The 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards showcased a glamorous stage for stars, yet the notable absence of awards for the movie ‘Face’ left a profound impression both inside and outside the film industry.
With a production cost of just around 200 million won, the film achieved a box office miracle, fueled by director Yeon Sang‑ho’s distinctive vision and Park Jung‑min’s explosive performance. Many had high hopes for ‘Face’ to make a dramatic impact, but the outcome proved unexpectedly disappointing.
At the ceremony held on November 19 at KBS Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, ‘Face’ was nominated in 10 categories, including Best Actor, Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Director, yet it walked away empty‑handed. Given that it was one of the year’s most buzzed‑about films, the disappointment was even greater.
By contrast, Park Chan‑wook’s ‘It Can’t Be Helped’ swept the awards, claiming Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor among others. Another hit, ‘Zombie Daughter’, took home only the Audience Award, while ‘Partition’ garnered insider support but failed to achieve significant recognition.
Notably, couple actors Hyun Bin and Son Ye‑jin won awards together. After receiving the Popularity Award, Hyun Bin claimed Best Actor for ‘Harbin’, while Son Ye‑jin won Best Actress for ‘It Can’t Be Helped’. Their joint appearance and acceptance speeches electrified the ceremony, though the emptiness left by ‘Face’ was strikingly evident.
Park Jung‑min, widely considered a strong contender for Best Actor, was ultimately not called, and the film also failed to break through in other competitive categories. Some voices lamented the outcome: “A miracle low‑budget film couldn’t cross the final threshold,” while others echoed frustration, noting, “It was nominated in 10 categories and didn’t win a single one,” and questioning whether certain films were favored.
Nevertheless, ‘Face’ achieved considerable success in other respects. It proved the possibility of captivating audiences with low production costs, and its genre experimentation and acting transformations earned ample praise. Although it did not win at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, its impact on the film industry this year has been assessed as significant.