Chronicle of a Blood Merchant (2015) User Reviews

Sensational is the least to say about it.

[Aktham_Tashtush · 8/10 · 14 April 2018]

My goodness how much i was moved by the story,, I'm not sure of it was based on a somewhat true events after the Korean war, but i'd say it is probable , i mean now a days we hear of people selling their organs out of poverty .

The script was well written ,, the comedy part was witty and light while injected into a strong emotional drama ,, even though the movie was about two hours , the events felt like skipping so fast and at some point with high level of tension till we reached the end where i was really about to tear up.

The cast was well picked,, before this i watched Jung-woo Ha in Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds which was produced two years after this :D but anyway ,, he was amazing, which what encouraged me find this movie in the first place and watch it.

Final thought ,, It's highly recommended ,, and don't be scared , it won't point out any historical slow boring events whatsoever ,, so watch it now ;)

Emotional roller coaster

[maddyleon81 · 8/10 · 8 November 2021]

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.

Hats Off Ha!

[imtiyazmasudbd · 8/10 · 14 May 2017]

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.

Basically faithful to the original works

[yoggwork · 6/10 · 19 February 2019]

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.

Brilliant film.... thats all I can say

[garycn-41901 · 10/10 · 21 June 2021]

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.

A real gem - touching and unforgettable

[phd_travel · 10/10 · 26 February 2023]

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!

Absolutely irritating and terrible

[subratjain1 · 3/10 · 27 July 2016]

This movie is supposedly an adaptation of a book with the same title. I watched it without any idea about this fact and have say to that I absolutely hated it.

The story is completely incoherent and it seems like a jumbled array of scenes put together shot in complete isolation. There is no logic to be found even for a single minute. The director seemed to have completely lost the track of direction and has put together a 124 min long cesspool that should absolutely be avoided.

The movie had decent rating although with very few votes and had "Jung-woo Ha" who has givem some seriously solid performances in Assassination, Chaser, The Berlin File, The Yellow Sea and many more. I dove in to watch this as a result. I wonder what made him choose such a stupid venture to act in.

I can't say that I wasn't warned in advance. The second scene which introduces Ji-won Ha as the popcorn selling dame itself was filmed to immaculate imperfection. It almost made me turn off my laptop but I though it might get better and stuck with it. But believe me, it doesn't. The story keeps going downhill and gets caught in a spiral of clichés, melodrama and the worst degree of film making.

In the 124 mins you will be treated to people getting married in a day, getting a nose bleed and dying the next day. The story jumps to and fro without any explanation as to how a successful popcorn business went down the drain. And the acting by any of the participants wasn't of any help either.

The tile saying "blood merchant" would make you believe that the plot would revolve around it. But sadly that's not the case. That part is hardly touched in the movie apart from last 30 mins.

All in all this was one the worst Korean flicks I have ever seen. Take my advice and please save your 2 hours.

moving,editing

[user-237-124867 · 8/10 · 21 April 2015]

As a man who have read the origin book. The Chronicle of a Blood Merchant is a edited movie which changes a lot. However, what should be admitted is that some of the sections look more suitable for a MOVIE or just a book acted by human. Dislike the edition of the ending though, I have become a fan of Jung-woo Ha, the director, also the star in it. Also, the actor of Heo Sam-gwan's first son is both good-looking and good-acting. As a Chinese, I am certainly looking forward to that such a good book could be made to be a movie and show on the screens, however, in the meantime environment of Chinese mainland movie market, my hope can just be a hope.