{{Short description|2022 South Korean film}} {{For|the 1984 book by Genevieve Lloyd|The Man of Reason}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox film | name = A Man of Reason | image = A Man of Reason.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | native_name = {{Infobox Korean film name/auto|hangul=^보호자|hanja=保護者|lk=Guardian}} | director = Jung Woo-sung | producer = Song Dae-chan | writer = | screenplay = {{ubl|Jung Hae-sin|Jung Woo-sung}} | based_on = | starring = {{ubl|Jung Woo-sung|Kim Nam-gil|Park Sung-woong|Kim Jun-han|Park Yoo-na}} | music = | cinematography = Go Rak-sun | editing = Kim Man-geun | studio = Studio Take | distributor = Ace Maker Movie Works<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0004136421|author=Yeon Hwi-seon|script-title=ko:정우성 연출 '보호자', 김남길X박성웅→박유나 "검토 중"...드림팀 꾸릴까 [종합]|trans-title=Directed by Jung Woo-sung 'Guardian', Kim Nam-gil X Park Seong-woong → Park Yu-na "under review"... Shall we form a dream team [General]|via=Naver|work=OSEN|date=December 16, 2019|access-date=July 29, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> | released = {{Film date|2022|9|13|Toronto|2023|8|15|South Korea}} | runtime = 103 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tiff.net/events/a-man-of-reason |title=A Man of Reason 보호자|website=Toronto International Film Festival|access-date=July 29, 2022}}</ref> | country = South Korea | language = Korean | budget = | gross = {{USD|941,592}}<ref name="BO">{{cite web |title=A Man of Reason (2023) |url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20192995 |website=Korean Film Biz Zone |access-date=10 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref> }} '''''A Man of Reason''''' ({{korean/auto|^보호자|rr=yes|lit='''''Guardian'''''}}) is a 2022 South Korean action thriller film directed by Jung Woo-sung, in his feature directorial debut. It stars Jung, Kim Nam-gil, Park Sung-woong, Kim Jun-han and Park Yoo-na. The film had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2022,<ref name="Toronto"/> and was released theatrically in South Korea on August 15, 2023.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Lim Soo-yeon |date=January 12, 2023 |title=[2023 기대작⑧] 정우성 감독 '보호자', "감독 정우성의 관점이 담긴 평범함의 딜레마" |trans-title=[2023 Anticipated Work⑧] Director Jung Woo-sung's 'Guardian', "The Dilemma of Ordinaryness with Director Jung Woo-sung's Perspective" |url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=140&aid=0000049370 |access-date=January 12, 2023 |website=Cine21 |language=ko}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |script-title=ko:정우성, 첫 장편 연출...'보호자' 8월 15일 개봉 확정 |url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=396&aid=0000648946 |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Naver News |language=ko}}</ref>
== Plot == After being released from prison after 10 years, Soo-hyuk learns that he has a daughter and decides to leave the gang to live an ordinary life. However, Eung-guk, the boss who had been waiting for Soo-hyuk's release, feels betrayed by his decision. He orders Seong-joon, his right-hand man and the gang's second-in-command, to keep an eye on Soo-hyuk.
Consumed by his inferiority complex toward Soo-hyuk, Seong-joon hires a deadly duo of enforcers, Woo-jin and Jin-ah, to eliminate Soo-hyuk. Ruthless in their own brutal way, the pair approaches Soo-hyuk with deadly intentions.
== Cast == * Jung Woo-sung as Soo-hyuk<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=076&aid=0003898740|author=Jo Ji-young|script-title=ko:[공식] "전세계 주목하는 'K-깐부'"...정우성X이정재, 연출 데뷔 '보호자'→'헌트' 들고 토론토영화제 간다|trans-title=[Official] "The world's attention 'K-Kanbu'"... Jung Woo-sung X Lee Jung-jae, director debut 'Guardian' → 'Hunt' to Toronto Film Festival|publisher=Sports Chosun|via=Naver|date=July 29, 2022|access-date=July 29, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> * Kim Nam-gil as Woo-jin<ref name="main cast">{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0002830324|author=Jeong Hyung-hwa|script-title=ko:[단독]정우성 첫 연출·주연 영화 '보호자' 김남길·박성웅 호흡|trans-title=[Exclusive] Kim Nam-gil and Park Seong-woong in the movie 'Guardian' directed by Jung Woo-sung for the first time|via=Naver|work=Star News|date=December 16, 2020|access-date=July 29, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> * Park Sung-woong as Eung-guk<ref name="main cast"/> * Kim Jun-han as Seong-joon<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000243686|author=Hwang Hye-jin|script-title=ko:김준한 측 "정우성 연출작 '보호자' 출연 확정" 김남길 박성웅과 호흡할까|trans-title=Kim Jun-han's side "Confirmed to appear in Jung Woo-sung's 'Guardian'" Will work with Kim Nam-gil and Park Seong-woong?|via=Naver|work=Newsen|date=February 5, 2020|access-date=July 29, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> * Park Yoo-na as Jin-ah<ref name=":1" /> * Lee Elijah as Min-seo<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=469&aid=0000462113|author=Yoo Soo-kyung|trans-title=[Exclusive] Elijah Lee confirmed to appear in 'Guardian' directed by Jung Woo-sung|script-title=ko:[단독] 이엘리야, 정우성 연출작 '보호자' 출연 확정|via=Naver|work=Hankook Ilbo|date=January 30, 2020|access-date=July 29, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> * Kim Joo-hun as Jun-ho<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kang Seo-jeong |date=August 23, 2023 |script-title=ko:김주헌, 영화 '보호자' 깜짝 등장..정우성 옛 동료로 특별출연 |trans-title=Kim Joo-heon, a surprise appearance in the movie 'Guardian'.. Jung Woo-sung made a special appearance as an old colleague |url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0004912950 |access-date=August 23, 2023 |publisher=OSEN |language=ko |via=Naver}}</ref>
== Production == Principal photography began on February 10, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000244021|author=Heo Min-nyeong|script-title=ko:영화 감독 데뷔 정우성 "2월10일 크랭크인 설렌다"|trans-title=Jung Woo-sung, who debuted as a film director, "I'm excited to crank-in on February 10"|via=Naver|work=Newsen|date=February 6, 2020|access-date=July 29, 2022|language=ko}}</ref>
== Release == The film was invited to the Special Presentations section at 2022 Toronto International Film Festival where it had its world premiere on September 13, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=438&aid=0000048736|author=Park Jae-hwan|script-title=ko:정우성 감독 작품 '보호자' 토론토국제영화제 공식초청|trans-title=Official invitation to Toronto International Film Festival for 'The Guardian' directed by Jung Woo-sung|via=Naver|work=KBS Entertainment|date=July 29, 2022|access-date=July 29, 2022|language=ko}}</ref><ref name="Toronto">{{cite web|url=https://n.news.naver.com/article/001/0013342683?sid=104|author=Kim Boram|title=Two Korean films invited to Toronto film fest|via=Naver|work=Yonhap News Agency|date=July 29, 2022|access-date=July 29, 2022}}</ref> It was screened at Orivita section at the 55th Sitges Film Festival in October 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=433&aid=0000085195|author=Jung Tae-yoon|script-title=ko:'보호자', 시체스 영화제 초청..."정우성, 감독 겸 배우로 참석"|trans-title='Guardian' invited to the Sitges Film Festival... "Jung Woo-sung attends as a director and actor"|work=Dispatch|via=Naver|date=August 29, 2022|access-date=January 13, 2023|language=ko}}</ref> It was also invited at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in 'Korean Cinema Today - Panorama' section and will be screened on October 5, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biff.kr/eng/html/program/prog_all_list.asp?allYear=2023 |title= The 28th Busan International Film Festival: Selection List |website=Busan International Film Festival|date=September 5, 2023|access-date=September 7, 2023|language=en}}</ref>
The film was released theatrically in South Korea on August 15, 2023.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
==Reception== As of October 9, 2023, the film has grossed {{USD|941,592}} at the local box office and accumulated 128,485 admissions.<ref name="BO"/>
== Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |+ ! scope="col" | Award ceremony ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Nominee ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan="1" | Hawaiʻi International Film Festival | style="text-align:center" rowspan="1" | 2022 | Halekulani Career Achievement Award | Jung Woo-sung | {{won}} | style="text-align:center" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=001&aid=0013579002|author=Kim Jeong-jin|script-title=ko:정우성 하와이국제영화제 공로상 수상 |trans-title=Jung Woo-sung Hawaii International Film Festival Achievement Award|work=Yonhap News Agency|via=Naver|date=November 16, 2022|access-date=November 16, 2022|language=ko}}</ref> |- |}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|tt21387514}} * {{hancinema film|A_Man_of_Reason}} * {{KMDb film|28957}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Man of Reason, A}} Category:2022 films Category:2022 South Korean films Category:2022 Korean-language films Category:South Korean action thriller films Category:2022 directorial debut films