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3-Iron

Play trailer Poster for 3-Iron R 2005 1h 27m Romance Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
87% Tomatometer 93 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Tae-suk (Jae-hee) is a lonely drifter who spends his nights in one empty vacation home after another. However, Tae-suk is not your usual squatter, as the courteous young man always makes sure to show his absent -- and unknowing -- hosts his gratitude by doing small household tasks or making simple improvements before moving on. One day, Tae-suk mistakes a quiet home for an empty one and stumbles across an abused housewife (Seung-Yun Lee) in urgent need of his intervention.
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3-Iron

3-Iron

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Critics Consensus

A tender and moving romance from Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... And Spring's director Kim Ki-Duk.

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Critics Reviews

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Steve O'Hagan Empire Magazine 07/15/2005
3/5
An engrossing, if demandingly obscure, watch. Go to Full Review Jamie Woolley BBC.com 07/12/2005
3/5
If the snail's pace doesn't send you to sleep, you'll be rewarded with a tender and unusual love story. Go to Full Review Richard Nilsen Arizona Republic 06/16/2005
3.5/5
What is so engaging about the film is the way its director, Ki-duk Kim, manages to keep our interest intensely focused on the couple. Go to Full Review Carlos Bonfil La Jornada 08/28/2023
A triangle of frustrations, revenge and disagreements, handled with ample irony, in which the storytelling talent of this surprising and versatile filmmaker shines. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison The List 04/25/2019
4/5
Oddly, 3-Iron is a violent yet serene meditation on the transitory nature of human existence. A work of genuine poetry, it's a cinematic hole in one. Go to Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm 09/01/2013
2.5/4
Evanescence is the movie's most distinguishing characteristic. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kyle M @RT77296778 Apr 4 Though a constant pattern without much expression till after the climatic turn that doesn’t resolve another problematic subtext, this is one of those rare pictures whereas the performing chemistry is mainly nuanced gazes that were remarkably pulled off thanks to the clever buildup with a thought-provoking meaning that refines these love stories, somewhat. (B) See more Sammer A @sammer864 Dec 19 The Best romance there is. See more Claudio C @Claudio666 Dec 15 Reality and Dream (12,129 – 02 Aug 2012 / 15 Dec 2025) The lonely rider Tae-suk breaks into empty houses while the owners are traveling. He does not steal anything, and he cleans the houses, provides small repairs or washes some clothes to return the hospitality. When he enters in the house of Sun-hwa, she is wounded in her room after being beaten up by her abusive husband Min-gyu Lee. Tae-suk helps her and hits her husband with golf balls. Then she leaves her husband with him. But they get into trouble and Tae-suk is arrested and Sun-hwa forced to return home. "Bin-jip" is a subtle film about a lonely drifter and an abused wife that finds love, empathy and human warmth with him. The story is open to interpretation and here is mine: Tae-suk is murdered by the prison guards when he leaves his cell. Sun-hwa lives with the "ghost" of the free-spirited Tae-suk as a means to help her to survive to his marriage life. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): "Casa Vazia" ("Empty House") See more Emy L @Emy.Li Jun 30 Compelling, beautiful, sweet, touching movie. It’s almost silent, which makes it even more powerful. The more you know about South Korean culture, the more you’ll enjoy reading through the very fine details which actually tell the complete story. Worth giving it your full viewing attention. See more Rehan T @RT81460504 06/01/2025 What a powerful movie, both the lead actor and the actress said so much in the movie without speaking a word... See more Priyan B @Priyan 01/17/2025 Decent watch. Rating: 6/10 See more Read all reviews
3-Iron

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Cast & Crew

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Kim Ki-duk

Director

Seung-Yun Lee

Sun-hwa

Jae-hee

Tae-suk

Hyuk-ho Kwon

Min-gyu

Joo Jin-mo

Detective Cho

Choi Jeong-ho

Jailor

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3-Iron

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Movie Info

Synopsis Tae-suk (Jae-hee) is a lonely drifter who spends his nights in one empty vacation home after another. However, Tae-suk is not your usual squatter, as the courteous young man always makes sure to show his absent -- and unknowing -- hosts his gratitude by doing small household tasks or making simple improvements before moving on. One day, Tae-suk mistakes a quiet home for an empty one and stumbles across an abused housewife (Seung-Yun Lee) in urgent need of his intervention.
Director
Kim Ki-duk
Producer
Kim Ki-duk
Screenwriter
Kim Ki-duk
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Cineclick Asia, Kim Ki-Duk Film
Rating
R (Some Sexual Content)
Genre
Romance, Drama
Original Language
Korean
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 29, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$238.5K
Runtime
1h 27m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)