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3-Iron

Play trailer Poster for 3-Iron R Released Apr 29, 2005 1h 27m Romance Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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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 An engrossing, if demandingly obscure, watch. Rated: 3/5 Jul 15, 2005 Full Review Jamie Woolley BBC.com If the snail's pace doesn't send you to sleep, you'll be rewarded with a tender and unusual love story. Rated: 3/5 Jul 12, 2005 Full Review Richard Nilsen Arizona Republic 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. Rated: 3.5/5 Jun 16, 2005 Full Review Carlos Bonfil La Jornada 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] Aug 28, 2023 Full Review Eddie Harrison The List 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. Rated: 4/5 Apr 25, 2019 Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Evanescence is the movie's most distinguishing characteristic. Rated: 2.5/4 Sep 1, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Emy L 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. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/30/25 Full Review Audience Member What a powerful movie, both the lead actor and the actress said so much in the movie without speaking a word... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/01/25 Full Review Priyan B Decent watch. Rating: 6/10 Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/17/25 Full Review Alain E A very original and unusual movie about gender relationships and golf clubs. A young Korean drifter who rides an expensive BMW motorcycle breaks into empty houses, eats, sleeps and does the laundry and house maintenance. In a mansion that he thinks is empty, finds an abused housewife and they form a bond. Far from realistic, this is a unique love story. If you wonder about the relevance of the 3-iron, the hero likes to shoot golf balls for exercise but also as a form of weapon. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/11/24 Full Review Courtney K interesting. i actually really loved how dialog-less it was; i sort of wish there was none at all. it is a beautiful story & that last scene is really quite powerful, but i'm not sure i'd recommend it to anyone else. it's more like if you happen to stumble upon it & you're in the mood for an artsy almost-silent love story, then absolutely watch it. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/21/23 Full Review Audience Member so new story and Very new and fresh film..Dialogues are very few but this does not diminish the dynamism and charm of the story Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review 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)
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