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Film director In-mo (PARK Hae-il), mired in poverty and unable to get over the commercial failure of his debut film, decides to hang himself. But a well-timed call from his mother (YOUN Yuh-jung) inviting him to dinner results in a change of plans. Instead of killing himself, he decides to move in to his mother’s home, where his older brother Han-mo (YOON Je-moon) also lives. Han-mo is not particularly pleased at this development, but more trouble lies ahead: younger sister Mi-yeon (KONG Hyo-jin) arrives with her daughter Min-kyung (JIN Ji-hee), announcing that she is leaving her husband, and that she needs to stay with them for the immediate future. In this way, fate has reunited this dysfunctional and rather quirky family as they struggle with the challenges of middle age.

 

Part drama, part comedy, Boomerang Family is the latest film by director SONG Hae-sung, who initially established himself with the acclaimed Failan in 2001. He then went on to direct Rikidozan: A Hero Extraordinary (2004), box office hit Maundy Thursday (2006), and action remake A Better Tomorrow (2010). In this film SONG is once again working with screenwriter KIM Hae-gon, with whom he collaborated on Failan and A Better Tomorrow. KIM has an unusual career, having appeared as an actor in over 20 films in addition to receiving 7 screenwriting credits, and directing the films Between Love and Hate (2006) and Destiny (2008).

 

Based on a novel by Cheon Myeong-gwan, Boomerang Family is a story told at a leisurely pace, which relies heavily on the charismatic presence of its acclaimed cast. In one sense this is a highly unusual family, having gone through more than their fair share of ups and downs. But in another sense the petty conflicts, sibling rivalries and largely unexpressed affection between family members will ring familiar to many viewers. Having devoted most of its running time to everyday events, the story takes a markedly more dramatic turn in the final reel.

 

Financed and distributed by CJ E&M, Boomerang Family opened on May 9th and spent its first week at #2 in the box office charts behind Iron Man 3. Although the film’s leisurely tone and local character will provide some challenges in international territories, it will be presented to potential buyers at this month’s Cannes Market.