3-Iron

2004 Drama

A battered woman finds her soul mate in a most unusual manner in this drama from Korean filmmaker Kim Ki-Duk. Tae-suk (Jae Hee Song) is a young drifter who appears to be homeless by inclination as much as necessity; he squats in the homes of strangers while they're away, carefully seeing to it that no damage is done to the property and sometimes performing small household chores as a display of gratitude. One day, Tae-suk sneaks into a house where a number of photos of a beautiful model adorn the walls. After eating, washing up, and doing some minor repairs, Tae-suk discovers he's being watched by the woman of the house, Sun-hwa (Lee Seung-yeon), and he soon recognizes her as the model in the photos. However, Tae-suk sees that Sun-hwa has been badly bruised, and suspects she's been the victim of domestic violence. When Tae-suk returns to the home later that evening, his suspicions are confirmed as he sees Sun-hwa being slapped around by her husband, Min-kyo (Gweon Hyeok-ho). Tae-suk impulsively bursts into the house, grabs a golf club, and attacks Min-kyo with it; moments later, Tae-suk and Sun-hwa ride away together on his scooter, and she silently joins him in his existence as a squatter, which slowly blossoms into a love affair. Bin-Jip (aka 3-Iron) received its North American premiere at the 2004 Toronto Film Festival. more..

Director: Kim Ki-Duk

Starring: Lee Seung-yeon, Jae Hee, Kwon Hyuk-ho, Joo Jin-mo, Choi Jeong-ho

Reviews

  • Alternately witty, caustic, tender and endlessly imaginative and unpredictable.

    Kevin Thomas - Los Angeles Times

    29 November 2012

  • Despite its cargo of meaning, 3-Iron feels marvelously weightless, like the lovers as they stand on a scale that the hero has fixed.

    Joe Morgenstern - The Wall Street Journal

    29 November 2012

  • A teasing, self-conscious and curiously heartfelt demonstration of his (Mr. Kim) mischievous formal ingenuity.

    Dana Stevens - The New York Times

    29 November 2012

  • It's a film that will stay with you.

    Philip Kennicott - The Washington Post

    29 November 2012

  • 3-Iron is like a Raymond Carver story that slowly, inexorably takes on the dimensions of a ghostly fairy tale.

    Owen Gleiberman - Entertainment Weekly

    29 November 2012

Awards

  • Best Director

    Chlotrudis Awards (2006)

     
  • Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero)

    David di Donatello Awards (2005)

     
  • Ki-duk Kim

    European Film Awards (2004)

     
  • Best Foreign Director (Regista del Miglior Film Straniero)

    Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists (2005)

     
  • Ki-duk Kim

    Pusan International Film Festival (2004)