In Our Prime (Korean이상한 나라의 수학자; Hanja異常한 나라의 數學者; RRIsanghan Naraeui Suhakja; lit. Mathematician in Wonderland) is a 2022 South Korean drama film directed by Park Dong-hoon. The film stars Choi Min-sik, Kim Dong-hwi, Park Byung-eun, Park Hae-joon and Jo Yun-seo and revolves around two people: a genius mathematician with a hidden past and a student who is failing math.[2][3] It was released theatrically on March 9, 2022.[4]

In Our Prime
Theatrical release poster
Hangul
이상한 나라의 수학자
Hanja
異常한 나라의 數學者
Literal meaningMathematician in Wonderland
Revised RomanizationIsanghan Naraeui Suhakja
Directed byPark Dong-hoon
Written byLee Yong-jae
Produced byHa Jeong-wan
Starring
CinematographyPark Hong-yeol
Edited byKim Sun-min
Music byLee Ji-soo
Production
company
Joy Rabbit
Distributed byShowbox
Release date
  • March 9, 2022 (2022-03-09)
Running time
117 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeUS$4.1 million[1]

Premise

edit

Lee Hak-seong (Choi Min-sik), a genius mathematician who defected from North Korea in search of academic freedom, hid his identity and story. He lives as a security guard at a private high school where the top 1% of gifted children gather. One day, Lee Hak-seong, who is the number one target to be avoided by students due to his cold and blunt expression, meets Han Ji-woo (Kim Dong-hwi), a high school student who gave up mathematics begging him to teach him mathematics after learning his identity. While teaching Han Ji-woo — who was wandering in a world looking only for the correct answer — how to find the correct solution process, Lee Hak-seong also encounters an unexpected turning point in his life.

Cast

edit

Special appearance

edit
  • Joo Jin-mo as Oh Jeong-nam, a mathematician who participated in an international math competition with Lee Hak-sung when they were young.
  • Kim Won-hae as Park Pil-ju, a North Korean defector and Economics professor.

Reception

edit

Box office

edit

As of 31 January 2023, the film has a gross of US$4,081,864, and 534,287 admissions.[1]

Awards and nominations

edit
Year Awards Category Recipient Result Ref.
2022 Baeksang Arts Awards Best Director Park Dong-hoon Nominated [6]
Best Actor Choi Min-sik Nominated
Best Screenplay Lee Yong-jae Nominated
Best New Actor Kim Dong-hwi Nominated
Chunsa Film Art Awards Best New Actor Won [7]
Buil Film Awards Nominated
Busan Film Critics Awards Won
Grand Bell Awards Nominated
Blue Dragon Film Awards Best New Actor Won

See also

edit
  • Finding Forrester - an earlier film whose storyline is so similar, that In Our Prime could be considered as its remake.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2022". KOFIC. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  2. ^ Song, Seung-hyun (9 February 2022). "'Oldboy' Choi Min-sik to return to big screen as genius mathematician". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  3. ^ Kwak, Yeon-soo (15 February 2022). "Choi Min-sik says his new film 'In Our Prime' parallels 'Good Will Hunting'". The Korea Times. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  4. ^ Kim Ji-won (February 15, 2022). "[종합] "수포자 감독이 만든 수학 영화" 대배우 최민식X신예 김동휘의 차진 호흡 '이상한 나라의 수학자'" [[Comprehensive] "Mathematics movie made by a desperate director" Great actor Choi Min-sik X rookie Kim Dong-hwi's breathing 'Mathematician in Wonderland']. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Kim Ye-eun (March 11, 2022). "강말금·탕준상, '이상한 나라의 수학자' 속 반가운 얼굴들" [Kang Mal-geum and Tang Jun-sang, familiar faces in 'Mathematicians in Wonderland']. Export News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  6. ^ Ahn Byung-gil (April 11, 2022). "58회 백상예술대상 후보 공개…영광의 주인공은?" [58th Baeksang Arts Awards nominations revealed... Who is the hero of glory?]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "후보자(후보작) 리스트" [Candidate (Nominations) List]. Chunsa Film Festival (in Korean). August 26, 2022. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
edit