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Back to list Virus (aka OTS Virus Project)

Director’s Profile

Born in Seoul, Kang Yi-kwan deals with in-depth stories of family and society. His feature debut Sa-kwa (2005) was an upbeat film about a woman’s conflicts, relationships and marriage. It was invited to numerous international film festivals, winning the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival FIPRESCI Award and the 2005 San Sebastian International Film Festival Mont Blanc Award for New Screenwriters. Kang directed If You Were Me 5: Two Teeth in 2011, a film on the rights of North Korean defectors. He was invited by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea to direct a film on the human rights of criminal offenders, resulting in Juvenile Offender (2012), which won the Special Jury Prize and the Best Actor Award at the 2012 Tokyo International Film Festival.

Synopsis

Taek-sun is a pessimist. She has created her own world into which no one else can enter. Worried about Taek-sun, her sister sets her up on a blind date. Taek-sun only agrees because her date, Soo-pil, is supposedly a scientist. However, Soo-pil is late for their date, talks only about himself, and then leaves early after getting a call from his lab, without any concern for Taek-sun. More depressed than ever, Taek-sun returns home. Later that evening, she is surprised by an unexpected visit from the suddenly enamored Soo-pil. Taek-sun is puzzled by the abrupt change in Soo-pil’s attitude towards her, but enjoys an evening of drinks together with him, nonetheless. The next day, she feels inexplicably happy, and calls her long-time crush Yeon-woo to ask him out on a date.
Suddenly, Taek-sun is overwhelmed with happiness. But then employees of a government infectious diseases lab, wearing bio-hazard suits, rush in to Taek-sun’s house and inform her of the horrifying fact that Soo-pil has died from an infection caught while studying a new virus. To figure out the path of any possible spread of infection, they take her in to the hospital.
Taek-sun discovers a text message sent from Soo-pil before his death, which says that the only person who can save her is Soo-pil’s co-researcher, Lee Gyun. She escapes from the hospital. Meanwhile, Gyun has also discovered that Soo-pil, who was like a brother to him, has died and starts looking for the last person to have contact with his friend.
After a few complications, Gyun and Taek-sun finally meet and figure out that the virus is a mutant form of toxoplasma virus, usually a parasite in rodents which affects their neural pathways, making the rodents lose their fear of cats and therefore causing their deaths (as dinner for the cats). In short, the virus influences the brain making the host become ‘too bold’. The sudden love confessions earlier were early symptoms of infection, and as the infection spreads, the central nervous system eventually becomes paralyzed resulting in the death of the host.
The virus is spreading nationwide and the death toll is rising, meaning the search for Taek-sun by the authorities is becoming more and more desperate.
Facing the fear of death, Taek-sun is also confused about her feelings towards Gyun, not knowing if she is really falling in love with him or if it is the virus at work. Gyun, meanwhile, is frantically searching for a vaccine that could save Taek-sun, who somehow keeps rattling his reason. As their adventure continues, a special love story begins.

Achievements

Released in Korea

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