The Book of Fish


The Book of Fish is a 2021 South Korean black-and-white historical drama film directed by Lee Joon-ik. The film starring Sul Kyung-gu and Byun Yo-han, is about an exiled Joseon era scholar and a fisherman and their exchange of knowledge in writing a book. It was theatrically released on March 31, 2021.
The film won the Grand Prize – Film|Grand Prize] at 57th Baeksang Arts Awards in May 2021.

Background

The Book of Fish is set in 1801 about the Joseon era scholar . He was exiled to Heuksando Island during the Catholic Persecution of 1801 in King Sunjo of Joseon's reign. There he wrote a piscine encyclopedia titled . In the film a fictional character Chang-dae, a young, conservative and eager to learn fisherman is introduced.

Plot

In the first year of King Sunjo's reign, is exiled to the remote island of Heuksan due to the Sinyu Persecution. Curious by nature, Jeong Yak-jeon becomes fascinated by marine life and decides to write a book about it. To do so, he seeks help from a young fisherman, Chang-dae, who knows the sea better than anyone. However, Chang-dae refuses outright, declaring that he cannot assist a criminal.
Upon discovering that Chang-dae struggles with self-studying, Jeong Yak-jeon proposes an exchange of knowledge. Though reluctant at first, Chang-dae eventually agrees. Despite their frequent bickering, the two gradually become both teachers and friends to each other. But when Jeong Yak-jeon learns that Chang-dae's true motivation for studying is solely to achieve success, he is deeply disappointed. Likewise, Chang-dae realizes that his path is different from Jeong Yak-jeon's and makes up his mind to leave his mentor's side and step out into the wider world.

Cast

Production

The Book of Fish is a black and white film, which are making a comeback in South Korea.
;Filming
Filming was wrapped up on November 15, 2019.

Release

The film was theatrically released on March 31, 2021 by Megabox.
The Book of Fish has been invited at the 20th [New York Asian Film Festival]. It was featured in 'Standouts' strand and screened at Lincoln Center and SVA Theatre in the two-week festival held from August 6 to 22, 2021 in New York. It was also selected in 'Korean Cinema Today - Panorama Section' at 26th Busan International Film Festival and will be screened in the festival in October 2021. The film was also screened at 10th Korean Film Festival Frankfurt on October 23, 2021. On May 6, 2022, it was screened at the Habitat International Film Festival, at the Habitat Center in New Delhi.
In 2022, it was selected as one of the films in 'The Actor, Sol Kyung-gu' special exhibition event at 26th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival to honour actor Sul Kyung-gu.

Reception

Box office

The film released on March 31, 2021, on 1250 screens. It was at the number 1 place at the Korean box office by collecting 54,000 audiences on the weekend, taking its total commutative audience to 255,000 persons in the second week of its release.
According to Korean Film Council data, it is at 14th place among all the Korean films released in the year 2021, with gross of US$2.71 million and 342,540 admissions, as of 2021.
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    Critical response

Going by Korean review aggregator Naver Movie Database, the film holds an approval rating of 9.11 from the audience.
Kim Boram reviewing The Book of Fish for Yonhap wrote that the film keeps interest of the viewers alive as the tone is not serious. He considered that the beautiful scenery of Heuksando Island made the viewing pleasurable. He praised the performances of Sul Kyung-gu as an open-minded scholar and Byun Yo-han as Chang-dae, a young but conservative fisherman. Concluding the review Boram said, "The black-and-white cinematography makes the movie feel like a Joseon Dynasty ink painting,.... and the viewers even get the sense that color is not really important in the script-driven and performance-based piece."

Awards and nominations

YearAwardsCategoryRecipientResultRef.
202157th Baeksang Arts AwardsGrand PrizeLee Joon-ikWon
202157th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest FilmThe Book of FishNomitated
202157th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Director (Film)|Best Director]Lee Joon-ikNomitated
202157th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Actor (Film)|Best Actor]Byun Yo-hanNomitated
202157th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest ActorSul Kyung-guNomitated
202157th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Screenplay (Film)|Best Screenplay]Kim Se-kyumNomitated
202157th Baeksang Arts AwardsBest CinematographyLee Eui-taeNomitated
2021Chunsa Film Art Awards 2021Best DirectorLee Joon-ikNomitated
2021Chunsa Film Art Awards 2021Best ActorSul Kyung-guNomitated
2021Chunsa Film Art Awards 2021Best ScreenplayKim Se-gyeomNomitated
202130th Buil Film AwardsBest FilmThe Book of FishNomitated
202130th Buil Film AwardsBest DirectorLee Joon-ikWon
202130th Buil Film AwardsBest ActorByun Yo-hanNomitated
202130th Buil Film AwardsBest ActorSul Kyung-guNomitated
202130th Buil Film AwardsBest Supporting ActorJo Woo-jinNomitated
202130th Buil Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressLee Jung-eunNomitated
202130th Buil Film AwardsBest ScreenplayKim Se-gyeomNomitated
202130th Buil Film AwardsBest Cinematography AwardLee Eui-taeNomitated
202130th Buil Film AwardsBest Art/Technical AwardLee Jae-SungNomitated
202115th Asian Film AwardsBest FilmThe Book of FishNomitated
202115th Asian Film AwardsBest DirectorLee Joon-ikNomitated
202115th Asian Film AwardsBest Costume DesignShim Hyun-seobNomitated
202115th Asian Film AwardsBest Art DirectorLee Jae-SungNomitated
202142nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest FilmThe Book of FishNomitated
202142nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest DirectorLee Jun-ikNomitated
202142nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest ActorSol Kyung-guWon
202142nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest ActorByun Yo-hanNomitated
202142nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest ScreenplayKim Se-gyeomWon
202142nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest CinematographyLee Eui-taeWon
202142nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest EditingKim Jeong-hunWon
202142nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest MusicBang Jun-seokWon
202142nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsTechnical AwardShim Hyun-seob Nomitated
202142nd Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest Art DirectionLee Jae-SungNomitated
2021Korean Association of Film Critics AwardsBest FilmThe Book of FishWon
2021Korean Association of Film Critics AwardsBest ActorSol Kyung-guWon
2021Korean Association of Film Critics AwardsBest ScreenplayKim Se-gyeomWon
2021Korean Association of Film Critics AwardsFIPRESCI AwardLee Jun-ikWon
202141st Golden Cinematography AwardsBest ActorSol Kyung-guWon
202141st Golden Cinematography AwardsBest FilmThe Book of FishWon
202141st Golden Cinematography AwardsBest DirectorLee Jun-ikWon
202141st Golden Cinematography AwardsBest CinematographyLee Eui-taeWon
202141st Golden Cinematography AwardsBest New ActressMin Do-heeWon
20218th Korean Film Writers Association AwardsBest DirectorLee Jun-ikWon
20218th Korean Film Writers Association AwardsBest ActorSul Kyung-guWon
20218th Korean Film Writers Association AwardsBest MusicBang Jun-seokWon
2021Busan Film Critics AwardsBest ActorByun Yo-hanWon
2022Director's Cut AwardsBest DirectorLee Joon-ikWon
2022Director's Cut AwardsBest ScreenplayKim Se-gyeomWon