Tears (2001)

Tears (Korean: 눈물; RR: Nunmul) is a 2001 South Korean drama film directed by Im Sang-soo. The film explores the lives of a group of marginalized teenagers navigating the harsh realities of street life in the Garibong-dong district of Seoul.

Promotional poster for the film Tears — Promotional poster for the 2001 film Tears.

Plot

The narrative follows Han, a young runaway, and his close friend Chang. While Han is portrayed as quiet and reserved, Chang is depicted as a volatile and aggressive teenager. The two friends navigate a precarious existence, moving between various apartments in the Garibong-dong area. Their lives intersect with other troubled youths, including Lan, a young sex worker, and Seri, a young woman struggling with substance abuse. Together, the group forms an unlikely collective as they attempt to survive the challenges of their environment.

Production

Tears was directed by Im Sang-soo, who also wrote the screenplay. The film was produced by Oh Jung-wan and Kang Bong-rae with a production budget of approximately US$1 million. It features cinematography by Lee Doo-man and has a runtime of 101 minutes. The film was released in South Korea on January 20, 2001.

Cast

Han Joon as Han
Park Ip-sun as Sa-ri
Bong Tae-gyu as Jang
Jo Eun-ji as Ran
Sung Ji-ru as Yong-ho
Kim Eung-soo
Jo Sang-geon
Lee Se-rang
Kim Ki-cheon
Kim Sun-hwa
Lee Bong-kyu as Han's father
Kwon Nam-hee as Han's mother
Park Chan-kuk as a customer