No Breathing


No Breathing is a 2013 South Korean sports drama film set in the world of competitive swimming, starring Seo In-guk, Lee Jong-suk and Kwon Yuri. The film was released in theaters on October 30, 2013. As of 2014, it sold approximately 451,669 admissions in Korea only.

Plot

Like his swimming champion father, Won-il was once a promising swimmer. But when his father dies during a swimming competition, soon followed by his mother's death, Won-il quits swimming for good. Instead, he lives life hopelessly and recklessly, like there is no tomorrow. With Won-il in danger of being expelled from school, his father's longtime friend Jae-suk drags him to a physical education-focused high school, hoping that he'll start swimming again. There he meets his long-ago rival, Woo-sang who in the past had always been overshadowed by Won-il. With Won-il's absence from the sport, Woo-sang is now in first place and is a national swimming star. But he gets disqualified from the national tryouts after getting into trouble, so he has to start from ground zero and ends up at the same phys-ed school as Won-il. Woo-sang is Won-il's complete opposite in personality, and all he cares about is winning so he finds Won-il's return to the sport unwelcome. Then there is Jae-suk's daughter, Jung-eun who captures both Won-il and Woo-sang's hearts and further reignites the rivalry between them. The two very different young men begin training for an upcoming swimming competition, battling for love and friendship as they undergo the rite of passage of growing up.

Cast

Main characters

The film began shooting on May 19, 2013. One of the locations was Davao in the Philippines, where the overseas field training scenes were shot, as well as the movie poster.

Release

South Korea

On the day of its release on October 30, 2013, No Breathing drew 44,707 admissions and ranked 4th on the Korean box office. The film sold a total of 451,669 tickets during its domestic run, grossing .

International

The film also received a theatrical release in other Asian countries in December 2013, namely Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The film grossed over $22,655 on its opening weekend in Singapore, grossing $38,740 during its two-week run. On its opening weekend in Hong Kong, it grossed $35,728 and a total of $53,729 at the end of its run.

Soundtrack

On October 22, 2013, CJ E&M Music released two singles for the film, both sung by Kwon Yuri: "Bling Star" and "반짝반짝."