# The Book of Fish

The Book of Fish (Korean: 자산어보; RR: Jasaneobo) is a 2021 South Korean black-and-white historical drama film directed by Lee Joon-ik. The film starring Sul Kyung-gu and Byun Yo-han, is about an exiled Joseon era scholar and a fisherman and their exchange of knowledge in writing a book. It was theatrically released on March 31, 2021.
The film won the Grand Prize at 57th Baeksang Arts Awards in May 2021.

## Background

The Book of Fish is a black-and-white historical film set in 1801 about the Joseon era scholar Jeong Yak-jeon [ko] (1758–1816). He was exiled to Heuksando Island during the Catholic Persecution of 1801 in King Sunjo of Joseon's reign. There he wrote a piscine encyclopedia titled Jasaneobo [ko]. In the film a fictional character Chang-dae, a young, conservative and eager to learn fisherman is introduced.

## Plot

In the first year of King Sunjo's reign, Jeong Yak-jeon [ko] is exiled to the remote island of Heuksan due to the Sinyu Persecution. Curious by nature, Jeong Yak-jeon becomes fascinated by marine life and decides to write a book about it. To do so, he seeks help from a young fisherman, Chang-dae, who knows the sea better than anyone. However, Chang-dae refuses outright, declaring that he cannot assist a criminal.
Upon discovering that Chang-dae struggles with self-studying, Jeong Yak-jeon proposes an exchange of knowledge. Though reluctant at first, Chang-dae eventually agrees. Despite their frequent bickering, the two gradually become both teachers and friends to each other. But when Jeong Yak-jeon learns that Chang-dae's true motivation for studying is solely to achieve success, he is deeply disappointed. Likewise, Chang-dae realizes that his path is different from Jeong Yak-jeon's and makes up his mind to leave his mentor's side and step out into the wider world.

## Cast

* Sul Kyung-gu as Jeong Yak-jeon
* Byun Yo-han as Jang Chang-dae
* Lee Jung-eun as woman from Gageo
* Min Do-hee as Bok-rye
* Cha Soon-bae as Poong-heon
* Kang Ki-young as Lee Kang-hwe
* Dong Bang-woo as Magistrate of Naju
* Jung Jin-young as King Jeongjo
* Kim Eui-sung as Official Jang
* Bang Eun-jin as Changdae's mother
* Ryu Seung-ryong as Jeong Yakyong
* Jo Woo-jin as Byeol-jang
* Choi Won-young as Jeong Yak-jong
* Yoon Kyung-ho as Moon Soon-deuk
* Jo Seung-yeon as Yi Byeok

## Production

The Book of Fish is a black and white film, which are making a comeback in South Korea.

### Filming

Filming was wrapped up on November 15, 2019.

## Release

The film was theatrically released on March 31, 2021 by Megabox.
The Book of Fish has been invited at the 20th New York Asian Film Festival. It was featured in 'Standouts' strand and screened at Lincoln Center and SVA Theatre in the two-week festival held from August 6 to 22, 2021 in New York. It was also selected in 'Korean Cinema Today - Panorama Section' at 26th Busan International Film Festival and will be screened in the festival in October 2021. The film was also screened at 10th Korean Film Festival Frankfurt on October 23, 2021. On May 6, 2022, it was screened at the Habitat International Film Festival (HIFF), at the Habitat Center in New Delhi.
In 2022, it was selected as one of the films in 'The Actor, Sol Kyung-gu' special exhibition event at 26th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival to honour actor Sul Kyung-gu.

## Reception
### Box office

The film released on March 31, 2021, on 1250 screens. It was at the number 1 place at the Korean box office by collecting 54,000 audiences on the weekend, taking its total commutative audience to 255,000 persons in the second week of its release.
According to Korean Film Council data†, it is at 14th place among all the Korean films released in the year 2021, with gross of US$2.71 million and 342,540 admissions, as of December 11, 2021.
* †The system of KOBIS (Korean Box Office Information System) is managed by KOFIC.

### Critical response

Going by Korean review aggregator Naver Movie Database, the film holds an approval rating of 9.11 from the audience.
Kim Boram reviewing The Book of Fish for Yonhap wrote that the film keeps interest of the viewers alive as the tone is not serious. He considered that the beautiful scenery of Heuksando Island made the viewing pleasurable. He praised the performances of Sul Kyung-gu as an open-minded scholar and Byun Yo-han as Chang-dae, a young but conservative fisherman. Concluding the review Boram said, "The black-and-white cinematography makes the movie feel like a Joseon Dynasty ink painting, .... and the viewers even get the sense that color is not really important in the script-driven and performance-based piece."

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Awards | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 2021 | 57th Baeksang Arts Awards | Grand Prize | Lee Joon-ik | Won |
| 2021 | 57th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Film | The Book of Fish | Nominated |
| 2021 | 57th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Director | Lee Joon-ik | Nominated |
| 2021 | 57th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor | Byun Yo-han | Nominated |
| 2021 | 57th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actor | Sul Kyung-gu | Nominated |
| 2021 | 57th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Screenplay | Kim Se-kyum | Nominated |
| 2021 | 57th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Cinematography | Lee Eui-tae | Nominated |
| 2021 | Chunsa Film Art Awards 2021 | Best Director | Lee Joon-ik | Nominated |
| 2021 | Chunsa Film Art Awards 2021 | Best Actor | Sul Kyung-gu | Nominated |
| 2021 | Chunsa Film Art Awards 2021 | Best Screenplay | Kim Se-gyeom | Nominated |
| 2021 | 30th Buil Film Awards | Best Film | The Book of Fish | Nominated |
| 2021 | 30th Buil Film Awards | Best Director | Lee Joon-ik | Won |
| 2021 | 30th Buil Film Awards | Best Actor | Byun Yo-han | Nominated |
| 2021 | 30th Buil Film Awards | Best Actor | Sul Kyung-gu | Nominated |
| 2021 | 30th Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Jo Woo-jin | Nominated |
| 2021 | 30th Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Lee Jung-eun | Nominated |
| 2021 | 30th Buil Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Kim Se-gyeom | Nominated |
| 2021 | 30th Buil Film Awards | Best Cinematography Award | Lee Eui-tae | Nominated |
| 2021 | 30th Buil Film Awards | Best Art/Technical Award | Lee Jae-Sung | Nominated |
| 2021 | 15th Asian Film Awards | Best Film | The Book of Fish | Nominated |
| 2021 | 15th Asian Film Awards | Best Director | Lee Joon-ik | Nominated |
| 2021 | 15th Asian Film Awards | Best Costume Design | Shim Hyun-seob | Nominated |
| 2021 | 15th Asian Film Awards | Best Art Director | Lee Jae-Sung | Nominated |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Film | The Book of Fish | Nominated |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Director | Lee Jun-ik | Nominated |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Actor | Sol Kyung-gu | Won |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Actor | Byun Yo-han | Nominated |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Kim Se-gyeom | Won |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Cinematography | Lee Eui-tae | Won |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Editing | Kim Jeong-hun | Won |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Music | Bang Jun-seok | Won |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Technical Award | Shim Hyun-seob (Costume) | Nominated |
| 2021 | 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Art Direction | Lee Jae-Sung | Nominated |
| 2021 | Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Best Film | The Book of Fish | Won |
| 2021 | Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Best Actor | Sol Kyung-gu | Won |
| 2021 | Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Best Screenplay | Kim Se-gyeom | Won |
| 2021 | Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | FIPRESCI Award | Lee Jun-ik | Won |
| 2021 | 41st Golden Cinematography Awards | Best Actor | Sol Kyung-gu | Won |
| 2021 | 41st Golden Cinematography Awards | Best Film | The Book of Fish | Won |
| 2021 | 41st Golden Cinematography Awards | Best Director | Lee Jun-ik | Won |
| 2021 | 41st Golden Cinematography Awards | Best Cinematography | Lee Eui-tae | Won |
| 2021 | 41st Golden Cinematography Awards | Best New Actress | Min Do-hee | Won |
| 2021 | 8th Korean Film Writers Association Awards | Best Director | Lee Jun-ik | Won |
| 2021 | 8th Korean Film Writers Association Awards | Best Actor | Sul Kyung-gu | Won |
| 2021 | 8th Korean Film Writers Association Awards | Best Music | Bang Jun-seok | Won |
| 2021 | Busan Film Critics Awards | Best Actor | Byun Yo-han | Won |
| 2022 | Director's Cut Awards | Best Director | Lee Joon-ik | Won |
| 2022 | Director's Cut Awards | Best Screenplay | Kim Se-gyeom | Won |