The Vengeance Trilogy

Released: 23rd October 2006. Trilogy of dark thrillers by Korean director Chan Wook Park. In the first film, 'Sympathy for Mr Vengeance' (2002), deaf mute Ryu (Shin Ha-Kyun) has saved all his hard-earned money for his sister who requires a kidney transplant. He has the wrong blood type to be able to donate one of his kidneys, so he arranges a trade with a group of black-market organ dealers: one of his kidneys and 10 million won in return for their finding a kidney for his sister. Just as the criminals renege on the deal, a legitimate kidney becomes available for transplant. Unfortunately, Ryu no longer has the 10 million won required for the hospital to perform the operation. In retaliation, he and his political activist girlfriend kidnap his former boss's daughter - but events quickly spiral quickly out of control... The second film, 'OldBoy' (2003), is another vibrant and twisted revenge thriller. Oh Dae-Su (Choi Min-Sik) has never taken his role as husband and father seriously and has just been released from police custody for drunk and disorderly behaviour on his own baby daughter's birthday. When he finds himself in solitary confinement in a prison cell after being mysteriously abducted on the street, he has no idea what is going on or why. A year into his imprisonment, he learns from the small television in his cell that his wife is dead, and that he himself is suspected of the crime. When, fifteen years later, he is released as suddenly and inexplicably as he was detained, he is determined to track down his tormentors and wreak his revenge. But little does he know that his kidnappers have even worse horrors in store for him... In 'Lady Vengeance' (2005), Geum-ja Lee (Yeong-ae Lee) is a young woman who works for underworld crime boss Mr Baek (Min-sik Choi). Taking the fall for the abduction and murder of a child, Geum-ja is sent to prison at the age of 19. When she realises that she has been framed by Mr Baek himself, she spends 13 years in prison planning her revenge. On her release, she exacts her vengeance against Mr Baek's goons, before a final confrontation with the mentor who betrayed her.