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Ballerina (Korean: 발레리나), is a 2023 South Korean action thriller film written and directed by Lee Chung-hyun. The film stars Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Ji-hoon and Park Yu-rim in the lead roles.
| Ballerina | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Promotional poster | |
| Hangul | 발레리나 |
| Directed by | Lee Chung-hyun |
| Written by | Lee Chung-hyun |
| Produced by | Choi Ji-young |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Gray |
Production company | Climax Studio |
| Distributed by | Netflix |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
The film was premiered at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in the 'Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere' section on October 5, 2023.[1] Ballerina streamed globally on Netflix from October 6, 2023.[2]
Jang Ok-ju, a former bodyguard for VIP clients, discovers that her best friend Choi Min-hee has committed suicide and her last wish to Ok-ju is to get revenge on sex trafficker Choi Pro, who victimized Min-hee by filming her and extorting money from her. Ok-ju searches for Choi through his internet profile and finds his address. She is watching Choi from afar and follows him home. The following morning Ok-ju breaks into Choi's home and plant listening devices. Ok-ju also discovers a lot of USB with each labeled (assuming his victims) names. Ok-ju finds Choi Min-hee USB nicknamed "ballerina". Ok-ju is devastated of her findings in the USB. A few days later Ok-ju visits a nightclub where Choi will be there. Choi approach Ok-ju thinking she is someone Choi knew. Both left the nightclub and Choi is taking her to the motel where Min-hee was filmed.
Ok-ju fights Choi at the motel and brutally injures him; but Ok-ju is forced to escape as Choi's gang attacks her. Ok-ju and a high school student who wants to escape from the traffickers forge a new plan. Ok-ju reaches out to an old friend to find weapons and strategize a plan to attack the gang. Choi's gang leader orders him to find Ok-ju and bring her to him. Choi's gang tracks down and attacks Ok-ju, who flees through the window.
Choi reports to his gang leader that he has killed Ok-ju and buried her body in the mountains. At the same time it is also reveal, the high school student is kidnapped by Choi from Ok-ju's home and tortures her. Ok-ju visits the gang leader and kills him, and fights other gangsters until one of them reveals Choi's location. Ok-ju finds Choi and disarms him; she then takes Choi to the beach and burns him to death. Ok-ju arrives at Choi's house and takes away all the videos of his victims; she then drives off into the sunset.
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- Jeon Jong-seo as Jang Ok-ju[3]
- Kim Ji-hoon as Choi Pro
- Park Yu-rim as Choi Min-hee[4]
- Shin Se-hwi as a female student
- Park Hyung-soo as Myung-shik[5]
Special appearances
- Kim Mu-yeol as Chief Jo
- Jang Yoon-ju as Mun-yeong
- Kim Young-ok as gun dealer
- Joo Hyun as gun dealer
In April 2022, confirming the production of Ballerina, Netflix announced the cast and crew of the film. Directed by Lee Chung-hyun and produced by Climax Studio, it has Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Ji-hoon, and Park Yu-rim as main cast, while music is composed by Gray.[3] Principal photography commenced in June 2022, and filming was wrapped up in late October in the same year. This film also marks the reunion of Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Ji-hoon and Jang Yoon-ju after working together in the series Money Heist Korea: Joint Economic Area.[2]
In January 2023, Netflix announced its lineup of Korean upcoming films and Ballerina was listed as among the 6 Korean movies being added on the platform.[6]
Music
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| Ballerina | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |||||
| Released | October 6, 2023[9] | ||||
| Recorded | 2022–23 | ||||
| Genre | Soundtrack | ||||
| Length | 43:54 | ||||
| Language | |||||
| Label | |||||
| |||||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "HIGH SCORE. PIROUETTE" | 2:20 | ||
| 2. | "BALLERINA" | Gray DeVita | DeVita | 1:09 |
| 3. | "I GOT BLOOD. POINTSHOES. ON THE SWING" | 2:00 | ||
| 4. | "NIGHT RIDER. BAD MEETS EVIL. BOSS. SMELLS WEIRD. GOOGLE MAP" | 2:13 | ||
| 5. | "BITTERSWEET TRAGEDY" | Gray Jambino | Jambino | 3:02 |
| 6. | "SHOWTIME" | DeVita | 0:52 | |
| 7. | "INTO THE FOREST. DON′T OPEN. NIGHTMARE" | 4:24 | ||
| 8. | "BALLON. PHARMACY. BEFORE THE SHOW" | DeVita | 3:18 | |
| 9. | "THIS IS HOW WE DO IT" | Gray Woo Won-jae | Woo Won-jae | 2:27 |
| 10. | "GRAND PAS DE DEUX" | 3:26 | ||
| 11. | "BLACK FRIDAY. DEAD OR ALIVE. HATE. CON BRIO. ADAGIO" | 6:38 | ||
| 12. | "CHECKMATE" | Gray DeVita | DeVita | 2:26 |
| 13. | "CODA" | 2:23 | ||
| 14. | "KALEIDOSCOPE. POISSON. ON MY HANDS" | 3:45 | ||
| 15. | "BLOOD ON MY HANDS" | Gray Paul Blanco DeVita | Paul Blanco DeVita | 3:31 |
| Total length: | 43:54 | |||
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The film had its premiere at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in 'Korean Cinema Today – Special Premiere' section on October 5, 2023.[10] It is available for streaming from October 6 on Netflix globally.[11][12]
Audience response
Ballerina from October 9 to 15 had 14.7 million views and 23.1 million hours of viewing. It was at 1st place in Global Top 10 weekly list of the most-watched Netflix TV films (Non-English).[13][14]
Critical response
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has an approval rating of 91% based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 6.6/10.[15]
James Marsh of South China Morning Post rated the film 3/5 and criticized the script but praised the performance of Jeon Jong-seo writing, "While the script offers precious little invention beneath its polished surface, Jeon's cold-as-ice angel of vengeance is the film's saving grace". Marsh opined that the director Lee should have explored the depths of Ok-ju's (Jeon Jong-seo) relationship with Min-hee (Park Yu-rim) further. He said that if their relationship had been "more than just platonic, the film might have been a genuine game-changer." He concluded, "As is, Ballerina is a polished yet disposable slice of ho-hum hokum".[16]
Rohan Naahar of The Indian Express rated the film with 3 stars out of 5 and wrote, "Neon visuals and a thumping soundtrack elevate Netflix's slickly packaged Korean revenge thriller that substitutes plot in favour of pure vibes."[17] Kim Jun-mo reviewing for OhmyNews criticized the direction of the film, writing that though "there are eye-catching mise-en-scenes and momentary sense", but "the power to lead the entire play smoothly leaves something to be desired". Kim concluded, "Ballerina was a work that left a disappointing impression on the growth of a promising Chungmu-ro star who had received attention for her fresh attempts, wild imagination, and unique world view."[18]
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| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Dragon Film Awards | 2023 | Best Music | Gray | Nominated | [19] |
| Best Art Direction | Kim Min-hye | Nominated | |||
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