The Old Woman with the Knife: International Cut

Official selection

Crime/ViolencePsychology/Mystery/Suspence/ThrillerAction/Martial Arts

The story of a legendary killer who grows old and frail. From its very premise, the film sparks the imagination, and with action that heightens curiosity about the killer’s past, it evolves into a tale of people searching for meaning and necessity in life. Hornclaw (Lee Hyeyoung), a legendary contract killer who has worked for about forty years at ‘Sinseong Agency,’ an organization that eliminates harmful members of society, can no longer resist the passage of time. As she contemplates retirement, a young and vigorous hitman named Bullfight (Kim Sung-cheol) appears—circling around her with a bold, antagonistic energy. Adapted from Gu Byeong-mo’s novel of the same name, The Old Woman with the Knife: International Cut, portrays, with striking sensibility, how light and darkness push against and pull toward each other in coexistence. Director Min Kyu-dong’s restrained yet precise direction visualizes emotions while paring down explanation. Above all, the irreplaceable presence of Lee Hyeyoung elevates the film into a series of singular moments. A rare action film that, amid spectacle and speed, never loses sight of quiet, contemplative rhythms. Official selection of the Berlinale Special section at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival.

Programme note by SONG Kyung-won