Image to help understand the article
A Pitcher Refuses to Give Up
In the South Korean independent film “Baseball Girl,” high school pitcher Joo Soo-in has one goal: to join a professional team after graduation and keep playing the sport she loves.
Soo-in remains a talented player, though her performance is no longer what it once was. Meanwhile, teammate Lee Jung-ho, who previously lagged behind her, has become the school team’s ace and attracted interest from professional clubs. Soo-in struggles to receive the same consideration and opportunities because she is a woman.
Her prospects begin to change when Choi Jin-tae arrives as the baseball team’s new coach and supports her attempt to reach the professional level. Soo-in continues pursuing that goal despite pressure from her mother, friends and manager to abandon it.
Lee Joo-young stars as Soo-in, with Lee Joon-hyuk playing coach Choi and Kwak Dong-yeon portraying Jung-ho. Yum Hye-ran and Song Young-kyu play Soo-in’s parents. The cast also includes Yoo Jae-myung, Joo Hae-eun and Lee Chae-eun.
From Busan Premiere to Award Recognition
Written and directed by Choi Yoon-tae, “Baseball Girl” was produced in 2019 as his feature debut. The Korean Academy of Film Arts produced the 104-minute drama, and Sidus and Challan distributed it. Rated in South Korea for viewers 12 and older, it opened in theaters June 18, 2020.
The film had its world premiere Oct. 4, 2019, in the Korean Cinema Today — Panorama section of the 24th Busan International Film Festival. Choi and actors Lee Joo-young, Lee Joon-hyuk and Yum Hye-ran attended the screening. Audience discussions were held Oct. 4 and 5 at Lotte Cinema Centum City, followed by a general screening Oct. 9 at Lotte Cinema Daeyoung. Tickets for both screenings sold out soon after sales opened.
“Baseball Girl” later competed in the feature-length section of the 2019 Seoul Independent Film Festival, where Lee Joo-young received an Independent Star Award for acting. In 2020, the film won best screenplay and best actress at the 29th Buil Film Awards. It was also selected for Cine-Vacances Seoul and the Korean Wave section of the Ulju Mountain Film Festival.
Critics, journalists and festival audiences praised Lee’s performance and Soo-in’s determination to pursue her ambitions in the face of gender bias. According to the Korean Film Council’s box-office tracking system, known as KOBIS, the film had drawn 28,388 moviegoers as of June 28, 2020.
Inspired by a Real Female Baseball Player
Choi began developing the story after a conversation with his wife around July 2017. While they were driving, she watched an interview with an elementary school girl who played baseball and expressed regret that the child was working hard despite seemingly having no path to the professional game.
Choi told her there was no rule barring women from playing for professional baseball teams in South Korea. Her surprise prompted him to imagine a film about a woman seeking a professional baseball career.
Many elements of the story were inspired by An Hyang-mi, a female player who was part of the baseball program at Deoksu High School. The film indirectly references her through a description of Soo-in as the first female baseball player to emerge in 20 years.
Filming took place from January to February 2019. The production faced a limited budget and the challenge of shooting during cold weather, a period when baseball players generally have difficulty training.
After its theatrical and festival run, “Baseball Girl” aired Oct. 17, 2020, on KBS’ independent film program.
Comments
Post a Comment