Movie spotlight
Rebellious Ki-soo from North Korea is mesmerized by tap dance in prison camps. Ki-soo joins as a team member of a dance team named 'Swing Kids'. Yet suddenly, their dreams about dancing in prison camps are put in danger.
In a North Korean POW camp during the Korean War, a group of soldiers led by their American captain forms a tap dance troupe called 'Swing Kids'. Despite facing prejudice and the harsh realities of war, they find solace and a means of expression through music and dance.
Swing Kids was generally well-received by critics and audiences, praised for its energetic choreography, emotional depth, and a powerful message of hope amidst conflict. While some noted its departure from typical war film tropes, its unique blend of music, dance, and historical drama resonated strongly.
Praised for its vibrant and infectious musical numbers and dance sequences.
Commended for its emotional storytelling and the cast's dedicated performances.
Appreciated for its unique portrayal of finding humanity and joy in the midst of war.
Google audience: Audiences widely applauded the film's dynamic dance routines and the emotional resonance of the story. Many found it to be an uplifting and memorable cinematic experience, with particular praise for the blend of music and compelling narrative.
Won Best Original Score and Best Music at the Blue Dragon Film Awards (2018). Nominated for Best Film and Best Director at the Grand Bell Awards (2019).
The lead actor, Do Kyung-soo (also known as D.O. from the K-pop group EXO), reportedly trained extensively in tap dancing for over a year to prepare for his role.
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‘Swing Kids’ should be commended for its ambition, even if it doesn’t always manage to juggle all its balls as well as wants to. Is it the best film to come out of Korea this year? No, that title belongs to festival darling ‘Parasite’. But ...