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{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
|name = Elegant Lies
| name = Thread of Lies
|image = File:ElegantLies2013Poster.jpg
| image = ElegantLies2013Poster.jpg
|caption = Theatrical poster
| caption = Theatrical poster
|director = [[Lee Han]]
| director = [[Lee Han]]
|producer = Kim Jae-joong <br/> Noh Bong-jo <br/> Kim Dong-woo
| producer = Kim Jae-joong <br/> Noh Bong-jo <br/> Kim Dong-woo
|writer = Lee Sook-yeon <br/> Lee Han
| writer = Lee Sook-yeon <br/> Lee Han
|based on = {{based on|''Elegant Lies''|[[Kim Ryeo-ryeong]]}}
| based_on = {{based on|''Elegant Lies''|[[Kim Ryeo-ryeong]]}}
|starring = [[Kim Hee-ae]] <br/> [[Go Ah-sung]] <br/> [[Kim Hyang-gi]] <br/> [[Kim Yoo-jung]]
| starring = [[Kim Hee-ae]] <br/> [[Go Ah-sung]] <br/> [[Kim Yoo-jung]] <br/> [[Kim Hyang-gi]]
|music = Lee Jaw-lin
| music = Lee Jae-jin
|cinematography = Lee Seung-hyeob
| cinematography = Lee Seung-hyeob
|editing = [[Nam Na-yeong]]
| editing = [[Nam Na-yeong]]
|studio = Ubu Film, Movie Rock
| studio = Ubu Film<br />Movie Rock
|distributor = [[CJ CGV|CGV]] Movie Collage (domestic) <br/> [[CJ Entertainment]] (international)
| distributor = [[CJ CGV|CGV]] Movie Collage (domestic) <br/> [[CJ Entertainment]] (international)
|released = {{Film date|2014|3|13}}
| released = {{Film date|2014|3|13}}
|runtime = 117 minutes
| runtime = 117 minutes
|country = South Korea
| country = South Korea
|language = Korean
| language = Korean
|budget = {{USD|1.96 million}}
| budget = {{USD|2 million}}
| gross = {{USD|14.1 million}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Elegant Lie (2014)|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/intl/?page=&id=_fELEGANTLIE01|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|accessdate=2015-03-04}}</ref>
|gross =
}}
}}
'''''Elegant Lies''''' ({{ko-hhrm|우아한 거짓말||Uahan Geojitmal}}), released internationally as '''''Thread of Lies''''', is a 2014 [[South Korea]]n film based on the 2009 bestselling novel ''Elegant Lies'' by [[Kim Ryeo-ryeong]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Song|first=Soon-jin|title=ELEGANT LIES Press Conference Held|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=2934|work=Korean Film Council|accessdate=2014-03-02|date=24 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.changbi.com/books/1274/|title=Elegant Lies|website=Changbi Publishers|accessdate=2014-06-28}}</ref> Directed by [[Lee Han]], it starred [[Kim Hee-ae]] (in her first film in 21 years),<ref>{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Sun-min|title=Kim Hee-ae will return to big screen|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2969454|work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]|accessdate=2014-03-02|date=2 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kim Hee-ae Returns to Silver Screen After Two Decades|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/03/12/2014031200578.html|work=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]|accessdate=2014-03-12|date=12 March 2014}}</ref> [[Go Ah-sung]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Eun-ah|title=''Snowpiercer'' Star Ko A-sung Cast in New Film|url=http://www.tenasia.com/snowpiercer-star-ko-a-sung-cast-in-new-film/|work=TenAsia|accessdate=2014-03-02|date=20 August 2013}}</ref> [[Kim Hyang-gi]] and [[Kim Yoo-jung]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Jin|first=Eun-soo|title=''Elegant Lies'' looks at family's ugly truths|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2985255|work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]|accessdate=2014-03-02|date=21 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ji|first=Yong-jin|title=Charming and Addictive Korean Films: A message to family, friends and society - ''An Elegant Lie''|url=http://koreanfilm.or.kr/webzine/sub/feature.jsp?mode=A_VIEW&wbSeq=100|work=Korean Cinema Today|accessdate=2014-03-02|date=25 April 2013}}</ref>
'''''Thread of Lies''''' ({{ko-hhrm|우아한 거짓말||Uahan Geojitmal}}; lit. ''Elegant Lies'') is a 2014 [[South Korea]]n [[Mystery film|mystery]] [[thriller film]] based on the 2009 bestselling novel ''Elegant Lies'' by [[Kim Ryeo-ryeong]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Song|first=Soon-jin|title=ELEGANT LIES Press Conference Held|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=2934|work=Korean Film Council|accessdate=2014-03-02|date=24 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.changbi.com/books/1274/|title=Elegant Lies|website=Changbi Publishers|accessdate=2014-06-28}}</ref> Directed by [[Lee Han]], it starred [[Kim Hee-ae]] (in her first film in 21 years),<ref>{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Sun-min|title=Kim Hee-ae will return to big screen|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2969454|work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]|accessdate=2014-03-02|date=2 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kim Hee-ae Returns to Silver Screen After Two Decades|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2014/03/12/2014031200578.html|work=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]|accessdate=2014-03-12|date=12 March 2014}}</ref> [[Go Ah-sung]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Eun-ah|title=''Snowpiercer'' Star Ko A-sung Cast in New Film|url=http://www.tenasia.com/snowpiercer-star-ko-a-sung-cast-in-new-film/|work=TenAsia|accessdate=2014-03-02|date=20 August 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808200548/http://www.tenasia.com/snowpiercer-star-ko-a-sung-cast-in-new-film/|archivedate=8 August 2014}}</ref> [[Kim Yoo-jung]] and [[Kim Hyang-gi]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Jin|first=Eun-soo|title=''Elegant Lies'' looks at family's ugly truths|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2985255|work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]|accessdate=2014-03-02|date=21 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ji|first=Yong-jin|title=Charming and Addictive Korean Films: A message to family, friends and society - ''An Elegant Lie''|url=http://koreanfilm.or.kr/webzine/sub/feature.jsp?mode=A_VIEW&wbSeq=100|work=Korean Cinema Today|accessdate=2014-03-02|date=25 April 2013}}</ref>


''Elegant Lies'' deals with the aftermath of a [[suicide]] by a 14-year-old girl. The [[nonlinear narrative]] follows her mother and older sister who set out to solve the mystery of her death, insinuating themselves into the life of the girl who [[bullying|bullied]] her.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jin|first=Eun-soo|title=''Elegant Lies'' coming soon|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2984217|work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]|accessdate=2014-03-02|date=29 January 2014}}</ref>
''Thread of Lies'' deals with the aftermath of a [[suicide]] by a 14-year-old girl. The [[nonlinear narrative]] follows her mother and older sister who set out to solve the mystery of her death, insinuating themselves into the life of the girl who [[bullying|bullied]] her.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jin|first=Eun-soo|title=''Elegant Lies'' coming soon|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2984217|work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]|accessdate=2014-03-02|date=29 January 2014}}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
Line 28: Line 28:


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{Div col}}
*[[Kim Hee-ae]] as Hyun-sook
*[[Kim Hee-ae]] as Hyun-sook
*[[Go Ah-sung]] as Man-ji
*[[Go Ah-sung]] as Lee Man-ji
*[[Kim Hyang-gi]] as Cheon-ji
*[[Kim Yoo-jung]] as Kim Hwa-yeon
*[[Kim Yoo-jung]] as Hwa-yeon
*[[Kim Hyang-gi]] as Lee Cheon-ji
*[[Yoo Ah-in]] as Choo Sang-bak
*[[Yoo Ah-in]] as Choo Sang-bak
*[[Sung Dong-il]] as Kwak Man-ho
*[[Sung Dong-il]] as Kwak Man-ho
*[[Chun Woo-hee]] as Mi-ran
*[[Chun Woo-hee]] as Kwak Mi-ran
*[[Yoo Yeon-mi]] as Mi-ra
*[[Yoo Yeon-mi]] as Kwak Mi-ra
*Park Soo-young as Mr. Im
*[[Park Soo-young (actor)|Park Soo-young]] as Mr. Im
*Kim Jung-young as Hwa-yeon's mother
*[[Kim Jung-young]] as Hwa-yeon's mother
*Lee Jae-gu as Hwa-yeon's father
*Lee Jae-gu as Hwa-yeon's father
*Kim Ji-hoon as Hyun-sook's co-worker, the dumplings guy
*Kim Ji-hoon as Hyun-sook's co-worker, the dumplings guy
*Lee Hee-won as Teacher Lee
*Jang Ah-young as Teacher Lee
*Lee Young-eun as Mi-so
*Lee Young-eun as Mi-so
*Park Ji-young as Soo-kyung
*Park Ji-young as Soo-kyung
*Han Sung-yong as Park, Chinese restaurant delivery man
*Han Sung-yong as Park, Chinese restaurant delivery man
{{Div col end}}


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
Luke Ryan Baldock of ''The Hollywood News'' called it "the best film of the year so far," with "the best exploration of bullying ever seen on-screen, as well as being an uplifting tale of life after death and the importance of understanding." He also praised the script as "brave" for "[tackling] such complex issues in a fair, balanced, and non-judgmental way," and the acting as "miraculous across the board, with the young cast taking centre stage and representing the full gamut of emotions."<ref>{{cite web|last=Baldock|first=Luke Ryan|title=Thread Of Lies Review|url=http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2014/03/20/thread-lies-review/|work=The Hollywood News|accessdate=2014-03-29|date=20 March 2014}}</ref>
Luke Ryan Baldock of ''The Hollywood News'' called it "the best film of the year so far," with "the best exploration of bullying ever seen on-screen, as well as being an uplifting tale of life after death and the importance of understanding." He also praised the script as "brave" for "[tackling] such complex issues in a fair, balanced, and non-judgmental way," and the acting as "miraculous across the board, with the young cast taking centre stage and representing the full gamut of emotions."<ref>{{cite web|last=Baldock|first=Luke Ryan|title=Thread Of Lies Review|url=http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2014/03/20/thread-lies-review/|work=The Hollywood News|accessdate=2014-03-29|date=20 March 2014}}</ref>


Describing it as a "superbly constructed drama," Richard Kuipers of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote, "Rarely, if ever, has the topic of teenage bullying been examined in such forensic detail and delivered with such devastating emotional impact," and that "helmer Lee Han maintains perfect tonal control and elicits fine performances from a predominantly female cast."<ref>{{cite web|last=Kuipers|first=Richard|title=Hong Kong Film Review: ''Thread of Lies''|url=http://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/hong-kong-film-review-thread-of-lies-1201149800/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|accessdate=2014-03-29|date=28 March 2014}}</ref>
Describing it as a "superbly constructed drama," Richard Kuipers of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote, "Rarely, if ever, has the topic of teenage bullying been examined in such forensic detail and delivered with such devastating emotional impact," and that "helmer Lee Han maintains perfect tonal control and elicits fine performances from a predominantly female cast."<ref>{{cite web|last=Kuipers|first=Richard|title=Hong Kong Film Review: ''Thread of Lies''|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/hong-kong-film-review-thread-of-lies-1201149800/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|accessdate=2014-03-29|date=28 March 2014}}</ref>


==Box office==
==Box office==
''Elegant Lies'' was released in theaters on March 13, 2014. It took the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office, the first local film to do so in six weeks, by drawing 182,620 viewers on its opening weekend. According to the Korean Film Council, the film had approximately 680,000 admissions in its first week, earning {{SK won|3.86 billion}} (or {{USD|3.61 million}}).<ref>{{cite web|last=Kim|first=Hee-eun|title=''Elegant Lies'' top film in Korea|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2986479|work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]|accessdate=2014-03-19|date=18 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ma|first=Kevin|title=Thread of Lies tops South Korea B.O.|url=http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/thread-of-lies-tops-south-korea-bo|work=[[Film Business Asia]]|accessdate=2014-03-27|date=18 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Tae|first=Sang-joon|title=Box Office: March 6-19, 2014|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/reports.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=275|work=Korean Film Council|accessdate=2014-03-27|date=24 March 2014}}</ref>
''Thread of Lies'' was released in theaters on March 13, 2014. It took the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office, the first local film to do so in six weeks, by drawing 182,620 viewers on its opening weekend. According to the Korean Film Council, the film had approximately 680,000 admissions in its first week, earning {{SK won|3.86 billion}} (or {{USD|3.61 million}}).<ref>{{cite web|last=Kim|first=Hee-eun|title=''Elegant Lies'' top film in Korea|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2986479|work=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]|accessdate=2014-03-19|date=18 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ma|first=Kevin|title=Thread of Lies tops South Korea B.O.|url=http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/thread-of-lies-tops-south-korea-bo|work=[[Film Business Asia]]|accessdate=2014-03-27|date=18 March 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326091821/http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/thread-of-lies-tops-south-korea-bo|archivedate=26 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Tae|first=Sang-joon|title=Box Office: March 6-19, 2014|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/reports.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=275|work=Korean Film Council|accessdate=2014-03-27|date=24 March 2014}}</ref>


Through positive [[word of mouth]], the small-budget film ({{SK won|2.1 billion}}, or {{USD|1.96 million}}) grossed more than {{USD|8 million}} by its second week with 1.2 million admissions, maintaining a strong showing at the box office and online reservation sites, despite competition from ''[[Noah (2014 film)|Noah]]'', ''[[300: Rise of an Empire]]'' and other imported films. [[Film distributor|Distributor]] [[CJ CGV|CGV]] Movie Collage said the film initially had problems going into production because investors doubted its mainstream appeal. But the film resonated with audiences, in a country where [[suicide in South Korea|suicide]], particularly among youths, is a major social issue (Korea has the [[List of countries by suicide rate|highest suicide rate]] among developed/[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]] countries). Select theaters screened a [[Universal_design#The_.22Barrier-Free.22_concept|barrier-free]] version, with [[subtitle (captioning)|subtitles]]/narration for the [[blindness|blind]] and [[hearing impaired]]. Special screenings also took place for student and teacher groups, and the main cast members participated in an anti-[[school bullying]] campaign on March 27, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Hyo-won|title=Suicide Drama ''Thread of Lies'' a Surprise Hit at South Korean Box Office|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/suicide-drama-thread-lies-a-690820|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|accessdate=2014-03-27|date=24 March 2014}}</ref>
Through positive [[word of mouth]], the small-budget film ({{SK won|2.1 billion}}, or {{USD|1.96 million}}) grossed more than {{USD|8 million}} by its second week with 1.2 million admissions, maintaining a strong showing at the box office and online reservation sites, despite competition from ''[[Noah (2014 film)|Noah]]'', ''[[300: Rise of an Empire]]'' and other imported films. [[Film distributor|Distributor]] [[CJ CGV|CGV]] Movie Collage said the film initially had problems going into production because investors doubted its mainstream appeal. But the film resonated with audiences, in a country where [[suicide in South Korea|suicide]], particularly among youths, is a major social issue (Korea has the [[List of countries by suicide rate|highest suicide rate]] among developed/[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]] countries). Select theaters screened a [[Universal design#The .22Barrier-Free.22 concept|barrier-free]] version, with [[subtitle (captioning)|subtitles]]/narration for the [[blindness|blind]] and [[hearing impaired]]. Special screenings also took place for student and teacher groups, and the main cast members participated in an anti-[[school bullying]] campaign on March 27, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Hyo-won|title=Suicide Drama ''Thread of Lies'' a Surprise Hit at South Korean Box Office|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/suicide-drama-thread-lies-a-690820|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|accessdate=2014-03-27|date=24 March 2014}}</ref>


After 32 days in cinemas, the film has grossed {{SK won|11.6 billion}} ({{USD|11.2 million}}) from 1.61 million admissions.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ma|first=Kevin|title=Captain America fends off Korean newcomers|url=http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/captain-america-fends-off-korean-newcomers|work=[[Film Business Asia]]|accessdate=2014-04-25|date=16 April 2014}}</ref>
After 32 days in cinemas, the film grossed {{SK won|11.6 billion}} ({{USD|11.2 million}}) from 1,619,188 admissions.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ma|first=Kevin|title=Captain America fends off Korean newcomers|url=http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/captain-america-fends-off-korean-newcomers|work=[[Film Business Asia]]|accessdate=2014-04-25|date=16 April 2014}}</ref>


==Awards and nominations==
==Awards and nominations==
Line 63: Line 65:
|-
|-
| rowspan=6| 2014
| rowspan=6| 2014
| rowspan=2| <center> [[50th Paeksang Arts Awards|50th]] [[Baeksang Arts Awards]]
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | [[50th Baeksang Arts Awards]]
| Best Actress || [[Kim Hee-ae]] || {{nom}}
| [[Baeksang Arts Awards for Best Actress (Film)|Best Actress]] ||[[Kim Hee-ae]] || {{nom}}
|-
|-
| Best New Actress || [[Kim Hyang-gi]] || {{won}}
| rowspan=3|Best New Actress || rowspan=3|[[Kim Hyang-gi]] || {{won}}
|-
|-
| <center> 23rd [[Buil Film Awards]] || Best New Actress || [[Kim Hyang-gi]] || {{nom}}
|style="text-align:center;"| [[23rd Buil Film Awards|23rd]] [[Buil Film Awards]] || {{nom}}
|-
|-
| <center> 51st [[Grand Bell Awards]] || Best New Actress || [[Kim Hyang-gi]] || {{nom}}
|style="text-align:center;"| [[51st Grand Bell Awards|51st]] [[Grand Bell Awards]] || {{nom}}
|-
|-
| rowspan=2| <center> 35th [[Blue Dragon Film Awards]]
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | [[35th Blue Dragon Film Awards]]
| Best Actress || [[Kim Hee-ae]] || {{nom}}
| [[Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] ||[[Kim Hee-ae]] || {{nom}}
|-
|-
| Best New Actress || [[Kim Yoo-jung]] || {{nom}}
| Best New Actress || [[Kim Yoo-jung]] || {{nom}}
|-
| 2015
|style="text-align:center;"| 45th [[Giffoni Film Festival]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Conran|first1=Pierce|title=COIN LOCKER GIRL Picks Up Award in Giffoni|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=3529|website=Korean Film Biz Zone|accessdate=2015-08-18|date=11 August 2015}}</ref> || Cinecircoli Giovanili Socioculturali Award || ''Thread of Lies'' || {{won}}
|-
|-
|}
|}
Line 83: Line 88:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{official website|http://elegantlies.co.kr/}} {{ko icon}}
*{{official website|http://elegantlies.co.kr/}} {{in lang|ko}}
*{{facebook|elegantlies|''Elegant Lies''}} {{ko icon}}
*[http://cafe.naver.com/elegantlies ''Elegant Lies''] at [[Naver]] {{ko icon}}
⚫
*{{hancinema film|Elegant_Lies|Elegant Lies}}
⚫
*{{kmdb film|14023|Thread of Lies}}
*[http://cj-entertainment.com/movies/140317-001/thread-of-lies/ ''Thread of Lies''] at [[CJ Entertainment]]
*[http://cj-entertainment.com/movies/140317-001/thread-of-lies/ ''Thread of Lies''] at [[CJ Entertainment]]
⚫
*{{kmdb film|14023|Thread of Lies}}
*{{IMDb title|3837154|Thread of Lies}}
⚫
*{{hancinema film|Elegant_Lies|Elegant Lies}}
{{Lee Han}}


[[Category:2014 films]]
[[Category:2014 films]]
[[Category:South Korean drama films]]
[[Category:South Korean drama films]]
[[Category:South Korean mystery films]]
[[Category:South Korean mystery films]]
⚫
[[Category:South Korean films]]
[[Category:Films about bullying]]
[[Category:Films about bullying]]
[[Category:Films about suicide]]
[[Category:Films about suicide]]
[[Category:Films directed by Lee Han]]
[[Category:2010s Korean-language films]]
[[Category:Films based on South Korean novels]]
⚫
[[Category:2010s South Korean films]]

Latest revision as of 12:01, 12 February 2024

Thread of Lies
Theatrical poster
Directed byLee Han
Written byLee Sook-yeon
Lee Han
Based onElegant Lies
by Kim Ryeo-ryeong
Produced byKim Jae-joong
Noh Bong-jo
Kim Dong-woo
StarringKim Hee-ae
Go Ah-sung
Kim Yoo-jung
Kim Hyang-gi
CinematographyLee Seung-hyeob
Edited byNam Na-yeong
Music byLee Jae-jin
Production
companies
Ubu Film
Movie Rock
Distributed byCGV Movie Collage (domestic)
CJ Entertainment (international)
Release date
  • March 13, 2014 (2014-03-13)
Running time
117 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
BudgetUS$2 million
Box officeUS$14.1 million[1]

Thread of Lies (Korean: 우아한 거짓말; RR: Uahan Geojitmal; lit. Elegant Lies) is a 2014 South Korean mystery thriller film based on the 2009 bestselling novel Elegant Lies by Kim Ryeo-ryeong.[2][3] Directed by Lee Han, it starred Kim Hee-ae (in her first film in 21 years),[4][5] Go Ah-sung,[6] Kim Yoo-jung and Kim Hyang-gi.[7][8]

Thread of Lies deals with the aftermath of a suicide by a 14-year-old girl. The nonlinear narrative follows her mother and older sister who set out to solve the mystery of her death, insinuating themselves into the life of the girl who bullied her.[9]

Plot

[edit]

Hyun-sook (Kim Hee-ae) is a widowed single mother who is raising two teenage daughters while working at a big grocery store. One day, her youngest child, 14-year-old Cheon-ji (Kim Hyang-gi) suddenly commits suicide by hanging without even leaving a note. To Hyun-sook and her older daughter Man-ji (Go Ah-sung), Cheon-ji was the sweet child of the family who rarely complained and studied hard, while always trying to comfort her hardworking, often-weary mother. Struggling with guilt and anger, and not knowing why Cheon-ji chose to kill herself, the two women wonder whether there was something they missed or something they could have said or done. Flashbacks of Cheon-ji's past show that she had been the victim of cruel acts of bullying at her middle school, led by Hwa-yeon (Kim Yoo-jung), the prettiest and most popular girl in class whose true callous and manipulative nature hides a tortured soul.[10][11]

Cast

[edit]

Critical reception

[edit]

Luke Ryan Baldock of The Hollywood News called it "the best film of the year so far," with "the best exploration of bullying ever seen on-screen, as well as being an uplifting tale of life after death and the importance of understanding." He also praised the script as "brave" for "[tackling] such complex issues in a fair, balanced, and non-judgmental way," and the acting as "miraculous across the board, with the young cast taking centre stage and representing the full gamut of emotions."[12]

Describing it as a "superbly constructed drama," Richard Kuipers of Variety wrote, "Rarely, if ever, has the topic of teenage bullying been examined in such forensic detail and delivered with such devastating emotional impact," and that "helmer Lee Han maintains perfect tonal control and elicits fine performances from a predominantly female cast."[13]

Box office

[edit]

Thread of Lies was released in theaters on March 13, 2014. It took the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office, the first local film to do so in six weeks, by drawing 182,620 viewers on its opening weekend. According to the Korean Film Council, the film had approximately 680,000 admissions in its first week, earning ₩3.86 billion (or US$3.61 million).[14][15][16]

Through positive word of mouth, the small-budget film (₩2.1 billion, or US$1.96 million) grossed more than US$8 million by its second week with 1.2 million admissions, maintaining a strong showing at the box office and online reservation sites, despite competition from Noah, 300: Rise of an Empire and other imported films. Distributor CGV Movie Collage said the film initially had problems going into production because investors doubted its mainstream appeal. But the film resonated with audiences, in a country where suicide, particularly among youths, is a major social issue (Korea has the highest suicide rate among developed/OECD countries). Select theaters screened a barrier-free version, with subtitles/narration for the blind and hearing impaired. Special screenings also took place for student and teacher groups, and the main cast members participated in an anti-school bullying campaign on March 27, 2014.[17]

After 32 days in cinemas, the film grossed ₩11.6 billion (US$11.2 million) from 1,619,188 admissions.[18]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Recipient Result
2014 50th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actress Kim Hee-ae Nominated
Best New Actress Kim Hyang-gi Won
23rd Buil Film Awards Nominated
51st Grand Bell Awards Nominated
35th Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Actress Kim Hee-ae Nominated
Best New Actress Kim Yoo-jung Nominated
2015 45th Giffoni Film Festival[19] Cinecircoli Giovanili Socioculturali Award Thread of Lies Won

References

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  1. ^ "Elegant Lie (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  2. ^ Song, Soon-jin (24 February 2014). "ELEGANT LIES Press Conference Held". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  3. ^ "Elegant Lies". Changbi Publishers. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
  4. ^ Lee, Sun-min (2 April 2013). "Kim Hee-ae will return to big screen". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  5. ^ "Kim Hee-ae Returns to Silver Screen After Two Decades". The Chosun Ilbo. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
  6. ^ Lee, Eun-ah (20 August 2013). "Snowpiercer Star Ko A-sung Cast in New Film". TenAsia. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  7. ^ Jin, Eun-soo (21 February 2014). "Elegant Lies looks at family's ugly truths". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  8. ^ Ji, Yong-jin (25 April 2013). "Charming and Addictive Korean Films: A message to family, friends and society - An Elegant Lie". Korean Cinema Today. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  9. ^ Jin, Eun-soo (29 January 2014). "Elegant Lies coming soon". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  10. ^ Lee, Claire (26 February 2014). "Elegant Lies tackles teen bullying". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  11. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (7 March 2014). "Lies tells truth about survivors of teen's suicide". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  12. ^ Baldock, Luke Ryan (20 March 2014). "Thread Of Lies Review". The Hollywood News. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
  13. ^ Kuipers, Richard (28 March 2014). "Hong Kong Film Review: Thread of Lies". Variety. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
  14. ^ Kim, Hee-eun (18 March 2014). "Elegant Lies top film in Korea". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  15. ^ Ma, Kevin (18 March 2014). "Thread of Lies tops South Korea B.O." Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  16. ^ Tae, Sang-joon (24 March 2014). "Box Office: March 6-19, 2014". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  17. ^ Lee, Hyo-won (24 March 2014). "Suicide Drama Thread of Lies a Surprise Hit at South Korean Box Office". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  18. ^ Ma, Kevin (16 April 2014). "Captain America fends off Korean newcomers". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
  19. ^ Conran, Pierce (11 August 2015). "COIN LOCKER GIRL Picks Up Award in Giffoni". Korean Film Biz Zone. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
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