If You Were Me is a 2003 South Korean omnibus film, comprising six short films directed by six prominent Korean directors, including Park Chan-wook.[2] Commissioned by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea for ₩50 million (US$39,000) each, the shorts deal with discrimination in Korea and the directors were given free rein with regards to subject and style.[3][4][5] The film has spawned three live-action sequels, as well as two animated films, which deal with similar themes.

If You Were Me
Korean name
Hangul
여섯 개의 시선
Revised RomanizationYeoseot gae-ui siseon
McCune–ReischauerYŏsŏt kaeŭi sisŏn
Directed byJeong Jae-eun
Yim Soon-rye
Yeo Kyun-dong
Park Chan-wook
Park Jin-pyo
Park Kwang-su
Written byKim Byeong-seo
Im Yeon-hui
Jeong Jae-eun
Yim Soon-rye
Park Chan-wook
Park Jin-pyo
Park Kwang-su
CinematographyKim Byeong-seo
Kim Tae-han
Kim Jae-hong
Kim Byeong-il
Kim Dong-eun
Edited byLee Chan-ho
Park Yoo-kyeong
Lee Eun-su
Choi Jae-geun
Moon In-dae
Kim Yang-il
Music byOh Bong-jun
Jo Yeong-wook
Choi Seung-hyun
Park Ki-heon
Jo Seong-woo
Distributed byChungeorahm
Release date
  • November 14, 2003 (2003-11-14)[1]
Running time
110 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean

Plot

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  • "Crossing" - A disabled man on crutches hobbling along the streets of Sejongno, downtown Seoul. On paralytic actor Kim Moon-joo and disabled theatre group Hwol. Directed by Yeo Kyun-dong.
  • "The Man with an Affair" - A former sex criminal has been cut off by his neighbors. Raises questions about the human rights of sex offenders. Directed by Jeong Jae-eun.
  • "The Weight of Her" - A high school student must struggle to secure a job because of her undesirable appearance. Discusses discrimination against women. Directed by Yim Soon-rye.
  • "Face Value" - Depicts work settings where job applicants are evaluated by their physical appearance in looks-obsessed Korean society. Directed by Park Kwang-su.
  • "Tongue Tied" - Korean parents' extreme fervor for education is exposed as a child undergoes a tongue operation to enhance his ability in spoken English. Directed by Park Jin-pyo.
  • "N.E.P.A.L.: Never Ending Peace and Love" - A Nepalese woman named Chandra spends six years in a mental hospital after she was mistaken for a Korean who had lost her mind. Addresses the human rights of foreign laborers in Korea. Directed by Park Chan-wook.

Cast

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Film series

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There were five subsequent films in the series:

  • If You Were Me 2 (2006)[6]
  • If You Were Me 3 (2006)[7]
  • If You Were Me 4 (2009)[8]
  • If You Were Me 5 (2011)[9]
  • If You Were Me 6 (2013)[10]

References

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  1. ^ Seoul Box-Office Results (2003) Archived 2007-08-19 at the Wayback Machine. Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved on 23 April 2008.
  2. ^ "If You Were Me". IndieStory. Archived from the original on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
  3. ^ Lee, Ho-jeong (19 March 2003). "Top directors tackle tough topics". Korea Joongang Daily. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012.
  4. ^ Park, Soo-mee (25 April 2003). "Art-house films come to Jeonju". Korea Joongang Daily. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ Hartzell, Adam. "Korean Movie Reviews for 2003: If You Were Me". Koreanfilm.org. Archived from the original on 2010-07-28. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  6. ^ "Daseot gae ui shiseon (2006) - IMDb". IMDb.
  7. ^ "Saebeonjjae Siseon (2006) - IMDb". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2024-05-03. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  8. ^ "Siseon 1318 (2009) - IMDb". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2024-05-04. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  9. ^ "Si-seon neo-meo (2011) - IMDb". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2022-11-08. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  10. ^ "Eo-tteon si-seon (2013) - IMDb". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2022-12-31. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
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