FRIEND (CHINGU) Asian New Classics

Korean cinema is on a tear and FRIEND is now the king of the heap, setting a new box office record previously held by JOINT SECURITY AREA, with more than double the admissions of the top Hollywood blockbusters released in Korea.

Four boys are the best of friends, growing up in the coastal town of Pusan in the 1970s. One is smart, one is a clown, and the last two are tough, with one being the son of a gangster. Together, they experience dirty magazines, music and girls, but as they enter manhood they drift apart. The smart one goes to the United States to study. When he returns to Pusan, they all meet up again, but now the two tough friends are in rival gangs and blood has to be spilled.

Kwak Kyung-taek studied filmmaking in the US as did his cinematographer, giving FRIEND the assured sweep of a Hollywood film. Featuring brilliantly rendered scenes and strong acting, FRIEND is impressive and completely entertaining to the end.