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Chronicle of a Blood Merchant

Original title: Heosamgwan maehyeolgi
  • 2015
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
800
YOUR RATING
Ha Ji-Won and Ha Jung-woo in Chronicle of a Blood Merchant (2015)
Drama

Set in the 1960's, this film is a story about a man without money or plans and his struggles with reality, based on the bestselling novel 'Chronicle of a Blood Merchant'.Set in the 1960's, this film is a story about a man without money or plans and his struggles with reality, based on the bestselling novel 'Chronicle of a Blood Merchant'.Set in the 1960's, this film is a story about a man without money or plans and his struggles with reality, based on the bestselling novel 'Chronicle of a Blood Merchant'.

  • Director
    • Ha Jung-woo
  • Writers
    • Yu Hua
    • Ha Jung-woo
  • Stars
    • Ha Jung-woo
    • Ha Ji-Won
    • Hwang Bo-ra
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    800
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ha Jung-woo
    • Writers
      • Yu Hua
      • Ha Jung-woo
    • Stars
      • Ha Jung-woo
      • Ha Ji-Won
      • Hwang Bo-ra
    • 8User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos2

    View Poster
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    Top cast27

    Edit
    Ha Jung-woo
    Ha Jung-woo
    • Heo Sam-gwan
    Ha Ji-Won
    Ha Ji-Won
    • Heo Ok-ran
    Hwang Bo-ra
    Hwang Bo-ra
    • Gye-hwa
    Kim Byeong-Ok
    Kim Byeong-Ok
    • Man
    Nam Da-reum
    Nam Da-reum
    • Heo Il-rak
    Sung Dong-il
    Sung Dong-il
    • Mr. Bang
    Yoon Eun-hye
    Yoon Eun-hye
    • Im Boon-bang
    Jung Gi-sub
    Jung Gi-sub
    • Gyeonggi Hochan Hospital doctor
    Jang Gwang
    Jang Gwang
    • Mr. Choi
    Jeon Hye-jin
    Jeon Hye-jin
    • Ms. Song
    Kim Jae-yeong
    Park Ji-hong
    • Villager
    Lee Ji-hoon
    Lee Ji-hoon
    • Mr. Gye
    Joo Jin-mo
    • Uncle
    Cho Jin-woong
    Cho Jin-woong
    • Mr. Ahn
    Hyun Jung
    • Villager #15
    No Kang-min
    • Heo Yi-rak
    Kim Ki-chun
    Kim Ki-chun
    • Elder Dae-ji
    • Director
      • Ha Jung-woo
    • Writers
      • Yu Hua
      • Ha Jung-woo
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews8

    6.8800
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    10

    Featured reviews

    imtiyazmasudbd

    Hats Off Ha!

    I don't know how Ha chose this story for making a film! Such a simple, wonderful piece of emotion!!

    Technically, not a great piece, just an okay one. Not a great Screenplay, Camera-work. May be that was one of the reasons for its commercial failure. But emotionally!!! Amazing!!

    Hats Off!!

    Salute to the small wonder: the eldest son, perhaps his name is: Nam Da-reum (apology if I've mistaken his name). I have hardly seen a child in my entire life to cry and act so faithfully!!! May God bless him.

    Salute to the Hero and Director of the film: Ha Jung-woo. An honest approach, a great effort.
    10phd_travel

    A real gem - touching and unforgettable

    What a touching gem. This movie is based on a Chinese novel expertly adapted to the screen and changed to Korea after the war. The production of the shanty town they live in is well done. The rousing emotional score is perfectly suited. The movie starts off hilariously with a look at love and courtship in the 50s. It's so funny when they find out his eldest son was actually fathered by his wife's ex boyfriend. Very meaningful look at the love of a father for his son and whether a blood relation matters.

    The cast is so good they move you to tears. Ha Jung Woo is hilarious and then moving as the father. His scenes of giving blood are unforgettable. Child actor Nam Da Reum acts so well - what an acting prodigy. Ha Ji Won just right as the pretty provincial woman. This is on viki. Watch it!
    6yoggwork

    Basically faithful to the original works

    Basically faithful to the original works, unfortunately, the social atmosphere and history of Korea are always worse. The protagonist is still relatively in place to deduce the situation of small people struggling to live hard. Besides, Yile is really good.
    10garycn-41901

    Brilliant film.... thats all I can say

    From the acting to the writing to the directing..this is quite possibly one of my favorite films of all time.. I just LOVE the story, and the actors in it.. and the script...

    There is everything in this one.. sure it gradually gets a slight bit cheesy towards the end but there is enough on the plate in this one to feed you for a week.. The comedy alone stands out.. is absolutely brilliant.. I love when the Koreans take a look at themselves and have a laugh... Its just hilarious...

    This is one you HAVE to SEE!!... +Added to Personal Library.
    8maddyleon81

    Emotional roller coaster

    I don't know how true this movie is to the book but I really enjoyed it. Some of the story seems overly dramatic and a bit cheesy but if you imagine this movie is about the 50s then I guess people were more simple and emotionally naive I guess and it all works out. Decent acting by all but as with most Korean child actors the lead's son was really good! Ha Ji won looks gorgeous as always but the son father relationship is the main focus here.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Director Ha Jung-woo's second film; he also plays the main character.
    • Goofs
      Before donating blood, three guys are seen drawing water from a stream with something resembling a very modern tetra-pack with its top cut off, similar to what milk and juice come in. The film starts in 1953, when such a thing didn't exist in Korea; such a plastic-coated pack was just invented and didn't resemble what they were using. It's highly unlikely that those guys would have access to such a sophisticated package.

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 15, 2015 (South Korea)
    • Country of origin
      • South Korea
    • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Language
      • Korean
    • Also known as
      • Nhật Ký Bán Máu
    • Production companies
      • Dasepo Club
      • Dhuta
      • Fantagio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,702,181
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 4m(124 min)
    • Color
      • Color

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