to story at but.....
BINNNIEE!!! How i have missed u so much!!! When r u gonna be done with the military?????????
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16 Jo
April 12, 2012 at 4:13 PM
This makes me so sad. And happy.
IF ONLY KOREA WAS ONE!!
gosh...it looks like it will be awesome.
Very...looking forward to it!
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17 maky
April 12, 2012 at 4:56 PM
Ha Ha, love reading all the different views. That's what I love about this site....all love korean dramas and come together to share views and thoughts
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18 Bluefyre
April 12, 2012 at 5:09 PM
Hold up...is that Han Ji Min? Or do mine eyes deceive me?
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm96/javabeans122/movie/2012/korea_12.jpg
Really looking forward to this! :)
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19 hipployta
April 12, 2012 at 5:42 PM
Is that Jong Seok too? I wonder if they were able to reach the other player.
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20 Raine
April 12, 2012 at 6:34 PM
This is one movie I'm keeping my eyes on. Definitely want to watch it when it's out! I like stories like these, and having Ha Ji Won in it is just <3
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21 diorama
April 12, 2012 at 7:57 PM
Wait, hold up, I thought Gong Hyo Jin already did a North-South tennis championship movie?
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22 nobodyimportant
April 13, 2012 at 1:37 AM
i'm very interested in this movie mainly to see Bae Doona being a North Korean. and i guess i'm just a fan of hers. she's like...first Korean actress i ever like back then when i watch her drama Funny Wild Girl(where she plays the typical kdrama heroine type that i usually hate.....but in that drama, i didn't hate her character lol..how did she do that?) n she has the type of unconventional beauty n that makes her easily recognizable...i always get a cool/eccentric/quirky vibe from her for whatever reason lol..
n the fact that the North-South relationship will be of friendship n two girls makes it more interesting to me than North-South romance that never really caught my interest in dramas(there are more than one drama doing that, so i'm not pointing to one particular drama)
n it's based on true event....ok..that heightens my interest...
Bae Doona n Ha Jiwon looks like an interesting pair.
thanks for the info/clip/pics.
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23 kaye
April 13, 2012 at 9:31 AM
Love the vintage costumes.
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24 Sajen
April 14, 2012 at 6:04 PM
Ha Ji Won and Bae Doo Na in one movie add Jeon Do Yeon in a role and they'll have all three of Korea's best actresses in one movie
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25 hail-u
April 27, 2012 at 10:29 PM
i love ha ji won. and it's really refreshing to see a popular s korean actress proving her versatility in the roles she plays. her success tho is making me feel jealous for my other fave sk actress - yoon eun hye. hope YEH would once again come up with a hit project.
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