Alice in Earnestland (Korean성실한 나라의 앨리스; RRSeongsilhan Naraui Aelliseu) is a 2015 South Korean black comedy film written and directed by Ahn Gooc-jin, in his first feature film.[1][2] It premiered at the 16th Jeonju International Film Festival where it received the Grand Prize in the Korean Competition; jury member and noted East Asian film critic Tony Rayns praised the film as "Funny, shocking and sometimes cruel, this film has enough invention and energy to take your breath away."[3][4][5]

Alice in Earnestland
Theatrical poster
Directed byAhn Gooc-jin
Written byAhn Gooc-jin
Produced byYoo Young-shik
Choi Ik-hwan
StarringLee Jung-hyun
CinematographyLee Seok-jun
Edited byKim Woo-il
Music byJang Young-gyu
Production
company
KAFA Films
Distributed byCGV Arthouse
Release dates
  • May 1, 2015 (2015-05-01) (Jeonju International Film Festival)
  • August 13, 2015 (2015-08-13)
Running time
90 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Budget₩200 million
Box office₩760 million

Plot

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Soo-nam is a poor woman struggling to pay the hospital bills for her vegetative husband's care, even though her hard work seems to be hopeless. She is suddenly granted the chance for a turnabout when a redevelopment project takes place. When that falls through, Soo-nam discards her honesty and adapts a cold-blooded approach to take revenge on whoever is responsible for her debt-ridden life.

Cast

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  • Lee Jung-hyun as Soo-nam
  • Lee Hae-young as Gyu-jung
  • Seo Young-hwa as Kyung-sook
  • Myung Gye-nam as Do-chul
  • Lee Jun-hyeok as Hyung-suk
  • Bae Je-ki as Detective Jo
  • Lee Dae-yeon as Chief
  • Ji Dae-han as Detective Park
  • Lee Yong-nyeo
  • Oh Kwang-rok as Art professor
  • Lee Seung-joon

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipient Result
2015 16th Jeonju International Film Festival Grand Prize (Korean Film Competition) Alice in Earnestland Won
39th Hong Kong Asian Film Festival New Talent Award Ahn Gooc-jin Won
35th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards Best Actress Lee Jung-hyun Nominated
36th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Actress Won
2016 7th KOFRA Film Awards Best Independent Film Alice in Earnestland Won
Best Actress Lee Jung-hyun Nominated
3rd Wildflower Film Awards Won
Best New Director Ahn Gooc-jin Nominated
52nd Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress Lee Jung-hyun Nominated
Best New Director Ahn Gooc-jin Nominated
Best Screenplay Won
16th Director's Cut Awards[6] Best Independent Film Director Won
21st Chunsa Film Art Awards Best Actress Lee Jung-hyun Nominated
11th Max Movie Awards Nominated
25th Buil Film Awards Nominated
Best New Director Ahn Gooc-jin Nominated
Best Screenplay Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Alice Works Earnestly in Cinemas". Korean Film Biz Zone. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  2. ^ "Alice in Earnestland shakes box office". The Korea Times. 17 August 2015. Archived from the original on 19 August 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  3. ^ Conran, Pierce (7 March 2015). "POET ON A BUSINESS TRIP and ALICE IN EARNESTLAND Triumph in Jeonju". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  4. ^ Song, Soon-jin (27 May 2015). "Wrapping up the 16th Jeonju International Film Festival". Korean Cinema Today. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
  5. ^ "ALICE IN EARNESTLAND Hits 30,000 Admissions Mark". Korean Film Biz Zone. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  6. ^ Conran, Pierce (11 August 2016). "NA Hong-jin Nabs Best Director from Director's Cut Awards". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
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