Libera Me ()The movie's title, which means "save me" in Latin, was taken from a movement of French composer Gabriel Fauré's Requiem, which also serves as the soundtrack's main theme. is a 2000 South Korean action disaster film directed by Yang Yun-ho, starring Choi Min-soo and Cha Seung-won. It follows a mentally-unbalanced arsonist and the firefighters who struggle to stop him. The film was theatrically released on November 11, 2000.
Plot Yeo Hee-soo, who was incarcerated as a juvenile offender, is released on parole after serving a long 12-year sentence. The moment he steps out, the prison's boiler room explodes as if following a predetermined script, engulfing the gray building in flames.
Five months later, an unexplained fire breaks out at a pharmacy in the middle of Busan, claiming the life of firefighter Lee In-soo, the younger brother of the fire chief. The entire fire department is plunged into grief over the loss of their colleague, and In-soo's partner, Jo Sang-woo, is deeply shaken. In-soo had deliberately turned off his flashlight in his final moments to prevent Sang-woo from being drawn into danger, sacrificing himself.
A few days later, another fire erupts in an apartment complex. The old building is on the verge of collapse. Sang-woo throws himself into the rescue efforts with relentless determination, while his new partner, Kim Hyun-tae, senses an unsettling unease in him. The entire city is gripped by fear as the fires continue. While the police attempt to downplay the causes of the incidents, investigator Jeon Min-seong becomes convinced that all of these fires are acts of arson.
Cast Choi Min-soo as Jo Sang-woo Cha Seung-won as Yeo Hee-soo Yoo Ji-tae as Kim Hyun-tae Park Sang-myun as Park Han-mo Jung Joon as Lee Jun-seong Kim Ae-ran as Seon-ah Kim Gyu-ri as Hyun Min-seong Kim Soo-ro Lee Ho-jae as Kim In-ho Park Jae-hoon Huh Joon-ho as Lee In-soo Jung Ae-ri as Jung Myung-jin Park Ji-mi Jeong Won-jung
Production The film was shot in Busan, with the support of the local government and fire department. Instead of using miniatures, it was filmed in real buildings throughout Busan using a special synthetic oil that allowed the crew to use actual fire. For a key scene involving a gas station, a life-sized set was constructed and detonated at a cost of .
Awards 2000 Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Visual Effects: Jeong Do-an
2001 Baeksang Arts Awards Grand Prize Best Film Best Actor: Choi Min-soo
2001 Chunsa Film Art Awards Best Cinematography: Seo Jeong-min Technical Award: Jeong Do-an
2001 Grand Bell Awards Best Cinematography: Seo Jeong-min Best Editing: Park Soon-deok Best Lighting: Shin Joon-ha
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