The Devil's Deal

It’s 1992 in Busan and the city is preparing for the next election. Having dedicated the last 20 years of his life to politics, congressional candidate Jeon Hae-woong (Cho Jin-woong, A HARD DAY) is running his campaign with great confidence, but a visit from debt collectors who tell him that he has been ousted from the party brings him back down to earth. An influential businessman has chosen a docile successor to help his contacts in the allocation of priceless land. Humiliated, Hae-woong decides to run as an independent and enlists the support of organized crime with secret information. Deeply in debt, he must win this election, or he could be killed. However, his opponents are much more powerful than he is, and have access to all the strings. This deal with the devil may not end well.

With landmark works such as A TAXI DRIVER and 1987: WHEN THE DAY COMES, we learned about the popular struggle that led to democracy in the Republic of Korea. With the political thriller THE DEVIL'S DEAL, a work of pure fiction, we now explore the other side of the coin. Masterfully directed by Lee Won-tae, his first since the Cannes selection THE GANGSTER, THE COP, THE DEVIL, it begins as an unflattering political satire and turns into a white-hot thriller in which corruption, insider trading and organized crime run the show. Leading a fabulous cast, actor Cho Jin-woong (ME AND ME) delivers one of the best performances of his career, portraying with disarming naturalism the multiple facets of this ambitious and tortured politician, as endearing as he is loathsome, whose life literally depends on his election. With its immersive score, captivating plot and clever twists, THE DEVIL'S DEAL is a must-see – especially since you’ll be the first in the world to enjoy it! – Translation: Rupert Bottenberg