No Breathing (Korean노브레싱) is a 2013 South Korean sports film set in the world of competitive swimming, starring Seo In-guk, Lee Jong-suk and Kwon Yuri.[2] The film was released in theaters on October 30, 2013.[3] As of 2014, it sold approximately 451,669 admissions in Korea only.[4]

No Breathing
Promotional poster for No Breathing
Hangul
노브레싱
Revised RomanizationNobeuresing
Directed byJo Yong-sun
Written byYoo Young-ah
Jo Yong-sun
Produced byLee Song-joon
Lee Geun-wook
Park Chang-hyun
Jung Dae-hoon
Park Se-joon
Park Do-won
StarringLee Jong-suk
Seo In-guk
Kwon Yuri
CinematographyLee Joon-gyu
Edited byHeo Sun-mi
Music byMarco
Production
companies
9ers Entertainment
Soo Jack Films
Union Investment Partners
Distributed byCineguru/Daou Tech
Release date
  • October 30, 2013 (2013-10-30)
Running time
118 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguagesKorean
English
Box officeUS$2,781,101[1]

Plot

edit

Like his swimming champion father, Won-il (Seo In-guk) was once a promising swimmer. But when his father dies during a swimming competition (where he was doing his specialty called "no breathing"), soon followed by his mother's death, Won-il quits swimming for good. Instead, he lives life hopelessly and recklessly, like there is no tomorrow. With Won-il in danger of being expelled from school, his father's longtime friend Jae-suk (Park Chul-min) drags him to a physical education-focused high school, hoping that he'll start swimming again. There he meets his long-ago rival, Woo-sang (Lee Jong-suk) who in the past had always been overshadowed by Won-il. With Won-il's absence from the sport, Woo-sang is now in first place and is a national swimming star. But he gets disqualified from the national tryouts after getting into trouble, so he has to start from ground zero and ends up at the same phys-ed school as Won-il. Woo-sang is Won-il's complete opposite in personality, and all he cares about is winning so he finds Won-il's return to the sport unwelcome. Then there is Jae-suk's daughter, Jung-eun (Kwon Yuri) who captures both Won-il and Woo-sang's hearts and further reignites the rivalry between them. The two very different young men begin training for an upcoming swimming competition, battling for love and friendship as they undergo the rite of passage of growing up.

Cast

edit

Main characters

edit
  • Seo In-guk as Jo Won-il
    • Yoo Seung-yong as young Won-il
A swimming prodigy who stopped participating in the sport, and now wants to make a comeback. He is a headstrong, impulsive, and live-for-the-moment kind of guy.[5]
A national swimmer who is uptight and aloof, and hails from a privileged family.[6]
  • Kwon Yuri as Jung-eun
    • Kim Bo-min as young Jung-eun
A girl with a carefree personality who dreams of becoming a musician. She grew up with the boys as children.[7][8][9]

Supporting characters

edit

Production

edit

The film began shooting on May 19, 2013.[7] One of the locations was Davao in the Philippines, where the overseas field training scenes were shot, as well as the movie poster.[3][11]

Release

edit

South Korea

edit

On the day of its release on October 30, 2013, No Breathing drew 44,707 admissions and ranked 4th on the Korean box office.[12] The film sold a total of 451,669 tickets during its domestic run, grossing ₩2,991,824,739 (or US$2,781,101).[1][13]

International

edit

The film also received a theatrical release in other Asian countries in December 2013, namely Singapore (December 5), Hong Kong (December 12), Taiwan (December 13), and Vietnam (December 28).[14] The film grossed over $22,655 on its opening weekend in Singapore, grossing $38,740 during its two-week run. On its opening weekend in Hong Kong, it grossed $35,728 and a total of $53,729 at the end of its run.[1]

Soundtrack

edit

On October 22, 2013, CJ E&M Music released two singles for the film, both sung by Kwon Yuri: "Bling Star" and "반짝반짝 (Twinkle Twinkle)."[15]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "No Breathing (2013)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  2. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (25 October 2013). "Actors take plunge into swimming roles". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  3. ^ a b Kang, Jung-yeon (10 September 2013). "Lee Jong-suk, Seo In-guk's Sports Pic to Open in October". TenAsia. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
  4. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (25 October 2013). "Actors take plunge into swimming roles". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  5. ^ Jung, Ji-won (12 November 2013). "Singer Seo making a splash as actor". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  6. ^ An, So-hyoun (18 April 2013). "Seo In Guk and Lee Jong Seok Cast for Film No Breathing". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  7. ^ a b Jeon, Su-mi (16 May 2013). "SNSD's Yuri to Make Big Screen Debut with No Breathing". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  8. ^ Lee, Hye-ji (16 May 2013). "Girls' Generation Yuri Cast in Seo In-guk, Lee Jong-suk's Film". TenAsia. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
  9. ^ Lee, Sun-min (17 May 2013). "Yuri will play lead in No Breathing". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  10. ^ "Dal Shabet's Ahyoung to play Yuri's friend in the movie No Breathing". Allkpop. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  11. ^ Hicap, Jonathan (5 August 2013). "Korean movie No Breathing to be filmed in Davao". Korea Observer. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
  12. ^ '노브레싱' 개봉 첫날 5만 5천↑, 활기찬 출발. Asia Economic Daily (in Korean). 31 October 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  13. ^ "Home". kobis.or.kr.
  14. ^ "Lee Jong Suk, Seo In Guk, and Yuri's No Breathing to be released all over Asia". Allkpop. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  15. ^ Hong, Grace Danbi (22 October 2013). "SNSD's Yuri Sings Bling Star for No Breathing MV". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
edit