3-Iron (Bin-jip) (Empty Houses) poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Seung-yeon Lee, Jae Hee Song, Gweon Hyeok-ho, Ju Jin-mo, Choi Jeong-ho ... see more see more... , Lee Ju-suk , Mi-suk Lee , Mun Sung-hyeok , Park Ji-ah , Jae-yong Jang , Da-hae Lee , Kim Han Sang , Park Se-jin , Park Dong-jin , Lee Jeong-sub , Lee Eui-su , Ryu Jeong-hwa , Kang Sung-hun , Joo Jin Mo , Byung-hun Lee , Hyuk-ho Kwon , Sung-hyuk Moon , Lee Ui-soo , Ryoo Jong-hwa , Jung Sung-hoon , Kim Maeng-sung , Hoon Jang , Jang Seok-bin , Kim Hyung-suk , Shin Tae-suk , Lee Hong-suk , Park Nam-min , Hee Jah

A battered woman finds her soul mate in a most unusual manner in this drama from Korean filmmaker Kim Ki-Duk. Tae-suk (Jae Hee Song) is a young drifter who appears to be homeless by inclination as muc... read more read more...h as necessity; he squats in the homes of strangers while they're away, carefully seeing to it that no damage is done to the property and sometimes performing small household chores as a display of gratitude. One day, Tae-suk sneaks into a house where a number of photos of a beautiful model adorn the walls. After eating, washing up, and doing some minor repairs, Tae-suk discovers he's being watched by the woman of the house, Sun-hwa (Lee Seung-yeon), and he soon recognizes her as the model in the photos. However, Tae-suk sees that Sun-hwa has been badly bruised, and suspects she's been the victim of domestic violence. When Tae-suk returns to the home later that evening, his suspicions are confirmed as he sees Sun-hwa being slapped around by her husband, Min-kyo (Gweon Hyeok-ho). Tae-suk impulsively bursts into the house, grabs a golf club, and attacks Min-kyo with it; moments later, Tae-suk and Sun-hwa ride away together on his scooter, and she silently joins him in his existence as a squatter, which slowly blossoms into a love affair. Bin-Jip (aka 3-Iron) received its North American premiere at the 2004 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

93% liked it

22,646 ratings

Critics

86% liked it

87 critics

R, 1 hr. 27 min.

Directed by: Ki-duk Kim

Release Date: October 15, 2004

Keywords: unique

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: September 6, 2005

Stats: 1,671 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

3-Iron (Bin-jip) (Empty Houses) 3-Iron (Bin-jip) (Empty Houses) 3-Iron (Bin-jip) (Empty Houses) 3-Iron (Bin-jip) (Empty Houses) 3-Iron (Bin-jip) (Empty Houses) 3-Iron (Bin-jip) (Empty Houses) 3-Iron 3-Iron (Bin-jip) (Empty Houses) 3-Iron (Bin-jip) (Empty Houses) 3 iron 3-Iron (Bin-jip) (Empty Houses)
Upload a Photo | View All 3-Iron (Bin-jip) (Empty Houses) Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (1,671)

  • ScoopOnline
    September 28, 2011
    ScoopOnline
    First of all I m going to try to find out the arabian song he kept playing.

    A very very intense Movie. It is just so hard to describe this Movie. I think you have to watch it by yourself. The main characters dont talk a word except the last scene one line.

    If you really pay at... read moretention you are going to enjoy and understand, especially because the main characters dont talk a word but if you like "rush rush" you d be bored.

    An unssual and BEAUTIFULL STORY.
  • fernandorafael
    August 27, 2011
    fernandorafael
    Proof that you don't need dialog when your characters and their actions are interesting enough. Of course, there is pleasure in talky scenes à la Tarantino, but this Korean film, directed by Kim Ki-Duk, driven by body language and nuance, does so well without them. There are a fe... read morew plot inconsistencies, but this near-silent drama (which surprisingly enough doesn't shy away from some light comedy) is still effective, thanks in part to Lee Seung-yeon's fierce performance.
  • itsjustme2004
    June 5, 2011
    itsjustme2004
    One of the most interesting films I've seen in a very long time. I am a big fan of slow, quiet, atmospheric, engrossing films -- and this delivered in spades. Someone described this as cimema poetry, and I completely agree. Absolutely mesmerizing, and wonderful...
  • flixsterman
    May 23, 2010
    flixsterman
    Tae-suk is making his way through life by being where other people aren't. Sun-hwa is a battered wife in desperate need of rescue. 3-Iron is the story of how these two unlikely lovers find each other and the lengths they go through to be together. An unusual love story ... read moretold with an economy of dialog that enhances the visual beauty of the film. Intelligent, original and utterly fantastic.
  • skactopus
    November 1, 2008
    skactopus
    Director and writer, Ki-duk Kim, receives a lot of recognition for this picture and while it is different and nicely shot, I think you need to be able to endure the slow drama genre to get the most out of this.

    The concept of this film is interesting and it has a ton of potenti

    ... read moreal. It takes advantage of different settings to maintain viewer interest. Seriously, the first 45 minutes to an hour is pretty much the same things happening over and over again, but the fact that the events happen in different houses is a nice change up. The final 30 minutes of this 90 minute flick becomes a little different and yet it is sort of similar to what happens beforehand. Eventually, it leads to an interesting ending that may leave you thinking.

    The thing that hurts the most is that it is difficulty to see the why. Yes, things are happening and there is some flow to the movie, but why are the characters doing what they are doing and what will come of this? One of the big reasons that you will ask these questions is that the dialogue is minimal. The 2 main characters are together for more than half the film and they say NOTHING. I take that back because one of them has 1 simple line of dialogue the entire 90 minutes.

    The director forces you to live this story through the camerawork and the acting. Both are above average and they have to be. I won't say that this is a bore free film, but the directing really lifts this movie out of the gutter. Seung-yeon Lee and Hyun-kyoon Lee work well together and you come to hate the supporting characters. This is a good thing.

    Ki-duk Kim does a lot of interesting things with this movie and I give props for that. You just need to like this type of film to really enjoy it.
  • arashxak
    October 12, 2008
    arashxak
    This is sheer genius, Beautiful & touching with excellent choice of music
  • rubystevens
    September 7, 2008
    rubystevens
    sweet, sad, quiet, strange and beautiful film. it's a love story between two 'invisible' people with almost no dialogue; in fact the two main characters never speak. this is my second film of ki duk kim and i can say his style is certainly haunting
  • TheMachinist
    June 24, 2008
    TheMachinist
    You get that feeling in the morning when you wake up and you start thinking that you had a beautiful dream of something? Well this movie is like a beautiful dream. I absolutely love this movie. And dreams you usually forget later on, but this one you can see over and over again.
  • kiriyamakazou
    March 22, 2008
    kiriyamakazou
    Quite simply a beautiful film. Unravels like poetry. The subtlety Ki-duk Kim infuses his films with is a real testament to his superior film making ability. The relationship that unravels is one of tender genius, with never a word being spoken. Smart and heartbreaking this is a r... read moreare treat and should be seen by all. A genuine example of simple ideas rife wit complex emotions.
  • aliyanto
    November 2, 2007
    aliyanto
    This is unique film since the actor and the actress never say a word and the end is depend on viewer's interpretation!

View All 3-Iron (Bin-jip) (Empty Houses) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Richard Nilsen
June 16, 2005
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. Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
June 4, 2005
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A movie meant to be taken on faith more than anything else. The more you can grant it, the greater the reward. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
May 20, 2005
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

It's actually quite satisfying, in a weird, magical-realism sort of way that manages to disturb and confound as much as it appeases the romantic. Full Review

Philip Kennicott
May 20, 2005
Philip Kennicott, Washington Post

Kim works with the barest of materials but returns the viewer's attention to the pure visual pleasure of filmmaking. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
May 20, 2005
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

Moves from a strangely spiritual reality to a really strange spirituality -- and leaves its best parts behind. Full Review

Carrie Rickey
May 20, 2005
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

A mesmerizing, offbeat, violent, playful yet serious parable.

Rick Groen
May 20, 2005
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

What is meant to be profoundly puzzling can start to seem just theatrically silly. Full Review

John Monaghan
May 20, 2005
John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press

3-Iron may not be a horror movie, but it is still haunting.

James Berardinelli
May 19, 2005
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

This enigmatic and in some ways maddening motion picture has the power to haunt every viewer it reaches. Full Review

Eric Harrison
May 13, 2005
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle

Here is where things get murky, intriguingly so. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Uncertain Guest (El Habitante incierto) (The Uninvited Guest)
    The Uncertain Guest (El Habitante incierto) (... (0%)
  • Hwal (The Bow)
    Hwal (The Bow) (80%)
  • Shi gan (Time)
    Shi gan (Time) (88%)
  • Nabbeun namja (Bad Guy)
    Nabbeun namja (Bad Guy) (86%)

More Movies like 3-Iron (Bin-jip) (Empty Houses)

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

3-Iron (Bin-jip) ... : Watch Free on TV

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add 3-Iron (Bin-jip) (Empty Houses) to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

Sssabee Skin by Sssabee
145 Profiles
Add to Profile

More Skins