Kim Ki-duk Cinema: 14 Must-Watch Movies by the Director

South Korean master director Kim Ki-duk, his approach to filmmaking, and his most magnificent movies will be the subject of this article.

Kim Ki-duk, considered one of the world’s leading film directors, began his filmmaking career at the age of 36 without any academic or technical training in filmmaking. Kim, who has premiered movies at world-renowned film festivals such as Berlin, Venice, Locarno, and Cannes, and won awards at these festivals, directed 26 feature movies throughout his career.

Award-winning South Korean director Kim Ki-duk gained worldwide fame for his bold depictions of violence and human cruelty in his allegory-rich movies. Raised in a poor family affected by the Korean War, Kim dropped out of school at the age of 14 and worked hard for years, which left him with what he described as a “deep inferiority complex.”

“I hadn’t watched a single movie until I was 30. I remember the first movies I watched: The Silence of the Lambs, starring Anthony Hopkins, and Les Amants du Pont-Neuf, by Leos Carax. These two movies had a huge impact on me. From then on, I started watching movies and, over time, I got to know many filmmakers, such as Emir Kusturica and Shohei Imamura, who helped me gain insight into the film industry.”

In Kim Ki-duk’s movies, which are full of pain, love, cruelty, and compassion, characters sometimes resemble fish or birds, and sometimes they do not speak a single word throughout the movie (as in his famous movie 3-Iron). Yet, strangely, you can never tear your attention away from the screen; you can never predict who will make which decisions or what will happen. In a Kim Ki-duk movie, the deeper the characters’ love for each other, the more intense and painful their relationships become.

In Kim Ki-duk’s movies, characters are sometimes bound by invisible, mystical forces and sometimes punished severely. At times, they embark on a journey to find themselves. Movies “about life and its most fundamental truths,” portrayed with all their abstractness, are central to Kim Ki-duk’s cinematic style.

“I want to make a movie that no one has made yet: something that has never been made before and that no one will ever make again.”

Kim, who directed his first feature-length movie Crocodile in 1996, established the signature theme of much of his subsequent work: stories of antisocial men trying to find meaning in life through their disturbing relationships with women who have been battered by tragic circumstances.

His movies, which often depict horrific violence against both men and women, including the rape of women, have divided audiences. Some accuse him of misogyny, while others praise his cinematography and unflinching portrayal of humanity’s primal instincts and nature with a realism rarely seen in other movies.Though mostly low-budget, Kim’s movies have rarely achieved commercial success. Nonetheless, Kim Ki-duk has made a significant contribution to South Korean cinema, winning prestigious awards like the Golden Lion, Silver Lion, and Silver Bear, as well as the Un Certain Regard award at Cannes.

Movie List Index

1.One on One / Ildaeil

Kim Ki-duk Cinema: 14 Must-Watch Movies by the Director - One on One / Ildaeil

The crime, drama, and thriller One on One, which was the opening movie of the 71st Venice Film Festival as part of the 11th Venice Days, won the Fedora Award for Best Movie at the festival.

After a high school student is murdered, seven suspects are captured by members of a vigilante group.

Information about One on One (Ildaeil)

Title: One on One (Ildaeil)
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Cast: Lee Yoon-ji, Jang Kwang, Lee Jong-suk, Kim Kyung-kyu, Lee Min-ki
Release Year: 2014
Duration: 108 minutes
Country: South Korea
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (availability may vary)
IMDB Rating: 6.3/10
Language: Korean
Age Rating: Not Rated
Similar Movies: The Isle (2000), 3-Iron (2004), The Bow (2005)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: One on One (Ildaeil) on IMDb

2.Moebius

Another opening movie of the 71st Venice Film Festival, the horror drama Moebius, is a hardcore production that was temporarily banned in South Korea. The movie contains no dialogue or monologue.

A woman is furious with jealousy over her husband’s affair. Meanwhile, her children sit on the periphery and observe their violent clashes. One evening, the betrayed wife enters their bedroom with a kitchen knife to take revenge on her husband. The father repels her attack and throws her out of the bedroom. The mother then goes to her son’s room.

Information about Moebius

Title: Moebius
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Cast: Lee Eun-woo, Seo Young-hee, Jae-yeong Jeong, Kim Ki-duk
Release Year: 2013
Duration: 90 minutes
Country: South Korea
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (availability may vary)
IMDB Rating: 6.3/10
Language: Korean
Age Rating: Not Rated
Similar Movies: The Isle (2000), 3-Iron (2004), Pieta (2012)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Moebius on IMDb

3.Dream / Moebiuseu

The director’s 15th movie, Dream, is a drama-mystery work that grossed over $500,000.After a car accident, a man discovers that his dreams are due to a stranger’s sleepwalking.

Information about Dream (Moebiuseu)

Title: Dream (Moebiuseu)
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Cast: Lee Na-young, Gong Yoo, Kim Ji-soo, Lee Jae-eun
Release Year: 2008
Duration: 100 minutes
Country: South Korea
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (availability may vary)
IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
Language: Korean
Age Rating: Not Rated
Similar Movies: The Isle (2000), 3-Iron (2004), The Bow (2005)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Dream (Moebiuseu) on IMDb

4.Bad Guy / Nabbeun Namja

Bad Guy, which received a Golden Bear nomination at the Berlin International Film Festival, garnered critical acclaim for its frank depiction of prostitution, sexual slavery, and gangsterism. The movie grossed $1 million and is a romantic drama.

An emotionless thug tries to ruin the life of a young woman who rejected him. He sets a trap for her to prostitute herself and stalks her regularly, but after a short while, his negative feelings towards her begin to change.

Information about Bad Guy (Nabbeun Namja)

Title: Bad Guy (Nabbeun Namja)
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Cast: Jo Jae-hyeon, Lee Eun-ju, Kim Yu-mi, Lee Sang-woo
Release Year: 2001
Duration: 102 minutes
Country: South Korea
Genre: Drama, Romance, Crime
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (availability may vary)
IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
Language: Korean
Age Rating: Not Rated
Similar Movies: The Isle (2000), 3-Iron (2004), Pieta (2012)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Bad Guy (Nabbeun Namja) on IMDb

5.Arirang (2011)

This documentary movie is about director Kim Ki-Duk’s perspective on his movie career. The movie’s title comes from a Korean folk song of the same name. The movie, which tells the story of Kim Ki-Duk’s previous movie Dream, where the lead actor nearly dies by hanging during filming, as well as personal crises with his colleagues, won the Un Certain Regard award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Information about Arirang

Title: Arirang
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Cast: Kim Ki-duk
Release Year: 2011
Duration: 80 minutes
Country: South Korea
Genre: Documentary, Drama
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (availability may vary)
IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
Language: Korean
Age Rating: Not Rated
Similar Movies: The Bow (2005), 3-Iron (2004), Pieta (2012)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Arirang on IMDb

6.Breath / Soom

Kim Ki-duk’s other Palme d’Or-nominated drama, Breath, grossed over $600,000.

The movie’s plot is a love story centered on a convicted convict who slowly falls in love with a woman who graces his prison cell.

Information about Breath (Soom)

Title: Breath (Soom)
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Cast: Lee Sung-jae, Kim Ki-duk, Jeon Do-yeon
Release Year: 2007
Duration: 100 minutes
Country: South Korea
Genre: Drama, Romance
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (availability may vary)
IMDB Rating: 7.0/10
Language: Korean
Age Rating: Not Rated
Similar Movies: The Isle (2000), 3-Iron (2004), Time (2006)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Breath (Soom) on IMDb

7.The Isle / Seom

The Isle is a drama-thriller that gained notoriety for its gruesome scenes, which caused some viewers to vomit or faint when it premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where it was nominated for a Golden Lion.

A mute young woman who works at a fishing resort in a place surrounded by nature, but whose life is full of problems, falls in love with a man who committed murder and is on the run from the law.

Information about The Isle (Seom)

Title: The Isle (Seom)
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Cast: Lee Eun-ju, Kim Yoo-mi, Park Ji-a, Jung Su-hong
Release Year: 2000
Duration: 90 minutes
Country: South Korea
Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (availability may vary)
IMDB Rating: 7.0/10
Language: Korean
Age Rating: Not Rated
Similar Movies: 3-Iron (2004), Bad Guy (2001), Pieta (2012)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: The Isle (Seom) on IMDb

8.Samaritan Girl / Samaria

Another drama by Kim Ki-duk, Samaritan Girl, won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival. The movie grossed over $300,000.

Jae-Young is an amateur prostitute, and her boss is Yeo-Jin, who is also her best friend. When Jae-Young falls in love with one of her clients, he must suppress his feelings for Yeo-Jin, who becomes jealous of him.

Information about Samaritan Girl (Samaria)

Title: Samaritan Girl (Samaria)
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Cast: Seo Woo, Kim Ki-duk, Lee Eun-ju
Release Year: 2004
Duration: 100 minutes
Country: South Korea
Genre: Drama, Crime, Romance
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (availability may vary)
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
Language: Korean
Age Rating: Not Rated
Similar Movies: The Isle (2000), 3-Iron (2004), Bad Guy (2001)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Samaritan Girl (Samaria) on IMDb

9.The Bow / Hwal

Screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival, The Bow is a symbol-filled movie with very little dialogue. The movie, which grossed over $2 million, is a romantic drama.

A 60-year-old man has been raising a girl since she was a baby on a fishing boat at sea. He decided to marry her on her 17th birthday, and she is now 16. They live a quiet and secluded life, renting the boat to daily fishermen and performing strange divination rituals. However, their lives will change when a young student comes on board.

Information about The Bow (Hwal)

Title: The Bow (Hwal)
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Cast: Yoo Ji-tae, Han Ye-ri, Kim Ki-duk
Release Year: 2005
Duration: 90 minutes
Country: South Korea
Genre: Drama, Romance
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (availability may vary)
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
Language: Korean
Age Rating: Not Rated
Similar Movies: The Isle (2000), 3-Iron (2004), Time (2006)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: The Bow (Hwal) on IMDb

10.Time / Shi Gan

Premiering at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Time grossed only $185,000 at the box office, despite its $1 million budget.

A woman undergoes extensive plastic surgery to save her relationship, but the surgery is not to look more beautiful; rather, it is to change her identity.

Information about Time (Shi Gan)

Title: Time (Shi Gan)
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Cast: Ha Jung-woo, Lim Soo-jung, Kim Ki-duk
Release Year: 2006
Duration: 95 minutes
Country: South Korea
Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (availability may vary)
IMDB Rating: 7.0/10
Language: Korean
Age Rating: Not Rated
Similar Movies: 3-Iron (2004), The Bow (2005), The Isle (2000)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Time (Shi Gan) on IMDb

11.Pietà

Premiering at the Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion, Pietà is a powerful crime drama thriller that grossed over $3.5 million.

A loan shark is forced to reconsider his violent lifestyle when a mysterious woman arrives who claims to be his long-lost mother.

Information about Pietà

Title: Pietà
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Cast: Lee Jung-jin, Jo Min-soo, Kim Ki-duk
Release Year: 2012
Duration: 104 minutes
Country: South Korea
Genre: Drama, Crime
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (availability may vary)
IMDB Rating: 7.1/10
Language: Korean
Age Rating: Not Rated
Similar Movies: The Isle (2000), 3-Iron (2004), Bad Guy (2001)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Pietà on IMDb

12.Address Unknown / Suchwiin Bulmyeong

Address Unknown, the opening movie of the Venice Film Festival in 2001, is based on true stories from the director’s life and what he witnessed.

In Korea, the faint hopes of individuals, loves, and all beautiful feelings are shattered in the continuity of colonialism, civil war, and occupation. After liberation from Japanese colonialism, Korea became the first battleground of the Cold War and is still known today for the divisions that the war left behind.

Information about Address Unknown (Suchwiin Bulmyeong)

Title: Address Unknown (Suchwiin Bulmyeong)
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Cast: Kim Yeong-ho, Lee Sang-woo, Kim Ki-duk
Release Year: 2001
Duration: 90 minutes
Country: South Korea
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (availability may vary)
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
Language: Korean
Age Rating: Not Rated
Similar Movies: The Isle (2000), 3-Iron (2004), Bad Guy (2001)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: Address Unknown (Suchwiin Bulmyeong) on IMDb

13.The Net / Geumul

The movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016. The movie grossed over $350,000 and is a drama.

A North Korean fisherman accidentally breaks down his boat’s engine and drifts towards South Korea. After enduring brutal interrogations in the South, he will be sent back to North Korea.

Information about The Net (Geumul)

Title: The Net (Geumul)
Director: Kim Ki-duk
Cast: Lee Won-keun, Kim Sung-kyu, Jeon Yeo-been
Release Year: 2016
Duration: 113 minutes
Country: South Korea
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV (availability may vary)
IMDB Rating: 6.2/10
Language: Korean
Age Rating: Not Rated
Similar Movies: 3-Iron (2004), The Isle (2000), Time (2006)
Trailer: Watch the Trailer on YouTube
IMDb Link: The Net (Geumul) on IMDb

14.3-Iron / Bin-jip

3-Iron, a crime and romantic drama movie that won the FIPRESCI Award at the Venice Film Festival and the San Sebastián Film Festival, grossed approximately $3.5 million.

A young wandering vagabond enters empty houses to accompany the lives of the residents who are on vacation for a few days. One person with whom his life intersects is Sun-hwa, an abused housewife.