The Host is a 2006 monster horror film directed by Bong Joon-ho, who co-wrote the script with Ha Jun-weon and Baek Cheol-hyeon. The film focuses on a vendor, Park Gang-du (Song Kang-ho), who attempts to save his daughter, Hyun-seo (Go Ah-sung), from a creature dwelling in the Han River that has abducted her. Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il, and Bae Doona, portray Gang-du's father, brother, and sister respectively.
The Host premiered at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival in May 2006, to critical acclaim. It was distributed in South Korea by Showbox on July 27 and in Japan by Kadokawa Herald on September 2; theatrical releases throughout the rest of the world lasted until 2008. The Host grossed roughly worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing South Korea film ever on its release. Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator, surveyed 156 reviews and judged 93% to be positive.
The film garnered nominations in various categories, particularly for Bong's direction and screenwriting as well as the lead acting performances. At the 1st Asian Film Awards in March 2007, it became the first film to win the Asian Film Award for Best Film; Song also won the Asian Film Award for Best Actor. The film received five of its nine nominations at the 5th Korean Film Awards, including Best Film and Best Director. Among its awards from Western ceremonies, and critics' organizations, and festivals, The Host was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best International Film and the Belgian Film Critics Association's Grand Prix.
Accolades
+ List of accolades received by The Host Award Date of Ceremony Category Recipients Result 51st Asia Pacific Film Festival2006 Best Supporting Actor Byun Hee-bong rowspan="7" Best Editing Kim Sun-min Best Sound Effects Choi Tae-young 1st Asian Film Awards March 2007 Best Film The Host Best Actor Song Kang-ho Best Cinematographer Kim Hyung-koo Best Visual Effects The Orphanage Best Editing Kim Sun-min 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards April 25, 2007 Best Film The Host Best Actor Byun Hee-bong rowspan="3" Best New Actress Go Ah-sung Belgian Film Critics Association 2008 Grand Prix The Host27th Blue Dragon Film Awards December 15, 2006 Best Film Best Director Bong Joon-ho rowspan="3" Best Screenplay Best Actor Song Kang-ho Best Supporting Actor Byun Hee-bong Best Supporting Actress Bae Doona Best New Actress Go Ah-sung Best Cinematography Kim Hyung-koo Best LightingLee Kang-san,Jung Young-min rowspan="12" Technical Award The Orphanage Audience Choice Award for Most Popular FilmThe HostBrussels International Fantastic Film Festival 2007 Golden RavenBusan Film Critics Awards 2006 Special Jury Prize Bong Joon-hoChunsa Film Art Awards Planning and Production Award Choi Yong-bae Best Lighting Lee Kang-san Technical Award The Host 9th Director's Cut Awards Best Producer Choi Yong-bae Best Actor Song Kang-ho,Byun Hee-bong,Park Hae-il Best Actress Bae Doona,Go Ah-sung 30th Golden Cinematography Awards 2007 Best Actor Song Kang-ho 44th Grand Bell Awards June 8, 2007 Best Film The Host Best Director Bong Joon-ho Best Actor Song Kang-ho rowspan="4" Best Supporting Actor Byun Hee-bong Best Supporting Actress Go Ah-sung Best Cinematography Kim Hyung-koo Best Editing Kim Sun-min Best Lighting Lee Kang-san,Jung Young-min rowspan="4" Best Visual Effects The Orphanage Best Sound Effects Lee Seung-chul,Choi Tae-young Best Planning Choi Yong-bae 5th Korean Film Awards 2006 Best Film The Host rowspan="2" Best Director Bong Joon-ho Best Supporting Actress Go Ah-sung Best Cinematography Kim Hyung-koo rowspan=4 Best LightingLee Kang-san,Jung Young-min Best Visual Effects The Orphanage, EON Best Sound Choi Tae-young Best Art Direction Ryu Seong-hui rowspan="4" Best Score Lee Byung-woo 33rd Saturn Awards May 10, 2007 Best International Film The Host Best Young Actor/Actress Go Ah-sung
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