Byung-du is a 29-year-old career criminal, working for the middle-rank enforcer Sang-chul. Burdened with a terminally ill mother and taking care of younger siblings, Byung-du is feeling financial pressure as a substitute patriarch. When the big boss President Hwang is cornered by a corrupt prosecutor, Byung-du volunteers for a whack job and wins the big man's trust. However, his real trouble begins when friend Min-ho, an aspiring movie director, asks him to be a consultant for the latter's debut film.
In Seoul, Byung-Doo is a twenty-nine year old gangster that works under the command of Sang-Shui in the mobster organization of the boss Hwang. Byung-Doo is also the patriarch of his family and is having financial problems to support his old mother that is very ill and his younger siblings. When Hwang is pressed by the corrupt prosecutor Park, Byung-Doo sees the chance to prove his loyalty to Hwang, climb positions in his criminal career and improve his income, and he volunteers to get rid off Park, killing him and burying his body and the secret with his partner Jong-Soo. Meanwhile, his former high school friend and aspirant director Kim Min-Ho meets him asking Byung-Doo to be his advisor in his debut movie about gangsters. Later Byung-Doo goes to a high school reunion with Min-Ho where he meets his high school crush Hyun-Joo (and the start seeing each other. One night, after arguing with Hyun-Joo, Byung-Doo gets drunk and makes confidences to Min-Ho about his secret, affecting his relationship in the criminal organization and friendship.
In Seoul, Byung-Doo is a twenty-nine year old gangster that works under the command of Sang-Shui in the mobster organization of the boss Hwang. Byung-Doo is also the patriarch of his family and is having financial problems to support his old mother that is very ill and his younger siblings. When Hwang is pressed by the corrupt prosecutor Park, Byung-Doo sees the chance to prove his loyalty to Hwang, climb positions in his criminal career and improve his income, and he volunteers to get rid off Park, killing him and burying his body and the secret with his partner Jong-Soo. Meanwhile, his former high school friend and aspirant director Kim Min-Ho meets him asking Byung-Doo to be his advisor in his debut movie about gangsters. Later Byung-Doo goes to a high school reunion with Min-Ho where he meets his high school crush Hyun-Joo (and the start seeing each other. One night, after arguing with Hyun-Joo, Byung-Doo gets drunk and makes confidences to Min-Ho about his secret, affecting his relationship in the criminal organization and friendship.
Watch "A Dirty Carnival"
This is not your typical gangster film that glorifies the gangster
life. It hardly happens that a really like a movie and I expected not
to like this movie. But I watched it and it had a pretty big impact on
me. I wish I could have that experience watching it in the theater
again. I'm a fan of gangster/crime films (Godfather 1, 2, donnie
brasco, heat) and this one is definitely one of my favorites.- A Dirty Carnival Part 1 - (GOFISH)
- A Dirty Carnival Part 2 - (GOFISH)
- A Dirty Carnival Part 3 - (GOFISH)
- A Dirty Carnival Part 4 - (GOFISH)
- A Dirty Carnival Part 6 - (GOFISH)
- A Dirty Carnival Part 7 - (GOFISH)
- A Dirty Carnival Part 8 - (GOFISH)
- A Dirty Carnival Part 1 - (H264)
- A Dirty Carnival Part 2 - (H264)
- A Dirty Carnival Part 3 - (H264)
- A Dirty Carnival Part 4 - (H264)
- A Dirty Carnival Part 5 - (H264)
It's about Byung-Doo who has a rough time making money and taking care of his family as a gangster. He's trying to find a way to get out of this situation but has hard time. He meets an old friend from high school who's a film director now and his friend starts to make a film about gangsters using Byung-Doo's help.
Like I said this film doesn't glorify the gangster life. Don't think you'll see somebody acting cool and killing somebody and acting though cos they're a gangster. In fact, this movie shows a more realistical image of what a gangsters life is like, full of problems and violence. No securities.
This film had a lot of good things going on. The best is the main actor playing Byung-Doo who does an excellent job. The story is pretty good, good score and nice cinematography. I like how Byung-Doo's character is a grey character. He's not a real hero but he's not a bad person either. The director doesn't seem to be making this character very likable (which happens a lot in movies) which makes it a more believable character. Only criticism I have for this movie is that it takes a little too long. Some of the less good scenes could have been cut out to make the film better. Still I definitely recommend it.