Champion

Biopic about the Korean lightweight champ Kim Deuk-Gu (Yoo), who died in 1982 four days after being KO'd by Ray Mancini in a title bout in Las Vegas. Kwak witnessed the defeat on TV at the age of 17, and the movie realises a lifelong obsession with Kim's courage and tenacity. Not surprisingly, though, it follows the contours of every other boxing bio-pic ever made, from impoverished slum origins through endless training and workouts and the hard slog to a domestic title to the lure of international success. Its most distinctive and touching feature is the focus on Kim's burgeoning relationship with his long-suffering girlfriend Kyung-Mi (newcomer Chae). Kwak directs with the macho brio and confidence you'd expect from Friend.