Iron Mask

In Iron Mask, Kim Jae-woo (Joo Jong-hyuk) enrolls in a demanding boot camp alongside competitors nationwide, all vying for spots on the kendo national team. Unknown to the others, Jae-woo harbors a personal vendetta against Tae-su (Moon Jin-seung), the team's most talented competitor, who accidentally killed his brother when they were boys. Jae-woo is forced to confront his past traumas and the person who embodies them as his mounting bitterness threatens to sideline him. Kim Sung-hwan, in his directorial debut, presents a screenplay devoid of clichés found in typical sports-revenge narratives. Instead, he crafts a gripping narrative through compelling characters, captivating cinematography, immersive sound design, and gripping action sequences to a satisfying conclusion. Iron Mask offering a beautifully nuanced melodrama set in the world of kendo martial arts seldom seen by Western audiences. (Seattle International Film Festival)