22nd New York Asian Film Festival

Jul 14-30, 2023

Photo: © M-Line Distribution

North American Premiere

Hail to Hell

지옥만세

In this tar-black comedy, Na-mi and Sun-woo’s suicide pact is abruptly foiled when they find out that the bully who led them to this sorry fate is living happily ever after, far from their sleepy town. Vehemently vexed by both their own lot and their past persecutor's good fortune, the oddball pair swear to wreak vengeance, determined to shame and expose the bully's rotten roots, and show her for who she truly is. But when they find her, nothing goes as expected and they end up on a wild odyssey of biblical proportions.

Making her feature debut, writer-director Lim Oh-jeong presides over hilariously on-the-money performances, in an impeccably paced, twisted tale that builds to the literal blaze of the climax. This always-surprising good vs. evil comedy-drama-thriller brilliantly invokes popcorn cinema while it tackles multiple issues, from bullying to religious cults and all their attendant human fallout, with sardonic aplomb.

Director: Lim Oh-jeong
Cast: Oh Woo-ri, Bang Hyo-rin, Jung Yi-ju
Languages: Korean with English subtitles
2022; 109 min.; DCP

SCHEDULE:

Saturday July 29, 9:30pm
Film at Lincoln Center