For Horowitz
DirectorKwon Hyung-jin
ProducerCha Seung-jae
Kim Mi-hee
WriterKim Min-sook
StarringUhm Jung-hwa
Shin Eui-jae
Park Yong-woo
CinematographyHwang Dong-guk
EditingSteve M. Choe
Kim Chang-ju
MusicLee Byung-woo
StudioSidus FNH
DistributorShowbox/Mediaplex
ReleasedMay 25, 2006
Runtime108 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
GrossUS$2,534,758

For Horowitz (Korean: 호로비츠를 위하여) is a 2006 South Korean drama film directed by Kwon Hyung-jin and starring Uhm Jung-hwa, Shin Eui-jae and Park Yong-woo.[1][2][3][4]

Plot

Kim Ji-soo is a 30-year-old single woman who once dreamed about becoming a world-class pianist, but ends up opening a small neighborhood piano school on the outskirts of Seoul, where she teaches children to play.

She then meets Yoon Gyung-min, a 7-year-old orphaned boy who starts pestering her for no apparent reason. Gyung-min's parents died in a car accident, and he now lives with his uncaring grandmother. He is a troublemaker, emotionally distant from his peers, and possibly autistic.

When Ji-soo discovers that Gyung-min has untapped musical genius, she becomes determined to turn him into a renowned pianist like Vladimir Horowitz. She does this for her own selfish reasons, because if she gains the reputation of being a great piano teacher, that would lead to her school's success.

She uses music to communicate with her gifted student, ruthlessly giving him intensive piano lessons to prepare him for competitions. But their relationship turns maternal when Ji-soo realizes what the boy really needs is love.

Cast

  • Uhm Jung-hwa as Kim Ji-soo
  • Shin Eui-jae as Yoon Gyung-min
  • Park Yong-woo as Shim Kwang-ho
  • Choi Seon-ja as Gyung-min's grandmother
  • Yoon Ye-ri as Jung-eun
  • Jung In-gi as Ji-soo's older brother
  • Yang Kkot-nim as Ji-soo's sister-in-law
  • Park Young-seo as Pizza shop employee
  • Ko Tae-ho as Bo-ram
  • Lee Seung-hyun as Yoo-sik
  • Kang Soo-jin as Ye-ri
  • Choi Yoon-sun as So-young
  • Kim Bo-ra as Min-hee
  • Seo Ji-ah as Mi-ra
  • Lee Oi-seon as Cleaner Lee
  • Kim Jong-min as Taekwondo Kim
  • Jo Seok-hyun as Video Park
  • Julius Jeongwon Kim as Adult Gyung-min (cameo)[5]

Box office

For Horowitz was released in South Korea on May 25, 2006. It drew 544,656 admissions during its theatrical run.[6]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
200627th Blue Dragon Film Awards[7]Best ActressUhm Jung-hwa
Best New DirectorKwon Hyung-jin
Best MusicLee Byung-woo
Technical AwardRyu Hyeon (Sound)
5th Korean Film Awards[7]Best ActressUhm Jung-hwa
Best MusicLee Byung-woo
200744th Grand Bell Awards[8]Best ActressUhm Jung-hwa
Best New DirectorKwon Hyung-jin
Best ScreenplayKim Min-sook
Best EditingSteve M. Choe, Kim Chang-ju
Best MusicLee Byung-woo
Best SoundRyu Hyeon, Choi Tae-young
10th Shanghai International Film Festival[9]Asia New Talent AwardFor Horowitz

References

  1. ^ Kim, Tae-jong (10 May 2006). "Uhm Breaks Stereotype in New Movie". The Korea Times via Hancinema. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  2. ^ "An Emotional Tour de Force for Uhm Jung-hwa". The Chosun Ilbo. 26 May 2006. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  3. ^ Kim, Tae-jong (25 May 2006). "My Piano, Neither Good Nor Bad". The Korea Times via Hancinema. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  4. ^ Sung, So-young (26 September 2006). "Musical drama falls short of potential". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  5. ^ "Like Meeting an Old Friend". The Dong-A Ilbo. 4 July 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Commercial Releases in 2006: Box-Office Admission Results". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  7. ^ "For Horowitz - Awards". Cinemasie. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  8. ^ Paquet, Darcy (10 June 2007). "Koreans make Grand gesture". Variety. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  9. ^ D'Sa, Nigel (13 June 2007). "8 Korean Films Screen at China's Top Fest". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2016-06-05.