Miracle in Cell No. 7

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For the 2019 Filipino remake, see Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2019 Philippine film). For the 2019 Turkish remake, see Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2019 Turkish film).
Miracle in Cell No. 7
Miracle in Cell No. 7 poster.jpg
International release poster
Hangul7번방의 선물
Hanja7番房의 膳物
Revised RomanizationChilbeonbangui Seonmul
McCune–ReischauerCh‘ilpŏnbang ŭi Sŏnmull
Directed byLee Hwan-kyung
Written byLee Hwan-kyung
Yu Young-a
Kim Hwang-sung
Kim Young-seok
Produced byKim Min-ki
Lee Sang-hun
StarringRyu Seung-ryong
Kal So-won
Park Shin-hye
CinematographyKang Seung-gi
Edited byChoi Jae-geun
Kim So-yeon
Music byLee Dong-jun
Production
company
Fineworks/CL Entertainment
Distributed byNext Entertainment World
Release date
  • December 23, 2013 (2013-12-23)
Running time
127 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeUS$80.3 million[1]

Miracle in Cell No. 7 (Korean: 7번방의 선물; RR: 7beonbangui Seonmul; lit. "A Gift from Room 7") is a 2013 South Korean comedy-drama film starring Ryu Seung-ryong, Kal So-won and Park Shin-hye.[2][3] The film is about a mentally challenged man wrongfully imprisoned for murder, who builds friendships with the hardened criminals in his cell, who in return help him see his daughter again by smuggling her into the prison.

The movie is based on the real-life story of a man who was tortured and pleaded guilty under duress to the rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl on September 27, 1972 in Chuncheon before being finally exonerated in November 2008.[4][5][6][7] Its early working title was December 23 (Korean: 12월 23일).[8][9]

Plot[]

Ye-sung is a lawyer defending her late father for a crime he did not commit. While leaving the prison court due to the successful trial, Ye-sung notices a balloon being caught on barbed wire and thinks back about the past (flashback).

Back in 1997, 6 year old Ye-sung and her father, Yong-gu (who is mentally disabled with the brain of a 6 year old), stare into a store window admiring a Sailor Moon backpack. Yong-gu promises to buy Ye-sung the backpack tomorrow when he gets paid. However, in the midst of their plan making, the police commissioner and his daughter purchase it before Yong-gu can. When Yong-gu rushes in to grab the backpack and insist it belongs to Ye-sung because they saw it first, he is assaulted by the police commissioner and kicked out of the store. After the incident the two return to home without the bag, slightly battered, but in high spirits. Yong-gu and Ye-sung only seem to have each other and the bond between father and daughter is immeasurable. As young as Ye-Sung is she takes charge and parents her father the best her 6 year old self can. They even have a special “goodbye” routine where Ye-sung counts to three and Yong-gu turns around for them both to pull their silliest faces. The next day, after work, the commissioner’s daughter spots Yong-gu and tries to show him another store selling the same backpack. In an unfortunate accident, the little girl slips running on the market’s icy pavement and a brick drops on her head. Yong-gu is arrested for rape and murder after he (in a vain attempt) performs CPR on the child, and spotted by a female bystander who mistook him for raping the girl.

Yong-gu is sent to prison, where he shares a jail cell (titled "Room 7") with five other inmates (prisoners), all who initially dislike him for his falsely accused crime and mental disability. One day, Yong-gu saves the life of his cellmate and prison gang leader, So Yang-ho, from being stabbed by a rival prison gang leader. Touched at this, Yang-ho then offers to help Yong-gu in any way he can to return the favor. Yong-gu tells Yang-ho that he wants to see his daughter Ye-sung. The inmates are successful in smuggling Ye-sung into the prison and reuniting her with Yong-gu when her choir visits the prison for a performance. The little girl is introduced to her dad’s cell mates and gets help being hidden away when officers come. She manages to stay for a night until being found out the next morning when her choir reports her missing and the warden goes on a search. Eventually, the warden realises that Yong-gu was not the assailant of the girl (after Yong-gu saved him and another inmate from an attempted arson), but he could not do anything in front of the commissioner's power to help him. He is however able to allow Ye-sung to visit Yong-gu everyday after school.

Before the trial took place, Yong-gu was trained by the Room 7 inmates on how to answer potential prosecution questions and he earnestly trained and become proficient in answering the questions posed by his inmate roommates. Ye-sung, the prison warden and the Room 7 inmates all attend Yong-gu's trial to prove his innocence. Unfortunately, the commissioner calls and beats Yong-gu before the trial in a fit of rage and grief, threatening to kill his daughter if he does not confess. Left with no other choice, Yong-gu sacrifices himself by lying that he killed the commissioner's daughter to protect Ye-sung. Yong-gu is then sentenced to death and the execution date was scheduled on December 23, which happens to fall on Ye-sung's birthday. The inmates, feeling sorry for Yong-gu, decide to build a hot air balloon for their grand plan for Yong-gu to escape. During a prison concert, the inmates send Yong-gu and Ye-sung on the balloon and effortlessly try to stop the guards from capturing Yong-gu, but the balloon's rope is held by barbed wire. The inmates and Yong-gu then celebrate Ye-sung's birthday before he is executed. Soon, the executioner calls Yong-gu. Yong-gu and Ye-sung started to cry and hugged each other, begging the executioner to not kill Yong-gu. Yong-gu is later executed.

Inside the court 16 years later (in the present), Ye-sung (now an adult and adopted by the warden) emotionally states that she will forgive Yong-gu for his actions. The head lawyer exonerates Yong-gu by overturning the previous verdict and granting him a posthumous acquittal, as well as a court order to re-investigate the girl's death, to the joy of the former Room 7 inmates, the warden and now tearful Ye-sung while the commissioner stuns in defeat and realizes that his reputation will be forever tarnished later on for his action against Yong-Gu because of the re-investigation.

The scene then moves back to the beginning of the film. Ye-sung then notices a vision of Yong-gu and her younger self on the hot air balloon waving goodbye to her. She then tearfully says goodbye to her father as the balloon flies away to the sky, implying that Yong-gu is free and leaving for heaven as well as symbolising that Ye-sung is finally letting her father go.

Cast[]

Box office[]

The film took 4.6 million admissions (the equivalent of more than US$30 million) in its first two weeks due to strong word of mouth. Despite the release of The Berlin File, it drew in 15% more audience members on its third week, with seat booking at 75.8%.[10][11][12] 32 days after its release, it became only the eighth film in Korean cinema history to break the 10 million mark in ticket sales.[13][14][15][16] This was especially notable since Miracle in Cell No. 7 had a modest budget with a break-even point of 1.7 million admissions, making its eventual profit the highest among the films that reached 10 million.[17]

The film exceeded 12 million viewers 46 days after its release.[18][19] On March 15, 2013, 52 days after its release, ticket sales reached 12.32 million, making it the fifth highest grossing Korean film of all time.[20][21][22]

Analysts say among the reasons for its success was the long lunar new year holiday and families going to see the film in groups. The film proved to be especially popular among middle-aged and elderly Koreans.[23]

Awards and nominations[]

Award Category Recipient(s) Outcome
49th Baeksang Arts Awards[24][25] Best Film Miracle in Cell No. 7 Nominated
Best Actor Ryu Seung-ryong Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Oh Dal-su Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Park Shin-hye Nominated
Best New Actress Kal So-won Nominated
Best Screenplay Lee Hwan-kyung, Kim Hwang-sung, Kim Young-seok Nominated
Grand Prize for Film Ryu Seung-ryong Won
Most Popular Actress Park Shin-hye Won
7th Mnet 20's Choice Awards 20's Movie Star, Male Ryu Seung-ryong Won
20's Movie Star, Female Park Shin-hye Nominated
22nd Buil Film Awards Best New Actress Kal So-won Nominated
50th Grand Bell Awards Best Actor Ryu Seung-ryong Won
Best Screenplay Lee Hwan-kyung Won
Best Planning Lee Hwan-kyung, Kim Min-ki, Kim Min-guk Won
Special Jury Prize Kal So-won Won
Best Director Lee Hwan-kyung Nominated
Best Actress Kal So-won Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Oh Dal-su Nominated
Best New Actress Kal So-won Nominated
Best Cinematography Kang Seung-gi Nominated
Best Editing Choi Jae-geun, Kim So-yeon Nominated
Best Art Direction Lee Hoo-gyoung Nominated
Best Lighting Kang Sung-hoon Nominated
Best Costume Design Kim Na-yeon Nominated
Best Music Lee Dong-jun Nominated
34th Blue Dragon Film Awards Most Popular Film Miracle in Cell No. 7 Won
Best Actor Ryu Seung-ryong Nominated
Best Screenplay Lee Hwan-kyung Nominated
Best Music Lee Dong-jun Nominated
21st Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards Grand Prize in Film Ryu Seung-ryong Won
Top Excellence Award, Actor in Film Oh Dal-su Won
2014 34th Golden Cinema Festival Best Supporting Actor Oh Dal-su Won
33rd Korean Association of Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actress Park Shin-hye Won

Remakes[]

The film was adapted into a Kannada movie in 2017 titled Pushpaka Vimana.[26] Kross Pictures to produce the official Hindi remake of the movie in collaboration with Indian Film Studios and was directed by Umesh Shukla [27]

It was also adapted in 2019 in Turkey as 7. Koğuştaki Mucize starring Aras Bulut İynemli in the lead role. This is an entirely dramatic interpretation and adds several story elements and characters. The film was also adapted in the Philippines with the same title, starring Aga Muhlach, Bela Padilla and Xia Vigor.[28][29][30] Indonesia adapted the film with the same title, while remakes are being planned in Spain,[31] and the United States.[32]

References[]

  1. ^ "Miracle in Cell No. 7 Box Office Gross". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  2. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (1 February 2013). "Actor, actress take to their roles". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  3. ^ An, So-hyoun (8 February 2013). "Interview: Ryu Seung Ryong Says He Gained Respect from His Wife with ′The Gift of Room 7′". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on 6 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
  4. ^ Park, Eun-jee (28 December 2012). "Two heartwarming films for when you can't feel your toes". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
  5. ^ Jang, Sung-ran (18 January 2013). "MIRACLE IN CELL NO.7 to Screen in 4 Languages". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  6. ^ Conran, Pierce (30 January 2013). "In Focus: Miracle in Cell No. 7". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  7. ^ Lee, Chan-ho (29 November 2008). "35-year-old murder conviction tossed". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  8. ^ Ho, Stewart (1 June 2012). "Park Shin Hye to Make Her Return to the Big Screen After Two Years". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  9. ^ Lee, Tae-ho (18 October 2012). "Park Shin-hye, Ryoo Seung-ryong's New Film Wraps Up Shooting". 10Asia. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  10. ^ Hong, Grace Danbi (4 February 2013). "'The Gift of Room 7' Breaks 4 Million Views in 12 Days". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  11. ^ Kim, Hyun-min (5 February 2013). "THE BERLIN FILE is No. 1 in First Week of Release; MIRACLE IN CELL NO. 7 Also Performing Well". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  12. ^ Paquet, Darcy (7 February 2013). "Box Office: January 24-February 6, 2013". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  13. ^ "'Miracle in Cell No. 7' Draws Over 10 Million Viewers". The Chosun Ilbo. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  14. ^ Moon, Gwang-lip (25 February 2013). "Ryu Seung-ryong joins top actor club". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 2013-03-02. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  15. ^ "'Miracle in Cell No. 7' grabs 9 mil. viewers". Yonhap. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  16. ^ Conran, Pierce (25 February 2013). "MIRACLE IN CELL NO. 7 Soars Past 10 Million Admissions". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
  17. ^ Ji, Yong-jin (26 February 2013). "Mighty Start, Bright Prospect". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  18. ^ Lee, Eun-sun (6 March 2013). "MIRACLE IN CELL NO. 7 Is 5th Most Popular Korean Film". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  19. ^ "'Miracle in Cell No. 7' exceeds 12 million mark". The Korea Herald. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  20. ^ "'Miracle in Cell No. 7' third most-viewed Korean film". Yonhap. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  21. ^ "'Miracle in Cell No. 7' third most-viewed Korean film". The Korea Herald. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  22. ^ Ji, Yong-jin (19 March 2013). "MIRACLE IN CELL NO. 7 Passes MASQUERADE to Become 3rd Most Successful Korean Film". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  23. ^ Kim, Nemo (19 March 2013). ""Miracle in Cell Number 7" is the 3rd most popular Korean film of all time". 10Asia. Retrieved 2013-03-20.
  24. ^ Hicap, Jonathan M. (5 April 2013). "49th Baeksang Arts Awards nominees revealed". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2013-04-11.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^ Ji, Yong-jin (13 May 2013). "RYU Seung-ryong Wins Grand Prize at Baeksang Arts Awards". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  26. ^ "Will this Kannada film win the Oscars this year?". timesofindia.indiatimes.com
  27. ^ @taran_adarsh (30 May 2017). "Kross Pictures [#TE3N] to produce the..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ^ "Nadine Lustre, Aga Muhlach to star in Filipino version of Korean blockbuster".
  29. ^ "Nadine Lustre, Aga Muhlach to star in 'Miracle in Cell No. 7' remake |". 4 July 2019.
  30. ^ Aguilar, Krissy (August 2019). "Xia Vigor is lead child actress in Filipino remake of 'Miracle in Cell No. 7'". entertainment.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2019-08-09.
  31. ^ Frater, Patrick (July 13, 2021). "'Miracle in Cell No. 7' Korean Comedy Drama Set for Spanish Remake". Variety. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  32. ^ Frater, Patrick (July 13, 2021). "'Miracle in Cell No. 7' Korean Comedy Drama Set for Hollywood Remake". Variety. Retrieved July 13, 2021.

External links[]

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