Synopsis

Bong Dal-ho sings at a small-town club with his rock band. Though not particularly popular, he never gives up on his dream of becoming a rock star. One day, Jang, a music label executive, offers Dal-ho a recording contract. Hoping to make it big, Dal-ho abandons his bandmates and moves to Seoul—only to find out that Jang’s label only produces Trot music. Jang insists that Dal-ho has a natural talent for Trot. Though reluctant at first, Dal-ho has no choice but to stay. As time passes, he is touched by the joys and sorrows of Trot singers and finally agrees to perform on national television. Out of shame and embarrassment, however, he performs wearing a mask under the stage name “Masked Bong-pil.” His masked performance brings him instant fame—but also many complications. The film plays on the younger generation’s bias that Trot music is outdated. Here, “dowdiness” is interpreted as “commonness,” which grows into sincerity without pretense. Through this, the protagonist discovers devotion and love for one woman. The film pays homage to Trot music by capturing the essence of pop culture—something seen as tacky or old-fashioned—but sincere precisely because of that. As Jang says in the film, “Trot is the heart and the tears of ordinary people.” (Lim Bum)

Director

Kim Sang-chan, Kim Hyun-soo

Director Kim Sang-chan began his filmmaking career when his 1997 graduation film Delusion from Dongguk University’s Department of Film was selected as a finalist in the Kodak Eastman Scholarship Program in Korea. He went on to participate in various films including Failan, The Way Home, Tube, Hello UFO, ...ING, and Family. Director Kim Hyun-soo graduated from Hosei University in Japan, then studied film and broadcasting at New York University in the United States. He continued his career directing various programs at companies such as Nihon TV-affiliated productions, Brookline Access Television, and NextNext Entertainment. The Happy Life of Masked Dal-ho is the first film directed by both Kim Hyun-soo and Kim Sang-chan.