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The Ugly
얼굴
2025 102 min South Korea 16+
★6.5
Mystery, Thriller
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Trailers
EN
Teaser
Description
One day while overseeing a documentary crew filming his blind father at work, Im Dong-hwan gets a phone call that his missing mother’s remains have been found after forty years. Determined to find the truth of her disappearance, Dong-hwan embarks on a twisted odyssey through his family’s traumatic past, uncovering dark secrets along the way.
US Gross:
$58,395
Starring
Park Jeong-min
Actor
Kwon Hae-hyo
Actor
Shin Hyeon-bin
Actor
Awards
10 nominations total
Key opinion
Yeon Sang-ho shifts away from his signature action-heavy spectacle to deliver a somber, dialogue-driven social drama centered on historical memory and systemic cruelty. While praised for its poignant thematic investigation into societal stigma, the film's deliberate pacing and grim subject matter create a polarizing experience for viewers.
| Theme | The systematic concealment of the mother's face serves as a powerful metaphor for societal erasure and the dehumanizing impact of collective prejudice. | |
| Cinematography | Cinematographic choices, including tight framing and a subdued color palette, effectively amplify the sense of claustrophobia and emotional isolation. | |
| Culture | The film acts as a compelling critique of 1980s South Korean modernization, highlighting the moral rot inherent in a society that prioritizes growth over human dignity. | |
| Pacing | The slow, methodical rhythm rewards viewers seeking an immersive psychological study but proves exhausting for those expecting the intensity of the director's previous genre work. | |
| Accessibility | The highly specific focus on Korean cultural attitudes toward status and beauty creates a resonant, authentic experience for local audiences that may feel inaccessible or alien to international viewers. |