Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Il Mare

Original title: Siworae
  • 2000
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
9.9K
YOUR RATING
Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Jung-jae in Il Mare (2000)
Il Mare(2000)
Play trailer3:17
1 Video
18 Photos
DramaFantasyRomance

In 1999, a voice actor moves from Il Mare, a seaside house, and leaves a Christmas card in its mailbox. An architecture student receives it in 1997, and a friendship separated by two years b... Read allIn 1999, a voice actor moves from Il Mare, a seaside house, and leaves a Christmas card in its mailbox. An architecture student receives it in 1997, and a friendship separated by two years begins.In 1999, a voice actor moves from Il Mare, a seaside house, and leaves a Christmas card in its mailbox. An architecture student receives it in 1997, and a friendship separated by two years begins.

  • Director
    • Hyun-seung Lee
  • Writers
    • Eun-Jeong Kim
    • Mi-Yeong Kim
    • Won Tae-yeon
  • Stars
    • Lee Jung-jae
    • Jun Ji-hyun
    • Kim Moo Saeng
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    9.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Hyun-seung Lee
    • Writers
      • Eun-Jeong Kim
      • Mi-Yeong Kim
      • Won Tae-yeon
    • Stars
      • Lee Jung-jae
      • Jun Ji-hyun
      • Kim Moo Saeng
    • 54User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 nominations total

    Videos1

    Main trailer
    Trailer 3:17
    Main trailer

    Photos17

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 12
    View Poster

    Top cast8

    Edit
    Lee Jung-jae
    Lee Jung-jae
    • Han Sung-hyun
    Jun Ji-hyun
    Jun Ji-hyun
    • Kim Eun-ju
    Kim Moo Saeng
      Jo Seung-yeon
      Jo Seung-yeon
      • Jae-hyeok
      • (as Jo Seung-yun)
      Yun-jae Min
      So-yeong Hong
      • Voice Actor
      Jung-Hee Nam
      • Eun-ju's mother
      • (as Jeong-Hee Nam)
      Choi Yoon-Young
        • Director
          • Hyun-seung Lee
        • Writers
          • Eun-Jeong Kim
          • Mi-Yeong Kim
          • Won Tae-yeon
        • All cast & crew
        • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

        User reviews54

        7.59.9K
        1
        2
        3
        4
        5
        6
        7
        8
        9
        10

        Featured reviews

        no_tone

        A truly unique romance

        First of all, the music throughout the movie is just breathtaking and it fits very well with the movie. Although it is a different kind od romance, it is still very interesting. Even the view of the house and of Chejudo are amazing. I've only been there once, but I guess I missed the beaches. Anyways this movie is definately once you should put on your list.
        BrianThibodeau

        Another soapy time-travel romance, another great date movie

        IL MARE (2001) Another soapy time-travel romance that, if you watch it in the right frame of mind, could have you in tears. It's about a guy who finds a letter in the mailbox of his new seaside rental house from the previous tenant advising him about little things that haven't happened yet, like the paw prints his dog leaves on the floor days later! In trying to meet the woman who wrote the letter, he comes to realize she lives about a year or two ahead of him in the timeline, and lived in the house after he vacated it. He asks her to find him in the future, but she can't... Like DITTO, the film manages to defy conventions on a couple of occasions, and it's internal logic is solid enough that you don't think about it too hard. Another great date film, again provided you're not too cynical about such things. I give it a 9.
        9wildscreen

        This is a movie for a very romantically lonely person

        This is a movie for a very romantically lonely person,you go the theater alone to see beautiful people suffering from love lost,feeling sympathy for them and have a great relieve at the end of the movie,you must think that those ending could happen in your life too!

        This movie is beautiful, come with a very sweet music,the production is on par with any European movie,the script is very well written and there is an element that become a special present for viewer who love a beautifully design things.If you think it's time to have a better movie to replace " Somewhere In Time" in a reference about very much loved sad movie you may give this movie a 10,if you looking for an alternative to Hollywood movie you might give it a 10 too.
        10elu5iv3

        Epic

        • Il Mare: 10/10


        The perfect love story, not too soppy and never boring because of another incredible concept out of Asian cinema. This time, a man and woman are exchanging letters, one in 1997 and one in 1999. Sound good? Oh yes. This is just incredible, a perfect, beautiful, memorable movie with great attention to detail and some exquisite cinematography. One of the best films ever.
        7paul_m_haakonsen

        A love that transcends time...

        I remember watching "Il Mare" (aka "Siworae") back in the day shortly after it was initially released. And I do remember it as being a very beautiful movie. So I sat down yesterday to watch it again for the third time.

        And while "Il Mare" does have a very nice and original story, then it was a tad slow paced, which could be somewhat of a challenge for some audience to get through. However, I think that it is alright with a slow paced storyline here, because director Hyun-seung Lee uses the time quite well to tell a very beautiful and touching story.

        The story told in "Il Mare" is about a lovestory between Kim Eun-ju (played by Ji-hyun Jun) and Han Sung-hyun (played by Jung-jae Lee). They are sending each other letters from a mailbox at an ocean-side house named Il Mare. Kim Eun-ju is living in 1999 and Han Sung-hyun is living in 1997. And even with two years apart, their love grows with each letter.

        It is indeed a very interesting storyline, and one that has originality and sinks right in, because it is really well-told by the director.

        And while the cast list in "Il Mare" is relatively small, then there is a bigger pressure on the leading stars to perform well enough to hold up the movie. And I will say that both Jung-jae Lee and Ji-hyun Jun did more than perform adequately. They really carried the movie quite well, both individually and together on the screen.

        "Il Mare" is a beautiful movie to grace the South Korean cinema, and it is a movie that is well-worth watching, regardless of you having a preference for Asian cinema or not.

        Best Emmys Moments

        Best Emmys Moments
        Discover nominees and winners, red carpet looks, and more from the Emmys!

        More like this

        Windstruck
        7.1
        Windstruck
        My Sassy Girl
        7.9
        My Sassy Girl
        Daisy
        7.4
        Daisy
        The Classic
        7.7
        The Classic
        Ditto
        7.0
        Ditto
        Failan
        7.5
        Failan
        A Moment to Remember
        8.1
        A Moment to Remember
        Always
        7.7
        Always
        Architecture 101
        7.2
        Architecture 101
        Be With You
        7.7
        Be With You
        Lover's Concerto
        7.1
        Lover's Concerto
        My Little Bride
        7.0
        My Little Bride

        Related interests

        Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
        Drama
        Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
        Fantasy
        Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
        Romance

        Storyline

        Edit

        Did you know

        Edit
        • Trivia
          On August 31, 2002, Il Mare was swept away by Typhoon Rusa. There is a new breakwater between summer sea line and the former position of Il Mare. Exact coordinates of Il Mare were: (37° 44' 16.00" N, 126° 17' 21.50" E). The coordinates of the house construction site Sung-hyun visits are: (33° 30' 49.50" N, 126° 58' 03.50" E). And the beach which Sung-hyun sits on can be seen at (33°30'7.00" N, 126°56'35.75" E).
        • Connections
          Referenced in Failan (2001)
        • Soundtracks
          Must Say Goodbye
          Performed by Kim Hyun Chul

        Top picks

        Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
        Sign in

        FAQ26

        • How long is Il Mare?Powered by Alexa
        • Is this movie the same With the Lake House?
        • What is 'Siworae/Il Mare' about?
        • Is 'Siworae/Il Mare' based on a book?

        Details

        Edit
        • Release date
          • September 9, 2000 (South Korea)
        • Country of origin
          • South Korea
        • Language
          • Korean
        • Also known as
          • Người Tình Không Chân Dung
        • Filming locations
          • Ha-ri, Samsan-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, South Korea(Il Mare)
        • Production companies
          • Blue Cinema
          • CJ Entertainment
          • Dream Venture Capital
        • See more company credits at IMDbPro

        Box office

        Edit
        • Budget
          • $2,500,000 (estimated)
        • Gross worldwide
          • $225,223
        See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

        Tech specs

        Edit
        • Runtime
          • 1h 45m(105 min)
        • Sound mix
          • Dolby Digital
        • Aspect ratio
          • 1.85 : 1

        Contribute to this page

        Suggest an edit or add missing content
        • Learn more about contributing
        Edit page

        More to explore

        Recently viewed

        Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
        Get the IMDb App
        Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
        Follow IMDb on social
        Get the IMDb App
        For Android and iOS
        Get the IMDb App
        • Help
        • Site Index
        • IMDbPro
        • Box Office Mojo
        • License IMDb Data
        • Press Room
        • Advertising
        • Jobs
        • Conditions of Use
        • Privacy Policy
        • Your Ads Privacy Choices
        IMDb, an Amazon company

        © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.