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| ▲ This still from "The Match," provided by BY4M Studio, captures the face-off between Cho Hoon-hyun (Lee Byung-hun) and the young Lee Chang-ho (Kim Kang-hun). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
By Woo Jae-yeon
SEOUL, March 20 (Yonhap) -- Based on the real-life rivalry between South Korea's two legendary Go players, the upcoming film "The Match" focuses more on the psychological battles within the players' minds than on external events.
The sports film follows the mental journey of Cho Hoon-hyun (Lee Byung-hun), who spots the young genius Lee Chang-ho (Yoo Ah-in) and takes him under his wing at the height of his professional career.
Cho treats Lee like his own son, mentoring him for years and passing down everything he has learned as a Go player. But as the young student matures, Lee develops his own set of rules and principles as a professional. Lee is no longer just a young boy who unconditionally absorbs Cho's teachings.
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| ▲ This still from "The Match," provided by BY4M Studio, features Cho Hoon-hyun (Lee Byung-hun) and the young Lee Chang-ho (Kim Kang-hun). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
The two, whose playing styles couldn't be more different, naturally emerge as the fiercest rivals in the country's Go history. Cho is a bold fighter and risk-taker, while Lee is a patient and cautious strategist.
To convey the fierce battle underlying the static matches, where only hand movements and the sound of Go stones hitting the board break the silence amid swirling cigarette smoke, actor Lee pulled off a performance that viewers could hardly imagine any other actor replicating.
The acclaimed actor, one of the country's finest performers trusted to embody any character he plays, effortlessly takes audiences on an emotional rollercoaster through Cho's journey, from being a top player to a loser to his own pupil.
But the film takes a new turn as a series of defeats signals a fresh start for Cho. As the character accepts the harsh reality that he, too, can lose, he finds the motivation to start anew. That marks a powerful, inspiring moment that reminds viewers that a true winner is someone who does not give up and keeps moving forward.
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| ▲ This still from "The Match," provided by BY4M Studio, shows Cho Hoon-hyun in the middle of a Go game. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
While the film puts in effort to make itself accessible to viewers unfamiliar with the mind sport by adding thoughtful explanations throughout, it still seems much more enjoyable for those who already know the basic rules of the game. But that does not create a major obstacle for viewers watching the film.
Actor Yoo, who forms the other pillar of the narrative, also delivers a seamless performance, to say the least, as the serious and reserved pupil who is determined to seek his own path while quietly struggling with the guilt of having defeated his father-figure mentor.
The actor conveyed his character's complex emotions, intense mental focus and strategic planning swirling around in his mind only through minimal and subtle expressions.
The movie, which completed filming in mid-2021, was originally scheduled to premiere on Netflix in 2023. But it was put on hold amid Yoo's drug scandal, for which he received a two-year suspended sentence.
Yoo's off-screen scandal, however, does not seem to pose a significant risk to the film's performance, as the core narrative remains largely centered on the mentor. The director has said Yoo's scenes remained mostly intact to keep the flow of the story.
"The Match" is set for local release on Wednesday.
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