3-Iron

2004

3-Iron

Critics Consensus

A tender and moving romance from Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... And Spring's director Kim Ki-Duk.

87%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 92

94%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 23,677

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3-Iron Photos

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Movie Info

A battered woman finds her soul mate in a most unusual manner in this drama from Korean filmmaker Kim Ki-Duk. Tae-suk (Jae Hee Song) is a young drifter who appears to be homeless by inclination as much as necessity; he squats in the homes of strangers while they're away, carefully seeing to it that no damage is done to the property and sometimes performing small household chores as a display of gratitude. One day, Tae-suk sneaks into a house where a number of photos of a beautiful model adorn the walls. After eating, washing up, and doing some minor repairs, Tae-suk discovers he's being watched by the woman of the house, Sun-hwa (Lee Seung-yeon), and he soon recognizes her as the model in the photos. However, Tae-suk sees that Sun-hwa has been badly bruised, and suspects she's been the victim of domestic violence. When Tae-suk returns to the home later that evening, his suspicions are confirmed as he sees Sun-hwa being slapped around by her husband, Min-kyo (Gweon Hyeok-ho). Tae-suk impulsively bursts into the house, grabs a golf club, and attacks Min-kyo with it; moments later, Tae-suk and Sun-hwa ride away together on his scooter, and she silently joins him in his existence as a squatter, which slowly blossoms into a love affair. Bin-Jip (aka 3-Iron) received its North American premiere at the 2004 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Cast

Lee Seung-yeon
as Sun-hwa
Hyuk-ho Kwon
as Min-kyu
Hyun-kyoon Lee
as Tae-suk
Gweon Hyeok-ho
as Min-kyo
Joo Jin-Mo
as Detective Cho
Hyuk-Ko Kwon
Ju Jin-mo
as Detective
Choi Jeong-ho
as Jailer
Lee Ju-suk
as Son of Old Man
Joo-suk Lee
as Son of Old Man
Lee Mi-suk
as Daughter-in-Law of Old Man
Mun Sung-hyeok
Sung-hyuk Moon
as Sung-hyuk
Park Ji-ah
Jee-ah Park
as Jee-ah
Jae-yong Jang
as Hyun-soo
Jang Jae-yung
as Hyun-soo
Dah-hae Lee
as Ji-eun
Da-hae Lee
as Ji-eun
Park Dong-lin
as Det. Lee
Kim Han Sang
as Man in Studio
Kim Han
as Man in Studio
Park Se-jin
as Woman in Studio
Park Dong-jin
as Detective Lee
Lee Jeong-sub
as Man Who Came Back From Family Trip
Lee Eui-su
Ryu Jeong-hwa
Kang Sung-hun
as Boyfriend of Girl Who Got Hit by Golf Ball
Joo Jin Mo
as Detective Cho
Lee Ui-soo
as Woman Who Came Back From Family Trip
Ryoo Jong-hwa
as Boy Who Came Back From Family Trip
Jung Sung-hoon
as Prisoner 1
Kim Maeng-sung
as Prisoner 3
Hoon Jang
as Guy Who Stares
Jang Seok-bin
as CIS Team 1
Kim Hyung-suk
as CIS Team 2
Shin Tae-suk
as Policeman 1
Lee Hong-suk
as Policeman 2
Park Nam-min
as Policeman 4
Hee Jah
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Critic Reviews for 3-Iron

All Critics (92) | Top Critics (28)

  • If the snail's pace doesn't send you to sleep, you'll be rewarded with a tender and unusual love story.

    Jul 12, 2005 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Jamie Woolley

    BBC.com
    Top Critic

  • What is so engaging about the film is the way its director, Ki-duk Kim, manages to keep our interest intensely focused on the couple.

    Jun 16, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/5

    Richard Nilsen

    Arizona Republic
    Top Critic

  • A movie meant to be taken on faith more than anything else. The more you can grant it, the greater the reward.

    Jun 4, 2005 | Rating: B

    Eleanor Ringel Cater

    Atlanta Journal-Constitution
    Top Critic

  • For the most part they achieve a delicate balancing act, mixing near-silent comedy with an old-fashioned sense of whimsy.

    May 27, 2005 | Rating: 3/4

    John Hartl

    Seattle Times
    Top Critic

  • It's actually quite satisfying, in a weird, magical-realism sort of way that manages to disturb and confound as much as it appeases the romantic.

    May 20, 2005 | Full Review…

    Michael O'Sullivan

    Washington Post
    Top Critic

  • Kim works with the barest of materials but returns the viewer's attention to the pure visual pleasure of filmmaking.

    May 20, 2005 | Full Review…

    Philip Kennicott

    Washington Post
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (92)

Audience Reviews for 3-Iron

  • Oct 07, 2013
    I cannot get this thing out of my head. Lovely and subtly horrific.
    Kevin C Super Reviewer
  • Nov 30, 2012
    Taking homage from directors such as Jean-Luc Godard and Louis Malle, Kim Ki Duk creates a silent story of romance and life. Ambitious as it is ambiguous, 3-Iron is a melancholy tale that asks its audience to think differently.
    paul o Super Reviewer
  • Sep 28, 2011
    First of all I m going to try to find out the arabian song he kept playing. A very very intense Movie. It is just so hard to describe this Movie. I think you have to watch it by yourself. The main characters dont talk a word except the last scene one line. If you really pay attention you are going to enjoy and understand, especially because the main characters dont talk a word but if you like "rush rush" you d be bored. An unssual and BEAUTIFULL STORY.
    Wahida K Super Reviewer
  • Aug 27, 2011
    Proof that you don't need dialog when your characters and their actions are interesting enough. Of course, there is pleasure in talky scenes à la Tarantino, but this Korean film, directed by Kim Ki-Duk, driven by body language and nuance, does so well without them. There are a few plot inconsistencies, but this near-silent drama (which surprisingly enough doesn't shy away from some light comedy) is still effective, thanks in part to Lee Seung-yeon's fierce performance.
    Fernando Rafael Q Super Reviewer
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