FRIEND was a huge hit when released in its native South Korea, and as well as becoming the highest grossing film in its homeland at the time, it also ushered in the Korean New Wave that continues to be strong. Now, 12 years later, director Kwak Kyung Taek is returning to the world of friendship and gangsters. Set 17 years after the original, we find Lee Joon Seok (Yoo Oh Seong) released from prison after ordering the death of an old friend and gangster rival in the previous installment. Now he must try and re-install himself into a position of power.
FRIEND, for anyone who hasn’t seen it, is an astonishingly beautiful film in terms of both plotting and aesthetic quality. The story of friends becoming gangsters over the years was a real mix of STAND BY ME and GOODFELLAS and climaxed in an unforgettable fashion. It will be great to see how the sequel unravels, as it looks at father/son relationships.
FRIEND 2: THE LEGACY is released in the US on 13th December. It stars Yoo Oh Seong, Joo Jin Mo, and Kim Woo Bin.
Source: CJ Entertainment
Luke likes many things, films and penguins being among them. He's loved films since the age of 9, when STARGATE and BATMAN FOREVER changed the landscape of modern cinema as we know it. His love of film extends to all aspects of his life, with trips abroad being planned around film locations and only buying products featured in Will Smith movies. His favourite films include SEVEN SAMURAI, PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC, IN BRUGES, LONE STAR, GODZILLA, and a thousand others.
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