A Normal Family
| A Normal Family | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Hangul | 보통의 가족 |
| Hanja | 普通의 家族 |
| Revised Romanization | Botong-ui Gajok |
| Directed by | Hur Jin-ho |
| Written by | Park Eun-kyo Park Joon-seok |
| Based on | The Dinner by Herman Koch |
| Produced by | Kim Won-kuk |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Go Rak-sun |
| Edited by | Kim Hyung-joo |
| Music by | Cho Sung-woo |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 116 minutes[1] |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | $4.4 million[2][3] |
A Normal Family (Korean: 보통의 가족) is a 2023 South Korean drama film directed by Hur Jin-ho and written by Park Eun-kyo and Park Joon-seok, based on the 2009 novel The Dinner by Herman Koch. It is the fourth film adaptation of the novel, following the 2013 Dutch film Het Diner, the 2014 Italian film I nostri ragazzi, and the 2017 American film The Dinner. The film stars Sul Kyung-gu, Jang Dong-gun, Kim Hee-ae, and Claudia Kim.[4] It centres on two wealthy families who meet for dinner to discuss and decide how to handle a violent crime committed by their children.[5]
The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2023,[1][6] and was released in South Korea on October 9, 2024.[7]
Plot
[edit]Jae-wan is a successful lawyer who is hired to defend a wealthy executive's son who intentionally killed a man and severely injured the man's daughter. Jae-wan's younger brother, Jae-gyu, is a principled paediatrician who prioritizes his patients' health over personal gain and profit. The brothers and their wives meet monthly and enjoy luxurious meals at high-end restaurants, but when they learn of a violent crime committed by their teenagers, it challenges their moral values and changes the tone of their usual dinner discussions. As the situation escalates, their seemingly close brotherly bond starts to fade.[8]
Cast
[edit]- Sul Kyung-gu as Yang Jae-wan[9]
- Jang Dong-gun as Yang Jae-gyu[9]
- Kim Hee-ae as Lee Yeon-kyung[9]
- Claudia Kim as Ji-su[9]
- Hong Ye-ji as Hye-yoon[10]
- Kim Jung-chul as Yang Si-ho
- Byun Joong-hee as Jae-wan and Jae-gyu's mother
- Choi Ri as Seon-ju
- Yoo Su-bin as Hyung-cheol
- Yoo In-sun as Na-rae's father
Release
[edit]The film was officially invited to the Gala Presentation section of the 48th Toronto International Film Festival, where it was screened on September 14, 2023 worldwide, and was invited to 19 overseas film festivals, including the 26th Udine Far East Film Festival, the 18th London Korean Film Festival, the 35th Palm Springs International Film Festival, and the 26th Taipei Film Festival. It won Best Screenplay Award at the Director's Fortnight at the 44th Fantasporto International Film Festival and the Screenplay Award at the 39th Mons International Film Festival. It had domestic premiere in the 'Korean Cinema Today - Special Premiere' at the 29th Busan International Film Festival in October 2024, before its release in theaters.[11]
Accolades
[edit]| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2025 | Best Supporting Actress | Claudia Kim | Won | [12] |
| Director's Cut Awards | 2025 | Best Director (Film) | Hur Jin-ho | Pending | [13] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "A Normal Family". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
- ^ "A Normal Family". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
- ^ "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2024". KOFIC. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Brzeski, Patrick (July 24, 2023). "Korean Drama 'A Normal Family' Inks Distribution Deals Ahead of Toronto Premiere". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ Rosser, Michael (July 25, 2023). "Korean drama 'A Normal Family' lands key deals ahead of Toronto debut". Screen Daily. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 24, 2023). "TIFF Lineup Unveiled Amid Strikes: Awards Contenders 'Dumb Money', 'The Holdovers', 'Rustin'; Starry Pics For Sale With Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton, Viggo Mortensen & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ Kim Bo-young (September 11, 2024). "'보통의 가족' 10월 9일 개봉 확정…아이들의 살인, 4인의 균열" ['Ordinary Family' confirmed for release on October 9th... Children's murder, cracks in four people] (in Korean). Edaily. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ "A Normal Family". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
- ^ a b c d Peter Debruge (September 14, 2023). "'A Normal Family' Review: Two Korean Couples Face Tough Choices When Their Kids Break the Law". Variety. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
- ^ Yang Yu-jin (July 26, 2023). "신예 홍예지 주연작 '보통의 가족', 제48회 토론토 국제영화제 초청". My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved October 25, 2023 – via Naver.
- ^ Jo Yeon-kyung (August 27, 2024). "해외 도장깨기 '보통의 가족' 韓서도 영화제로 최초 공개" [Overseas stamp-breaking 'Ordinary Family' to be released for the first time at a film festival in Korea]. JTBC (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ Jeong, Han-Byeol (April 7, 2025). "다음 달 열리는 제61회 백상예술대상방송·영화·연극 부문 후보 발표". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
- ^ Kim Mi-hwa (April 22, 2025). "유아인, 남자배우상 후보→여자배우상은 김고은vs김고은 [디렉터스컷 어워즈]". Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 22, 2025.