Metro Cinema Society: The Show Must Go On

The Show Must Go On (우아한 세계)

South Korea 2007, 112 min, 35mm, Dir: Han Jae-rim
Cast: Song Kang-ho, Oh Dal-su
Korean with English subtitles

Kang In-gu (Song Kang-ho) is a gangster. He constantly has to look after his incompetent subordinates and also has to watch out that the rivalling Jaguar gang doesn't snatch his deals in town. However, In-gu is faster than his rivals when it comes to a big construction project in town. He nails the deal, which isn't anything the competing Jaguar gang nor the brother of In-gu's boss, No Sang-mun (Yu Je-mun), are happy with, as latter wants a piece of the cake, too.

Anyway, first and foremost In-gu sees himself as a father and husband, who just tries hard to make ends meet for his wife (Park Ji-yeong), his rebelling daughter (Kim So-eun) and his son who studies abroad. Still, it's not easy for him to hold his family together, since recent events, like an increasing number of attacks on In-gu, make his wife wonder if it is such a good idea to stay at In-gu's side.

For Kang things start to get exlosive when he finds out that someone within his gang is seeking his life. The only help he gets is from his old buddy Hyun-su (Oh Dal-su), who just happens to be working for the Jaguar gang. In-gu doesn't want to betray his boss, but if he wants to survive he will have to accept the help of the Jaguar gang. For In-gu a fight for survival begins.