The Villainess (2017 Film)

The Villainess (Korean: 악녀; RR: Aknyeo) is a 2017 South Korean action film directed by Jung Byung-gil. The film follows the story of Sook-hee, a woman raised and trained as a lethal assassin in Yanbian, China, who attempts to forge a new identity and life in South Korea. Her path is complicated by her past and her relationships with two men: Joong-sang, a mysterious figure who trains assassins, and Hyun-soo, who monitors her activities.

Promotional poster for The Villainess — Promotional poster for the 2017 film The Villainess.

Production

The film was directed by Jung Byung-gil, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jung Byung-sik. Principal photography commenced on October 16, 2016, and concluded on February 12, 2017. Lead actress Kim Ok-vin, who portrays Sook-hee, utilized her background in martial arts, including hapkido and taekwondo, for the film's action sequences.

Kim Ok-vin as Sook-hee — Kim Ok-vin stars as the protagonist Sook-hee.

Shin Ha-kyun as Joong-sang — Shin Ha-kyun portrays the mysterious trainer Joong-sang.

Sung Joon as Hyun-soo — Sung Joon plays Hyun-soo, who watches over Sook-hee.

Release and Reception

The Villainess held its world premiere in the "Midnight Screenings" section at the 70th Cannes Film Festival in May 2017. It was released theatrically in South Korea on June 8, 2017, by distributor Next Entertainment World. The film received recognition for its technical execution, particularly its cinematography and action choreography.

Kim Seo-hyung as Kwon-sook — Kim Seo-hyung appears as Kwon-sook.

Jo Eun-ji as Kim-sun — Jo Eun-ji plays the character Kim-sun.

Kim Yun-woo as Eun-hye — Kim Yun-woo portrays Eun-hye.

Awards

The film was honored with several technical awards in South Korea, including:

38th Blue Dragon Film Awards (2017): Best Cinematography & Lighting (Jo Hyung-rae and Park Jung-woo) and Best Technical Award (Kwon Kwi-deok).
54th Daejong Film Awards (2017): Best Technical Award and Best Cinematography.