The Book of Fish

General Information

• International Title: The Book of Fish
• Original Title: 자산어보 (romanization: Jasaneobo)
• Genre: Historical, Drama
• Runtime: 126 minutes
• Released Date: 2021.03.31
• Production: Cineworld
• International Distributor: Megabox Plus M, M-Line Distribution
• Starring: Sol Kyung Gu, Byun Yo Han
• Producer: Kim Sung Cheol
• Director: Lee Joon Ik
• Writer: Kim Se Gyeom
• Rating: IMDb (7.5/10)
• Awards: 57th Baeksang Arts Awards (Grand Prize)

Synopsis

The Book of Fish is Korean black-and-white historical movie portraying an exiled scholar during King Sunjo of Joseon’s reign. Jeong Yak Jeon is a scholar exiled to remote island, Heuksando. He gets into fish and sea and enthusiast to write an encyclopedia about that. Later, he meets Chang Dae, a conservative young fisherman. He has willingness to study by himself. However, he has difficulties in studying. Finally, both are agree to exchange knowledge. Jeong Yak Jeon offers his knowledge in studying while Chang Dae shares his expertise about sea.

Main Cast

Character name: Jeong Yak Jeon
Actor name: Sol Kyung Gu
Sol Kyung Gu’s notable works: Phantom, Kingmaker, Memoir of a Murderer, The Merciless, Lucid Dream, Venus and Mars, Hope, etc

Character name: Chang Dae
Actor name: Byun Yo Han
Byun Yo Han’s notable works: Hansan, On the Line, Mr. Sunshine (drama), The Roots of Throne (drama), Ex-Girlfriends’ Club (drama), Misaeng: Incomplete Life (drama), etc

Extended Cast

Lee Jung Eun as Gageo woman
Min Do Hee as Bok Rye
Cha Soon Bae as Poong Heon
Kang Ki Young as Lee Kang Hwe
Dong Bang Woo as Naju Magistrate
Jung Jin Young as King Jeongjo
Kim Eui Sung as Official Jang
Bang Eun Jin as Chang Dae’s mother
Kim Sung Jun as herbs store’s first son
Ryu Seung Ryong as Jeong Yakyong
Jo Woo Bin as Byeol Jang
Yoon Tae Soo as public officer in Heuksanjin
Choi Won Young as Jeong Yak Jong
Lee Seung Joon as Bul Chul
Yoon Kyung Ho as Moon Soon Deuk
Jo Seung Yeon as Yi Byeok
Park Jin Woo as child at port
Min Tae Yul as petty official

Character Relationship Chart

N/A

Original Soundtrack

Scoring by Bang Jun Seok

Teaser & Trailer Videos

Awards & Nominations

57th Baeksang Arts Awards: Grand Prize (“Lee Joon Ik”) – May 13, 2021

30th Buil Film Awards – Best Director (“Lee Joon Ik”) – October 7, 2021

42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards – November 26, 2021

• Sol Kyung Gu – Best Actor
• Kim Se Gyeom – Best Screenplay
• Lee Eui Tae – Best Cinematography
• Kim Jeong Hun – Best Editing
• Bang Jun Seok – Best Music

Trivia

• The Book of Fish is Korean black-and-white historical movie
• This movie is based on the true story of Jeong Yak Jeon and Jang Chang Dae. The movie title is based on Jeong Yak Jeon’s Pishine Encyclopedia entitled Jasaneobo
• It was screened at SVA Theatre and Lincoln Center in two weeks during 20th New York Asian Film Festival
• The Book of Fish was also screened at 26th Busan International Film Festival