Dachimawa Lee (2008 Film)

Dachimawa Lee (Korean: 다찌마와 리 - 악인이여 지옥행 급행열차를 타라!) is a 2008 South Korean action-comedy film directed by Ryoo Seung-wan. The film serves as a feature-length expansion of the character introduced in Ryoo's 2000 short film of the same name. Rather than a direct remake, the 2008 production follows the titular character on a new adventure.

Background and Production

The term "Dachimawa Lee" is a Korean idiom used within the film industry to describe "thrilling action." The 2008 feature film was produced by Ryu Jeong-hun and Kang Hye-jeong, with a screenplay written by Ryoo Seung-wan and Hyeok-jae Kwon. Although the narrative is set in diverse international locations—including Shanghai, the Manchurian desert, Princeton, New Jersey, and the Swiss Alps—the entire production was filmed within South Korea.

Plot

Set during the era of Japanese imperialism, the story centers on the theft of a Korean national treasure, the Golden Buddha. The statue is significant not only for its cultural value but because it contains sensitive information regarding the identities and locations of Korean freedom fighters. The interim Korean government tasks the legendary spy Agent Dachimawa Lee with recovering the artifact. After his partner and lover is killed during a mission, Lee attempts to recover the statue in a Manchurian compound, only to fail, lose his memory, and suffer the loss of his new partner, Mari. He is eventually rescued by a woman in the desert, who aids in his recovery and training. Driven by the discovery that the initial failure was an inside job, Lee seeks revenge and confronts the antagonist in the Swiss Alps.

Cast

Film Festivals

The film was screened at several international film festivals, including the Sitges Film Festival (2008), the Hawaii International Film Festival (2008), the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival (2009), the New York Asian Film Festival (2009), the Korean Film Festival in Paris (2010), and the London Korean Film Festival (2011).