Escape from Mogadishu

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Escape from Mogadishu
Escape from Mogadishu.jpg
Official conceptual poster with map of Somalia background
Hangul모가디슈
Revised RomanizationMogadisyu
Directed byRyoo Seung-wan
Screenplay byRyoo Seung-wan
Lee Gi-cheol
Produced byKang Hye-jeong
Kim Yong-hwa
StarringKim Yoon-seok
Jo In-sung
Heo Joon-ho
Kim So-jin
CinematographyChoi Young-hwan
Edited byLee Gang-hui
Music byBang Jun-seok
Production
companies
Dexter Studios[1]
Filmmaker R&K
Distributed byLotte Entertainment
Release date
  • July 28, 2021 (2021-07-28)
Running time
121 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguagesKorean
English
Somali
Arabic
Budget₩24 billion[2]
Box officeest. US$25.49 million[3]

Escape from Mogadishu (Korean: 모가디슈; RR: Mogadisyu) is a 2021 South Korean action drama film, directed by Ryoo Seung-wan and starring Kim Yoon-seok, Jo In-sung, Heo Joon-ho and Kim So-jin.[4] The film based on real events, is set during the Somali Civil War and the two Koreas' efforts to be admitted to the United Nations in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It depicts details of perilous escape attempt made by North and South Korean embassy workers stranded during the conflict.[5]

With a production cost of ₩24 billion,[2] Escape from Mogadishu was anticipated to release in summer of 2020 but its release was postponed due to the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was released theatrically on July 28, 2021 by Lotte Entertainment in IMAX format.[6][7] It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its action scenes, humorous plot, direction, and its vivid acting performances.[8]

On accounting its box office performance, the film ranked at number 5 at the worldwide box office in the first week of August 2021 as per American media Screen Daily report on August 11.[9] Within 33 days of release, it surpassed 3 million admissions, and became the first Korean film in 2021 to do so.[10] Currently it is the highest-grossing film of 2021 in South Korea, with gross of US$25.49 million and 3.09 million admissions, as per Korean film council.[11]

Synopsis[]

When Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia, was torn by civil war in 1991, the personnel and the families of the South Korean embassy were trapped with no means of communication. Going outside meant facing a hail of bullets and shells. In such a situation one night, personnel from the North Korean embassy approached them for help. With the common goal of escaping from Mogadishu, the people from both embassies made a bold attempt to reach the airport in chaotic conditions.

Cast[]

  • Kim Yoon-seok as Han Sin-seong, South Korean Ambassador to Somalia[12]
  • Jo In-sung as Kang Dae-jin, South Korea's ANSP Counselor/intelligence officer[13]
  • Heo Joon-ho as Rim Yong-su, North Korean Ambassador to Somalia[12]
  • Koo Kyo-hwan as Tae Joon-ki, North Korea's MSS Counselor/intelligence officer
  • Kim So-jin as Kim Myung-hee, wife of Ambassador Han
  • Jung Man-sik as Gong Soo-cheol, secretary to Ambassador Han
  • Kim Jae-hwa as Jo Soo-jin, one of the female staff to Ambassador Han
  • Park Kyung-hye as Park Ji-eun, a translator staff to Ambassador Han

Special appearance[]

  • Yoon Kyung-ho as ANSP senior officer[14]

Production[]

On June 10, 2019 Kim Yoon-seok and Jo In-sung positively considered appearing for director Ryoo Seung-wan's film Escape from Mogadishu. This was first appearance of the actors together as well as their first appearance in Ryoo Seung-wan film.[15] Heo Joon-ho confirmed his appearance in June 2019.[12]

The film was entirely shot in Morocco in the second half of 2019.[16] The post production work started in May 2020.[17]

Release[]

On July 22, CJ CGV announced that the film will be screened at all theaters including IMAX, ScreenX, 4DX, and 4DX screens from the July 28, 2021. It is second Korean film after 2020 action-horror film Peninsula to simultaneous screen in all formats in the CGV special theaters.[18]

Escape from Mogadishu has been invited at the 20th New York Asian Film Festival as the opening film of the festival. The two-week festival was held from August 6 to 22, 2021 in New York. The film was screened at Walter Reade Theater, Film at Lincoln Center on August 6, 2021.[19]

The film is being screened in 42 theaters in North America as of August 11, 2021.[9][20]

Reception[]

Box office[]

The film was released on July 28, 2021 on 1688 screens.[21] According to the integrated computer network for movie theater admissions by the Korea Film Council (KoFiC), the film ranked at first place at the Korean box office by recording 75,624 pre-order audiences as on July 28, 2021, surpassing the audiences of Jungle Cruise.[22] The film set the record for the best opening of the year 2021 for all the Korean films released as of July 28, by getting 126,626 audience on the day of release.[23] The film maintained its first place at the Korean box office on second day with addition of 89,826 viewers and taking cumulative audience to 226,569.[24] The film by mobilizing 540,000 cumulative audience in 4 days of release became the first Korean film in 2021 to garner 500,000 audience in the shortest period of time. It is also maintaining its number one position at the Korean box office.[25]

The film garnered 1 million cumulative audiences in 7 days of release, thereby becoming highest grosser Korean film of 2021 surpassing the box office figures of film Hard Hit.[26] It surpassed 2 million cumulative audience on 17th day of its release[27] and 3 million on 33rd day of release. It is the first Korean film to cross 3 million audience in 2021.[10]

According to Korean Film Council (Kofic) data, currently it is the highest-grossing film among all the films released in the year 2021 in South Korea, with gross of US$25.49 million and 3,092,411 admissions.[11][3][21] And, as per Box Office Mojo it ranks 66 at 2021 Worldwide Box Office.[28]

Weekly admissions (Based on the Integrated Computer Network for Cinema Admission Tickets)
Admissions (persons) and Box office rank as of respective weekend date
Week ending Admissions (cumulative)[29] Rank at BO
As of August 29, 2021 3,058 562 3rd
As of August 22, 2021 2,780,872
As of August 15, 2021 2,318,967 2nd
As of August 8, 2021 1,712,251 1st
As of August 1, 2021 788,113

Critical response[]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, which categorizes reviews only as positive or negative, 100% of 18 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.40/10.[8]

Kim Ji-eun reviewing for Newsis wrote that the action scenes were spectacular and humor though small stood out. She opined that the film vividly portrayed the horrors of war and the emotions of the characters, who faced it. Ji-eun felt that the exotic scenery of Morocco, the filming location, in itself was main character in the film. Ending her review she wrote, "It's not light entertainment. While the heavy historical background and setting dominate the screen, attention is focused on what kind of variable the restrained emotion that utilizes reality, will affect the box office performance."[30]

Kim Seong-hyeon writing for YTN opined that director Ryoo Seung-wan has reproduced the Somalia civil war in 1990 as if it is in 2021, and portrayed the tense situation so well that audience would experience it vividly. Mentioning the escape scene from the city center, Seong-hyeon said that it was highlight of the film. The reviewer felt that even in tense situations the humor was well placed. Seong-hyeon pointed out that some dialogues and actions of characters and of the Somali people seemed to contain intentional messages, but concluded the review as, "Nevertheless, Escape from Mogadishu offers intense cinematic pleasure enough to offset all of this."[31]

Kim Ji-won of Ten Asia opened the review writing, "Audio-visual pleasure and humanism that transcends ideology are properly harmonized. .... the action scenes contain the desperate psychology of the characters, bringing both entertainment and depth." She opined that the escape scene was highlight of the film, as the sequence conveyed the hopelessness of the characters, the horrors of war and the smell of sweat. She praised the performance of ensemble and wrote, ".... the supporting actors played their roles in their respective places, completing a lively story." Concluding her review Ji-won wrote, "Most of the Korean films, which are about inter-Korean conflicts, use a squeezing code of tears, but Escape from Mogadishu gives a neat impression with dramatic and simple expressions without being overly emotional."[32]

Cary Darling reviewing the film rated it with 4 out of 5 stars and opined, "[..] an involving and suspenseful action-thriller that Ryoo Seung-wan handles with flair, capably staging big action scenes — like the final, nerve-rattling drive to potential salvation — while not neglecting the human stories at their heart."[33]

Roger Moore reviewing the film rated it with 3.5 out of 5 stars, and wrote that the sets of firefights were as good as Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down but the struggle to escape was more on human level rather than flamboyant. He liked the climax scenes where convoy of cars were moving in hail of Molotov cocktails and bullets, and concluded, "You want great action? Eschew the comic book movies and read a few subtitles. Escape from Mogadishu is in a league of its own this summer."[34]

Richard Kuipers of Variety praising the screenplay and direction by Ryoo Seung-wan said, "propulsive and intelligently written South Korean adventure thriller" has been 'energetically' directed. He also praised the performance of ensemble. Kuipers liking the climax of chasing bashed up cars on the streets of Mogadishu concluded, "Even though the outcome is never in doubt, the execution of this survival run is genuinely thrilling."[35]

Evan Dossey of Midwest Film Journal wrote that the characters of the film are aptly defined. He praised Ryoo Seung-wan’s script and said, "[he] makes sure the conflicts are expressed through compelling, well-developed characters." Dossey concluded, "Escape from Mogadishu is a tense political thriller so don’t go in expecting an action film. [....] instead, prepare yourself for a well-written story of conflicting politics that asks where nationality must end for humanity to persevere."[36]

Panos Kotzathanasis reviewing for HanCinema highlighted three elements of the direction of Ryoo Seung-wan in the film. In his opinion the first was characterization, which has helped the actors to give laudable performance. The Second was action for which Kotzathanasis praised cinematography of Choi Young-hwan terming it as "exceptional cinematography" and editing of Lee Gang-hui. And the third was narrative, having humor, "[..] which appears in the most unexpected moments in order to lighten the mood". Kotzathanasis ends the review as, "Escape from Mogadishu is a great action movie that also works very well on a contextual level, due to the plethora of sociopolitcal elements included."[37]

Anna Smith for Deadline, wrote that Escape from Mogadishu is an engrossing film, which reminded her of Ben Affleck’s escape thriller Argo and 2005 French war film Joyeux Noël by Christian Carion. Smith liked the setting of scenes, characters and humor in the film and said, "Propelled by a naturally cinematic true story, the thriller blends action with humor and heart to crowd-pleasing effect."[38]

Lee Jutton of Film Inquiry, calling the humor in the film "a huge asset", concluded the review as "With stellar performances from everyone involved, especially Kim and Heo as the rival ambassadors turned temporary allies, it’s easy to become wholly engaged by a blockbuster like Escape from Mogadishu."[39]

Carla Hay of Culture Mix, praised the performance of lead cast in the film writing, "All of the principal cast members give solid performances." She opined that the film had many heart throbbing, uncertain and unexpected situations taking film to climax. Carla concluded the review writing, "And it’s a memorable depiction of what people will or will not do to hold on to patriotic allegiances when there are life-or-death decisions to be made."[40]

References[]

  1. ^ Lee Da-won (June 14, 2021). "덱스터 스튜디오, '모가디슈'로 또 한 번 주목" [Dexter Studios pays attention once again with 'Mogadishu']. Sports Trend (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Jo Ji-young (June 14, 2021). "[SC초점] '발신제한'→'블랙 위도우'→'모가디슈'까지 여름 텐트폴 완성, 극장 떠난 관객 돌아올까" [[SC Focus] Summer tent poles from 'Send Restriction' → 'Black Widow' → 'Mogadishu', will the audience return from the theater?]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Korean films of 2021". KOFIC. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  4. ^ "Escape from Mogadishu - (Korean Movie, 2021, 모가디슈)". HanCinema. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  5. ^ Kim Ji-hye (June 14, 2021). "'모가디슈' 기대감 높은 이유…류승완의 연출력X덱스터의 기술력" [Reasons for high expectations for 'Mogadishu'... Ryoo Seung-wan's directing ability X Dexter's technology]. SBS Entertainment News. Naver. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  6. ^ Bae Hyo-joo (June 22, 2021). "'모가디슈' 7월28일 개봉‥김윤석X조인성 혼신의 탈출 예고편 공개" ['Mogadishu' released on July 28th ... Trailer of escape of Kim Yun-seok X Jo In-seong released]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  7. ^ Park Mi-ae (July 2, 2021). "압도적인 스크린서…류승완 '모가디슈' IMAX 개봉 확정" [Overwhelming screen... Ryoo Seung-wan's 'Mogadishu' confirmed for IMAX release]. Edaily Star (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Escape From Mogadishu (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Ji-min Jang (August 11, 2021). "'모가디슈' 세계적 흥행…전세계 박스오피스 5위 기염" ['Mogadishu' is a worldwide hit... #5 at the global box office]. Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Noh Kyu-min (August 29, 2021). "'모가디슈' 오늘(29일) 300만 돌파…'블랙 위도우' 제치고 '최고 흥행작'" ['Mogadishu' surpassed 3 million today (29th)... ‘Black Widow’ surpasses ‘Best-grossing Film’]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b "KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System): All the films of Year 2021". KOFIC. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c Conran, Pierce (June 20, 2019). "RYOO Seung-wan Plots ESCAPE with KIM Yun-seok, ZO In-sung". Korean Film Biz Zone.
  13. ^ Jeon Hyung-hwa (June 8, 2021). "[단독]류승완 감독 '모가디슈' 올여름 개봉 확정..유일 韓텐트폴" [[Exclusive] Director Ryu Seung-wan's 'Mogadishu' is confirmed to be released this summer..The only Korean tentpole]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  14. ^ Kang Hyo-jin (July 31, 2021). "[무:비하인드]'모가디슈' 윤경호, 특별출연 위해 모로코 날아간 사연" [[No: Behind the Scenes] 'Mogadishu' Yoon Kyung-ho, the story of flying to Morocco for a special appearance]. Spotify News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  15. ^ Jeong Hwa (June 10, 2019). "[단독]김윤석·조인성, 류승완 감독 '탈출'로 첫 호흡" [[Exclusive] Kim Yun-seok, Jo In-seong, first breath with director Ryu Seung-wan's 'Escape']. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  16. ^ Kwak Yeon-soo (June 11, 2021). "Most anticipated movies this summer, from 'Escape from Mogadishu' to 'Black Widow'". The Korea Times. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  17. ^ Yoo Jae-hyuk (May 10, 2020). "'승리호' '모가디슈' '영웅' '반도'…한국영화 대작, 7~8월 개봉한다" ['Victory', 'Mogadishu', 'Hero', 'Peninsula'... Korean movie blockbuster to be released in July or August]. Hankyung (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  18. ^ Kim Ji-eun (July 22, 2021). "CGV, '모가디슈' 모십니다...아이맥스·4DX 등 특별관 상영" [CGV welcomes 'Mogadishu'... Screening in special theaters such as IMAX and 4DX]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  19. ^ MacDonald, Joan (July 20, 2021). "20th New York Asian Film Festival Screens Several South Korean Films". Forbes. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  20. ^ Kim Ji-eun (August 10, 2021). "'모가디슈' 북미 개봉…"단연 올해 최고의 한국영화" 호평" ['Mogadishu' opens in North America... "Best Korean movie of the year by far"]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b "KOFIC, KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) The Box office: Escape from Mogadishu (2021)". KOFIC. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  22. ^ Jeong Hyung-hwa (July 28, 2021). "'모가디슈' 예매 1위 개봉..문화가있는날 마지막 5천원 개봉" ['Mogadishu' opens first in pre-order... Last 5,000 won on Culture Day]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  23. ^ Kim Mi-hwa (July 29, 2021). "'모가디슈' 2021년 韓영화 최고 오프닝 [공식]" ['Mogadishu' Best Opening for Korean Movies in 2021 [Official]]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  24. ^ Son Jeong-bin (July 30, 2021). "모가디슈, 22만 돌파 1위...보스 베이비2·정글 크루즈 추격" [Mogadishu, surpassed 220,000, 1st place... Boss Baby 2, Jungle Cruise chase]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  25. ^ Kim Mi-hwa (August 1, 2021). "'모가디슈', 개봉 4일만 54만 돌파..2021 韓영화 최단 흥행 [공식]" ['Mogadishu' surpasses 540,000 in just 4 days of release... The shortest box office hit for a Korean movie in 2021 [Official]]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
  26. ^ Kim Ji-eun (August 3, 2021). "'모가디슈' 올해 한국영화 최고 흥행작…100만 돌파(종합)" ['Mogadishu' is the highest-grossing Korean movie of the year... Exceeded 1 million (total)]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  27. ^ Kim Ji-won (August 13, 2021). "[공식] '모가디슈' 올해 한국영화 최초 200만 돌파" [[Official] 'Mogadishu' surpasses 2 million for the first time in a Korean movie this year]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  28. ^ "Box Office Mojo: 2021 Worldwide Box Office". Box Office Mojo. August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  29. ^ "Korean Box Office: Weekly status". HanCinema. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  30. ^ Kim Ji-eun (July 24, 2021). "[리뷰]'국뽕'·K신파 걷어낸 류승완표 묵직한 탈출극…'모가디슈'" [[Review] Ryoo Seung-wan Pyo's heavy escape from 'Gukbong' · K-new wave... 'Mogadishu']. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  31. ^ Kim Seong-hyeon (July 24, 2021). "[Y리뷰] '모가디슈' 생존을 향한 피땀 눈물… 숨 막힐 듯 강렬한 영화적 체험" [[Y Review] Blood sweat and tears for survival in 'Mogadishu'... Breathtakingly intense cinematic experience]. YTN (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  32. ^ Kim Ji-won (July 25, 2021). "[TEN 리뷰] 김윤석X조인성 '모가디슈', 감정은 담백하게 액션은 스펙터클하게" [[TEN Review] Kim Yun-seok X Jo In-seong 'Mogadishu', the emotion is plain, the action is spectacular]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  33. ^ Cary Darling (August 4, 2021). "Review: 'Escape from Mogadishu' one of the best action films of the summer". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  34. ^ Roger Moore (August 1, 2021). "Movie Review: Korean diplomats try to "Escape from Mogadishu"". Movie Nation. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  35. ^ Kuipers, Richard (August 5, 2021). "'Escape from Mogadishu' Review: North and South Korean Diplomats Join Forces in an Exciting Account of a Real-Life Somali Incident". Variety. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  36. ^ Dossey, Evan (August 9, 2021). "Escape from Mogadishu". Midwest Film Journal. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  37. ^ Kotzathanasis, Panos (July 31, 2021). "[HanCinema's Film Review] "Escape from Mogadishu"". HanCinema. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  38. ^ Smith, Anna (August 19, 2021). "Int'l Critics Line: Anna Smith On Gripping Korean Thriller 'Escape From Mogadishu'". Deadline. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  39. ^ Lee, Jutton (August 6, 2021). "New York Asian Film Festival 2021 Part One: ESCAPE FROM MOGADISHU, NINJA GIRL and BARBARIAN INVASION". Film Inquiry. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  40. ^ Hay, Carla (August 27, 2021). "REVIEW: 'ESCAPE FROM MOGADISHU,' STARRING KIM YOON-SEOK, ZO IN-SUNG AND HUH JOON-HO". Culture Mix. Retrieved August 29, 2021.

External links[]

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