Low-Budget Film 'Unbowed' Sweeps Box Office

The low-budget film "Unbowed" is causing a box office sensation by making it to second place in the chart. According to the Korean Film Council, as of last Thursday the film attracted a total accumulated number of 1.4 million viewers, surpassing the 1-million mark just eight days since its release.

When "Unbowed" was released on Jan. 18, it was shown in 245 screens, the second lowest number among films released that day. But thanks to its steady popularity, by Jan. 24 the film was shown on 456 screens before the number decreased to 389 the next day.

"Unbowed" is inspired by the true story of Kim Myung-ho, a professor who failed to get tenure by his university after he questioned the validity of a math question in its entrance exam in 1995. After years of litigation against the university, Kim lost and shot a crossbow at the judge who handled his case.

"Unbowed" had a total budget of W1.5 billion, including marketing costs and W500 million of production costs.

It will be interesting to see whether "Unbowed" can have repercussion as strong as "The Crucible", a film based on the novel of the same title that was in turn based on the true story of sexual abuse that took place in a school for deaf children. "The Crucible" drew 4 million viewers, and under mounting social pressure police re-investigated the case and indicted more people involved in the abuse.