HAN Jae-rim’s Super-Hero Project Unveils at Pusan

Director HAN Jae-rim will reveal his third feature film project “Trace” – a US $7.7 million superhero blockbuster – at the Asian Film Market’s PPP, a major project market that takes place during the Pusan Int’l Film Festival in October. 

Based on a web-based comic series by the same title, Trace is the story of Yoon-sung, a young man who wakes up with supernatural powers after days in a coma after an assault that takes his father’s life.  When the assault remains unsolved due to an apathetic police, Yoon-sung takes matters into his own hands.  He discovers that another man with superpowers, Hee-sup, was involved and that he wants Yoon-sung dead. 

The project is to be produced by Syd Lim and SEO Woo-sik of Barunson Film Division.  The company has produced such major titles as KIM Ji-woon’s The Good, The Bad, The Weird and BONG Joon-ho’s Mother.   “Trace” is being billed as Korea’s first superhero blockbuster. 

HAN debuted in 2005 with The Rules of Dating, a caustic romantic-comedy that won his huge domestic acclaim including prizes for best new director and best screenplay at Korea’s national film awards.  He followed it up in 2007 with gangster-drama The Show Must Go On, winning Best Film at home, and much festival play abroad. 

Nigel D’Sa