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Wrangler film image; woman in a cage holding a leash out to a barking dog

Wrangler

Hunryeonsa

Spotlight on Korea

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World Premiere

Seo Eun-sun makes her feature debut with this tense psychological thriller. Lee Hayoung (Choi Seung-yoon) is a trainer who works domesticating rescue dogs, a job she’s dedicated to in part because she likes to dominate. Hayoung’s sister Sora (Kim Seung-hwa) is fresh out of prison and harbours some hard feelings; likewise, Hayoung distrusts her ex-con sister, just as she distrusts anyone she can’t control. As the sisters’ uncomfortable reunion takes shape, a vicious dog escapes, leaving Hayoung on the hook to find it. Sora takes an interest in the situation, and from there things ratchet further and further up, leading to a cathartic and tragic climax.

Wrangler is a film about the mystery of character and the maddening inaccessibility of others’ minds. Seo’s film features complex characterization and subtext that descends from the easily apparent to murkier depths. On the surface are envy, fear, and wrath; below lie motivations that are even scarier because they’re, on some level, unknowable.

 

Oct 3 & 4: Q&A

 

Cooperating Organizations

                       

Media Partner

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Community Partner

           

Director
Cast

Choi Seung-yoon, Kim Seung-hwa, Jung Hwan, Kim Dasol, Joo Ye-rin

Credits
Country of Origin

South Korea

Year

2025

Language

In Korean with English subtitles

Film Contact
18+
107 min
Action & Suspense Cinemas of Asia Drama Family Relations Spotlight on Korea Women Directors

Book Tickets

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Credits & Director

Executive Producer

Joh Gun-shik

Producer

Son Bit-na

Screenwriter

Seo Eun-sun

Cinematography

Lee Ju-hwan

Editor

Seo Eun-sun

Production Design

Lee A-young

Original Music

Koo Ja-wan

Seo Eun-sun headshot

Seo Eun-sun

After graduating with a degree in Film from Myongji University, Seo pursued film directing at the Korean Academy of Film Arts. Her graduation project, Hot Summer Night (2015), was screened at the Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival and the Seoul Independent Film Festival. The film won Best Screenplay at the Paris Korean Film Festival and Best Film at the Jeju Film Festival. Wrangler is her feature debut, developed through KAFA’s feature film production research program.

Spotlight on Korea

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