The South Korean spy action thriller “Harbin,” which premiered this week at the Toronto International Film Festival, will be making its way to North American audiences. Well Go USA, known for distributing Asian films in the U.S. and Canada, has acquired the rights for the movie. The company has confirmed that the film will receive a theatrical release but has yet to announce a specific date.
Directed by Woo Min-ho, whose previous works include the successful 2015 film “Inside Men” and “The Man Standing Next,” “Harbin” depicts crucial moments in the fight for Korean independence. Set in 1909, against the backdrop of Japan’s annexation of Korea and the suppression of Korean sovereignty, the film follows Ahn Jung-geun (played by Hyun Bin) as he leads a mission to assassinate Ito Hirobumi, Japan’s first Resident-General in Korea. This operation involves Ahn and his team passing through Russia to gather resources and allies while devising complex strategies.
The cast also features Park Jung-min, Jeon Yeo-been, Jo Woo-jin, Yoo Jae-myung, Park Hoon, and Lee Dong-wook. Although the film had its debut at TIFF, CJ ENM, the Korean distributor, has opted to bypass the Chuseok holiday period next week and plans to release “Harbin” in December instead.
Doris Pfardrescher, president and CEO of Well Go USA, praised the film: “Director Woo has created a richly detailed historical epic, brought to life with remarkable skill by cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo. ‘Harbin’ offers a gripping and visually impressive depiction of a pivotal and dramatic era for Korea and the global stage.”
Well Go USA, based in Plano, Texas, is known for its extensive catalog of Asian films. Recent acquisitions include the Philippines-set film “Death March” starring Scott Adkins, the Thai comedy-drama “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies,” as well as previous releases like Kore-eda Hirokazu’s “Monster,” Donnie Yen’s “Raging Fire,” Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning,” and Fan Bingbing’s “I Am Not Madame Bovary.”