Synopsis
Adolescence is one long, drawn-out nightmare for Byeong-tae. Quiet and introverted, he makes a perfect target for his school’s vicious bullies, all the more so when they catch on that his father is a policeman. Badly beaten up on a regular basis, Byeong-tae seeks a capable teacher in matters of physical combat. His quest remains a dead end until the day the mysterious Oh drifts into town. Little is known about Oh other than that he has a shady past and seeks to leave Korea as soon as he can. That, and the fact that when push comes to shove, Oh’s placid and distant front dissolves and his true nature as a fighter of unmatched skill and effectiveness comes ferociously forward. Initially, Oh rebuffs Byeog-tae’s pleading for lessons, telling him that it’s best not to fight at all. But as it becomes clear that the peaceful path won’t work, Oh begins to tutor the young man, not in specific techniques so much as in the underlying psychological necessity for great fighting skill – fearlessness.

DVD Available

With brutal bullying and fighting between teenagers an ongoing problem in Korea, a wave of films addressing the matter have spilled forth in recent years. The Art of Fighting, however, stands out among the pack, shining with an astute wit, genuinely moving drama and an incisive moral vision. The violence is handled in a sober and sharp-eyed manner, in stark contrast to the hysterical excesses found elsewhere, and the interplay between individuals assessed in a humane, perceptive and three-dimensional manner. At the core of it all is an outstanding performance by Baek Yoon-sik as Oh, an impressive and enigmatic figure who, while trying to draw as little attention to himself, nonetheless radiates wisdom, original thought and powerful personality.

—Rupert Bottenberg

Credits
Director: Shin Han-sol
Screenplay: Min Dong-hyun, Shin Han-sol
Cast: Baek Yun-shik, Choi Yeo-jin, Kim Eung-su, Lee Hyun-kyoon
Producers: Corea Entertainment
Distributor: CJ Entertainment