April Snow

{{Infobox film

| name = April Snow

| image = April Snow film.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Hur Jin-ho

| producer = Bae Yong-guk

| writer = Shin Joon-ho
Lee Won-sik
Seo Yu-min
Lee Il
Hur Jin-ho

| starring = Bae Yong-joon
Son Ye-jin

| music = Jo Seong-woo

| cinematography = Lee Mo-gae

| editing = Lee Eun-su

| studio = Blue Storm Co., Ltd.

| distributor = Show East

| released = {{Film date|2005|9|8}}

| country = South Korea

| runtime = 105 minutes

| language = Korean

| budget =

| gross = {{USD|24.9 million}}{{cite web|title=Oechul (April Snow)|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/releasegroup/gr544756229/|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=4 June 2012|archive-date=19 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019165302/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/intl/?page=&id=_fAPRILSNOW01|url-status=live}}

| native_name = {{Infobox Chinese/Korean|child=yes|hide=no|header=none

| hangul = 외출

| hanja = 外出

| rr = Oechul

| mr = Oech'ul}}

}}

April Snow ({{korean|hangul=외출|rr=Oechul|lit=Outing; Going Out}}) is a 2005 South Korean romantic drama film co-written and directed by Hur Jin-ho, starring Bae Yong-joon and Son Ye-jin.{{cite web|title=Son Ye-jin to Star Alongside Bae Yong-joon in New Film|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=163|website=The Korea Times via Korean Film Biz Zone|access-date=14 May 2015|date=24 December 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917033339/http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=163|archive-date=17 September 2017|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Min-a|title=Romantic tale appeals, particularly to Japanese|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2610141|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|access-date=14 May 2015|date=24 August 2005|archive-date=31 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831013933/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2610141|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Seung-jae|title=I, Myself Am in Forbidden Love|url=http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2005082573728|website=The Dong-A Ilbo|access-date=14 May 2015|date=25 August 2005|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518093207/http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2005082573728|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=April Snow no Walk in The Park for Bae Yong-joon |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2005/08/26/2005082661002.html |website=The Chosun Ilbo |access-date=14 May 2015 |date=26 August 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305010313/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2005/08/26/2005082661002.html |archive-date=5 March 2015 }}

Plot

In-su and Seo-young meet in a hospital after their respective spouses were both seriously injured in an accident while traveling in the same car. This leads them to discover that their spouses had been having an affair. As In-su and Seo-young stay at the same motel near the hospital to care for their comatose partners, they grow closer while sharing their grief, anger and fear for their loved ones' recovery. Gradually, they find themselves falling in love with each other. But when In-su's wife Su-jin regains consciousness, she tells him that she regrets her past actions, forcing him to make a decision.

Cast

Bae Yong-joon as In-su
Son Ye-jin as Seo-young
Im Sang-hyo as Kang Su-jin
Kim Kwang-il as Kwang-il
Jeon Guk-hwan as Su-jin's father
Yoo Seung-mok as Doctor
Kim Se-dong as Insurance company employee
Chun Dae-byung as Policeman
Ryu Seung-soo as Yoon Kyung-ho
Lee Young-hee as Kyung-ho's mother
Leessang as themselves
Loveholic as themselves
Clazziquai Project as themselves

Production

Filming began on February 4, 2005 in the seaside town of Samcheok, Gangwon Province.{{cite web|title=New film starring Bae Yong-joon opens shooting|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=199|website=Korean Film Biz Zone|access-date=14 May 2015|date=22 February 2005|archive-date=4 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004055930/http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=199|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Yonsama Fever Rages On Amid Korea-Japan Chill|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2005/03/17/2005031761030.html|website=The Chosun Ilbo|access-date=14 May 2015|date=17 March 2005|archive-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305011940/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2005/03/17/2005031761030.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Bae Yong-jun, Son Ye-jin Shoot First Scene of April Snow|url=http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view2.html?No=111|website=KBS Global|access-date=14 May 2015|date=21 March 2005|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080402/http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view2.html?No=111|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Paquet|first1=Darcy|title=Asian press flock to set of April Snow|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=215|website=Korean Film Biz Zone|access-date=14 May 2015|date=23 March 2005}}{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Min-a|last2=Kim|first2=Ho-jung|title=April Snow refuels Yonsama passions|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2617903|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|access-date=14 May 2015|date=13 September 2005|archive-date=17 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217235608/http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2617903|url-status=live}}

A four-hour live concert was held on April 24, 2005 at the open-air theater in Yonsei University; some scenes were included in the film.{{cite web|title=April Snow Concert to Change Korea's Performance Culture|url=http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view2.html?No=1337|website=KBS Global|access-date=14 May 2015|date=20 April 2005|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090830/http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view2.html?No=1337|url-status=live}}

April Snow wrapped shooting on June 18, 2005 in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.{{cite web|title=Bae Yong-jun, Son Ye-jin Finish Filming of April Snow|url=http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view2.html?No=565|website=KBS Global|access-date=14 May 2015|date=20 June 2005|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040041/http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view2.html?No=565|url-status=live}}

Reception

The film grossed {{USD|2,707,442}} in South Korea on 809,191 admissions.{{cite web|title=Commercial Releases in 2005: Box-Office Results|url=http://koreanfilm.org/films2005.html#boxoffice|website=Koreanfilm.org|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-date=17 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617073720/http://koreanfilm.org/films2005.html#boxoffice|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Moon|first1=Seok|title=A Review of Korean Cinema in 2005|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=341|website=Korean Film Biz Zone|access-date=14 May 2015|date=19 January 2006|archive-date=1 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701060758/http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=341|url-status=live}}

April Snow was also released in 10 other Asian countries.{{cite web|title=April Snow to Fall Throughout Asia|url=http://www.hancinema.net/%60april-snow-to-fall-throughout-asia-2280.html|website=Yonhap via Hancinema|access-date=14 May 2015|date=25 February 2005|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924024751/http://www.hancinema.net/%60april-snow-to-fall-throughout-asia-2280.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=April Snow Starring Bae Yong-jun to be Shown in 10 Asian Countries|url=http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view.html?No=389|website=KBS Global|access-date=14 May 2015|date=25 February 2005|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075213/http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view.html?No=389|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=April Snow to get Asia-wide release|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=205|website=Korean Film Biz Zone|access-date=14 May 2015|date=3 March 2005|archive-date=1 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701060755/http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=205|url-status=live}} Due mainly to actor Bae Yong-joon's Korean Wave popularity, it became a box office success in Japan, Philippines and China.{{cite web|title=April Snow sets precedent in Chinese theaters|url=http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view2.html?No=1252|website=KBS Global|access-date=14 May 2015|date=31 October 2005|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060549/http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view2.html?No=1252|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Movie Industry Set for Another Successful Year|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=310|website=The Korea Times via Korean Film Biz Zone|access-date=14 May 2015|date=28 October 2005|archive-date=4 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204144504/http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=310|url-status=live}} It became the highest-grossing Korean film in Japan, grossing {{JPY|2.72 billion}} or {{USD|24.2 million}} (this record would later be broken by another Son Ye-jin film, A Moment to Remember with {{JPY|2.75 billion}}).{{cite web|title=Yonsama Proves Japan's Biggest Crowd-Puller|url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2005/09/02/2005090261028.html|website=The Chosun Ilbo|access-date=14 May 2015|date=2 September 2005|archive-date=5 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305001649/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2005/09/02/2005090261028.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Yon-sama Fever Revived by Release of April Snow |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2005/09/21/2005092161003.html |website=The Chosun Ilbo |access-date=14 May 2015 |date=21 September 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305010251/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2005/09/21/2005092161003.html |archive-date=5 March 2015 }}{{cite web|title=April Snow draws one million viewers in shortest period of time|url=http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view.html?No=775|website=KBS Global|access-date=14 May 2015|date=30 September 2005|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113530/http://english.kbs.co.kr/hallyu/entertainment_news_view.html?No=775|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=April Snow passes 1 million tickets in Japan|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=295|website=Korean Film Biz Zone|access-date=14 May 2015|date=4 October 2005|archive-date=1 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701060753/http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=295|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=A Moment to Remember breaks Japanese record|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=326|website=Korean Film Biz Zone|access-date=14 May 2015|date=14 December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917033158/http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=326|archive-date=17 September 2017|url-status=dead}}

A director's cut with 30 minutes extra footage was released in Japan in 2006, which also did well commercially.{{cite web|last1=D'Sa|first1=Nigel|title=New Version of April Snow Breaks Record in Japan|url=http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=420|website=Korean Film Biz Zone|access-date=14 May 2015|date=12 July 2006|archive-date=1 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701060757/http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/jsp/news/news.jsp?mode=VIEW&seq=420|url-status=live}}

Son Ye-jin received a Best Actress nomination at the 2005 Blue Dragon Film Awards.{{cite web|title=April Snow - Awards|url=http://www.cinemasie.com/en/fiche/oeuvre/goingout/recompenses.html|website=Cinemasie|access-date=14 May 2015}}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" \|Award ! scope="col" \|Category ! scope="col" \|Recipients ! scope="col" \|Result
scope="row" \| Chicago International Film Festival \| Best Feature \|April Snow \| {{nom}}
scope="row" \| San Sebastián International Film Festival \| Golden Seashell \| Hur Jin-ho \| {{nom}}
scope="row" \| 26th Blue Dragon Film Awards \| Best Leading Actress \| rowspan=3 \|Son Ye-jin \| {{nom}}
scope="row" \| 13th Chunsa Film Art Awards \| rowspan=2 \| Best Actress \|\| {{nom}}
scope="row" \| 51st Asia Pacific Film Festival \|{{won}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" |Award

! scope="col" |Category

! scope="col" |Recipients

! scope="col" |Result

scope="row" | Chicago International Film Festival

| Best Feature

|April Snow

| {{nom}}

scope="row" | San Sebastián International Film Festival

| Golden Seashell

| Hur Jin-ho