A Dirty Carnival (Biyeolhan geori) (2006)

84% of users liked it
(1,727 ratings)

A small time thug collecting debts for the local triad is torn between his criminal aspirations and his devotion to family in writer/director Yoo Ha's epic crime drama. Byeong-du (Jo In-seong) is a twenty-nine year-old Seoul gangster who's looking to rise up through the ranks. Though his ambition is… More A small time thug collecting debts for the local triad is torn between his criminal aspirations and his devotion to family in writer/director Yoo Ha's epic crime drama. Byeong-du (Jo In-seong) is a twenty-nine year-old Seoul gangster who's looking to rise up through the ranks. Though his ambition is unmistakable, Byeong-du finds his family's financial problems taking a heavy emotional tool as he attempts to intimidate the locals into paying off their lingering debts. It seems that a local real-estate developer is attempting to pressure Byeong-du's mother into selling the family home, but Byeong-du's boss Sang-cheol (Yun je-mun) can't be bothered to care about the problems of his low-level cog. When a rival gang shows up looking to put the hurting on Byeong-du's gang, Sang-cheol blatantly violates the gangster code and Byeong-du becomes right hand man to powerful crime kingpin Hwang Heui-jang (Cheon Ho-jin). Later, after cementing his loyalty to Hwang by killing a local prosecutor, Byeong-du runs into former school chum Min-ho (Nam-gung Min). It seems that Min-ho is about to shoot a gangster film, but first he needs some help getting the script finished. Unfortunately for all involved, Byeong-du's fateful decision to help out his old friend will have tragic consequences. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 21 min.
Directed By: Ha Yu
Written By: Yoo Ha
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Apr 25, 2007 Wide
On DVD: May 20, 2008

Critic Reviews

David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
The film may not be a knockout, but it's still one hell of a punch.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Greg S

A desperate young gangster moves up the criminal ladder while simultaneously trying to reignite relationships from his more innocent school days. It desperately wants to be the Korean GODFATHER, but the characters/scenario/milieu aren't unique enough to justify its epic running… More
A desperate young gangster moves up the criminal ladder while simultaneously trying to reignite relationships from his more innocent school days. It desperately wants to be the Korean GODFATHER, but the characters/scenario/milieu aren't unique enough to justify its epic running time.
Tsubaki S

Another gangster flick from Korea, yet this one manages to form an identity of it's own thanks to it's well written characters and solid casting. While some turns in the plot might be seen way too familiar others are certainly not. Yo In-Seong does a fine job in portraying a… More
Another gangster flick from Korea, yet this one manages to form an identity of it's own thanks to it's well written characters and solid casting. While some turns in the plot might be seen way too familiar others are certainly not. Yo In-Seong does a fine job in portraying a very convincing guy, he's no invincible tough mobster, he cares for his family, for his gang, and when he has to kill he doesn't enjoy doing it at all. The rest of the characters are equally beliavable in their actions and motivations. The fight scenes are not flashy but rather crude and sloppy, just like it would be in a real fight. Overall a very decent entry in a year where Korean cinema has got over-saturated with films of this genre
Lesley N

Korean gangster film. Byung-du, a gangster since school, is moving his way up the ladder, but finds his violent lifestyle at odds with those he left behind, like his family his former sweetheart Hyun-Joo and his old friend Min-Ho, who wants to make a film about gangsters but needs his… More
Korean gangster film. Byung-du, a gangster since school, is moving his way up the ladder, but finds his violent lifestyle at odds with those he left behind, like his family his former sweetheart Hyun-Joo and his old friend Min-Ho, who wants to make a film about gangsters but needs his help to make it authentic, Entertaining enough, though it felt like too many plots from too many gangster films were being squeezed in to one storyline...- and then squeezed out again. And not a patch on A Bittersweet LIfe for showing a conflicted anti-hero. So if you haven't seen that yet, watch that instead. .
Wu C

A very good Korean gangster flick. The story/characters are well portrayed and the violence is relentless.