Once Upon a Time (2008 film)
| Once Upon a Time | |
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Theatrical poster
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| Directed by | Jeong Yong-ki |
| Produced by | Kang Hyun-woo |
| Written by | Cheon Seong-il |
| Starring |
Park Yong-woo Lee Bo-young |
| Cinematography | Moon Yong-sik |
| Edited by | Kim Sun-min |
| Distributed by | CH Entertainment |
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Release date
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Running time
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110 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | US$10,614,012 |
Once Upon a Time (Hangul: 원스 어폰 어 타임; RR: Wonseu-eopon-eo-taim) is a 2008 South Korean film, directed by Jeong Yong-ki and adapted from a screenplay by Cheon Seong-il. The film is a heist comedy film set in 1940s Korea, and stars Park Yong-woo and Lee Bo-young as a con artist and a jazz singer, respectively, who each plot to steal a valuable diamond from the Japanese authorities. Once Upon a Time was the first major investment by SK Telecom's film division, established late 2007, and was released in South Korea on January 30, 2008, under the company's CH Entertainment banner.
The film is set in Seoul, 1945, during the final days of Japanese rule. Kanemura is a well-connected con artist who makes money by selling ancient Korean artifacts to wealthy Japanese collectors. His eyes are set on Haruko, a beautiful jazz singer in a downtown nightclub; unbeknownst to anyone, Haruko has been moonlighting as "Haedanghwa" ("Rugosa Rose"), a cat burglar who has carried out a succession of high-profile thefts. She is also pursued by Yamada, a colonel in the Japanese military police, who is jealous of Kanemura's affections towards her. The owner of the nightclub and his chef, Hee-bong, secretly work for the Korean independence movement.
After a twenty-year search, the Japanese Chief of State—a high-ranking official in Korea—has recovered the "Light of the East", a 3,000 carats (600 g) diamond and lost treasure from the ancient kingdom of Silla. Receiving orders to send the diamond to Japan, a lavish send-off party is arranged. Kanemura attends the event with Haruko; he plans to steal the diamond, but she has the same idea, and both are surprised to see the other when they get to the safe where it is kept. After a brief struggle, it is Haruko who makes her escape with the diamond, leaving Kanemura to face the authorities. But the nightclub owner and his chef are also at the party, and their bungled assassination attempt on the Chief of State results in a fire, allowing Kanemura to slip away in the confusion.
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