A psychological body horror drama tracing a woman's radical rejection of meat and subsequent physical and mental decline.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Festival Premiere
The film makes its debut at the Busan International Film Festival, establishing its initial presence in the cinematic landscape.
Key Events
Film Debut at Busan — The movie premieres at the 14th Busan International Film Festival in October 2009.
Location: Busan International Film Festival
South Korean Release — The film officially releases in theaters across South Korea on February 18, 2010.
Location: South Korea
Theatrical Rollout
The movie transitions from festival circuits to a wide theatrical release in South Korea, reaching general audiences.
Key Events
South Korean Release — The film officially releases in theaters across South Korea on February 18, 2010.
Location: South Korea
Sundance Invitation — The movie is selected for the World Cinema Narrative Competition in January 2010.
Location: Sundance Film Festival
International Recognition
The film gains traction on the global stage with an invitation to the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.
Key Events
Critical Reception — Justin Chang publishes a review highlighting the film's tonal extremes and psychodrama style.
Location: Variety Magazine
Critical & Thematic Focus
Media reviews dissect the movie's psychological depth and body horror elements, centering on the protagonist's extreme transformation.
Key Events
Core Premise Reveal — The central story is introduced: a woman rejects meat and descends into a vegetative state.
Location: Narrative Context
Story Breakdown
Film Background — Origin and creative adaptation details.
Source Novel — Adapted from Han Kang's 2007 book.
Director Vision — Lim Woo-Seong's erotic horror approach.
Release Timeline — Festival and theatrical rollout schedule.
Busan Debut — October 2009 premiere event.
Korea Release — February 2010 theatrical run.
Festival Circuit — International recognition and selection.
Sundance Invite — January 2010 narrative competition entry.
Critical Analysis — Media and reviewer perspectives on the film.
Tonal Extremes — Critique of the psychodrama style.
Body Horror Theme — Focus on physical transformation and art.
An ordinary housewife, Yeong-hye, who has nightmares every night, finally becomes a vegetarian, throwing away all the meats in her refrigerator. Her husband Kil-soo starts to complain about her actions. Her family also worries about her health. During a family lunch, Yeong-hye tries to kill herself due to her father's abrupt violence. Observing all the happenings, Yeong-hye's brother-in-law, Min-ho, a videoartist, hears from his wife that Yeong-hye has a Mongolian spot on her hips. Min-ho gets inspiration from this and starts to sketch.
