Crying Fist

Crying Fist follows two men whose lives have come apart and who each turn to boxing as a way back. Gang Tae-shik, a middle-aged former fighter who once won silver at the Asian Games, now earns money by letting strangers hit him in the street, and his debts have cost him his family. Yoo Sang-hwan is a young man with a violent past and a criminal record who discovers the sport while serving time. Both enter an amateur championship, and the two of them are set on a collision course in the ring.

Ryoo Seung-wan directed and co-wrote the film with Jeon Cheol-hong, placing it third in the run of features he made, between Arahan and The City of Violence. Choi Min-sik plays Tae-shik, and Ryoo Seung-bum, the director's brother, plays Sang-hwan; Im Won-hee, Cheon Ho-jin, Kim Su-hyun and Na Moon-hee appear in supporting roles. The film was released in 2005 and runs 121 minutes.

It took in about 8 million USD worldwide. On IMDb it holds 7.2 out of 10 from roughly 3,200 votes, and on TMDB it also sits at 7.2 out of 10, from 77 votes. The two audience scores agree closely, indicating a film that viewers regard as solidly made rather than divisive.