Hi, Dharma

Directed by Park Cheol-kwan (박철관)

Written by Park Gyoo-tae (박규태)

95min | Release date in South Korea: 2001/11/09

Also known as "Let's Play, Dharma"
Synopsis
After losing a bloody battle with a rival gang, Jae-gyu and his men become fugitives on the run and hide in a secluded mountain temple. They plan to lay low until their rival gang and the cops stop searching for them. At the temple, they find a group of disciplined monks who live a peaceful and orderly life. Jae-gyu and his gang see this as a great opportunity and ask the monks to let them stay. Refusing at first, later the monks permit them to stay, but only for one week. The week passes, but Jae-gyu and his men don’t budge. So a new war between the gangsters and the monks begins. The rules are simple. “If you win 3 games out of 5, the group who wins has the final say.” From a 3,000-bow Buddhist ritual to a diving match and a game of Korean poker, it’s a gruesome war of wit and perseverance. Finally, Jae-gyu’s gang manages to win the long and difficult struggle. The temple’s Head Monk accepts them and allows them to stay longer. But the new rule is tough. “If you want to stay, then you must obey the rule… the rule of Buddha!” Now the doctrine “No work, no food” is strictly applied to the gangsters, too…

International Film Festivals
2002 Moscow International Film Festival , National Hits
2002 Udine Far East Film Festival
2002 Seattle International Film Festival
2002 Black Nights Film Festival

Source