'Assassins' Surpasses Break-Even Point, Receives Acclaim at the 37th Singapore International Film Festival

Selected as the opening film... Sold out for the second screening"Assassins" (directed by Hur Jin-ho), which was selected as the opening film for the 37th Singapore International Film Festival, is receiving a heated response locally. The photo shows actors Yoo Hae-jin and Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho (from left) posing at the press screening and press conference for the movie "Assassins" held at Megabox COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on September 8. / Reporter Seo Ye-won[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] "Assassins," embroiled in controversy over historical distortion, is receiving positive feedback from international audiences.The production company Hive Media Corp announced on the 23rd, "Assassins" (directed by Hur Jin-ho), which was selected as the opening film for the 37th Singapore International Film Festival that kicked off on the 21st, recorded a sold-out performance for its second screening held on the 22nd.Previously, "Assassins" received support from international audiences by being selected as the runner-up for the International Audience Award at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, and has now proven its strong global presence by selling out all seats and receiving rave reviews at the Singapore International Film Festival.A programmer for the Singapore International Film Festival said, "We wanted an opening film that was a blockbuster with an overwhelming scale, yet also possessed the unique sensibility and individuality of an auteur director," adding, "Judging by the audience's reaction, I believe 'Assassins' has fully met those expectations," expressing satisfaction with the film and the reason for its selection as the opening film.He continued, "This is the most complete realization of director Hur Jin-ho's cinematic journey. It shows remarkable achievements in terms of production scale, ambition, and outstanding directing skills in handling visuals," and praised, "In this regard, 'Assassins' is one of the notable achievements of Korean cinema today."Indian actor Aamir Khan also sent his congratulations, saying, "I was deeply moved. It is a very powerful film, and I believe the message this film wants to remind us of is very important," and added, "I sincerely congratulate the director, producers, and all the cast and crew who made such a wonderful film.""Assassins," released in Korea on September 23rd, is a film that traces the suspicions and behind-the-scenes of the assassination of the First Lady on August 15, 1974, which shocked South Korea. It is based on the assassination of First Lady Yuk Young-soo during the Liberation Day ceremony in 1974, a topic that has never been explored in Korean cinema.The film had been on a box office run, dominating the Chuseok holiday movie season, but it faced an unexpected issue. Some raised concerns about historical distortion, pointing to scenes suggesting the possibility of former President Park Chung-hee's side or the Central Intelligence Agency's involvement in the incident, leading to accusations of Chinese capital involvement and becoming the center of various controversies.In response, the production company issued an official statement refuting the allegations, but the controversy surrounding the film spilled beyond the screen, with protests occurring in front of the homes of actors involved in the film. Consequently, "Assassins" canceled its official schedule at the 31st Busan International Film Festival, including stage greetings.Despite this, "Assassins," which surpassed its break-even point (3.3 million viewers) and distinguished itself at international film festivals, is drawing attention to what significant records it will achieve in the future. The film can be seen in theaters nationwide.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Desk | ssent@tf.co.kr]