Road to Boston
Road to Boston is a 2023 South Korean biographical sports film written and directed by Kang Je-gyu starring Ha Jung-woo, Yim Si-wan, Bae Seong-woo and Kim Sang-ho. It tells the story of Korean athletes who participated in the Boston International Marathon in 1947, the first international marathon held since World War II. It was released theatrically on September 27, 2023, coinciding with Korea's Chuseok holiday.
Plot
In the 1936 Berlin Olympics, marathon gold medalist Sohn Kee-chung set a world record. On the podium, as Japan's national anthem "Kimigayo" played, he covered the Japanese flag on his uniform with a potted plant. Overnight, he became a national hero to Koreans, but under Japanese colonial rule, he was forbidden to run again.In 1947, post-liberation Seoul, rising star Suh Yun-bok is seen as the second Sohn Kee-chung. Suh is suddenly approached by the legendary runner himself, who suggests they compete in the Boston Marathon. Sohn wants to reclaim the glory lost in Berlin, this time running proudly under the Korean flag. Though they couldn't even afford a single pair of running shoes, the Korean marathoners embark on an unforgettable journey to Boston.
Cast
- Ha Jung-woo as Sohn Kee-chung
- Yim Si-wan as Suh Yun-bok
- Bae Seong-woo as Nam Sung-yong
- Kim Sang-ho as Baek Nam-hyeon
- Choi Gyu-hwan
- Oh Hee-jun as Dong-gu
- Seo Jeong-yeon as Suh Yun-bok's mother
- Jung Young-joo as Ok-rim's mother
- Hwang Ja-neung as a former track and field athlete
- Jo Hye-sun as a gisaeng madam
- Ron Kelly as Major General John R. Hodge
- Park Hyo-joo as Yoon-seo
- Park Eun-bin as Ok-rim
Production