when the director breaks all the rules of editing

Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy became an international sensation, helping cement South Korea’s reputation as a powerhouse of modern cinema. Its unforgettable hallway fight scene—a grueling long take—is celebrated as one of the greatest in film history. In this video essay, I explore the making of this iconic moment, from its uncut choreography to Park’s instinctive decision to abandon traditional editing.

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With insights from director Park Chan-wook himself and the backing of Quentin Tarantino, who championed the film at Cannes, this breakdown examines the raw energy, the technical imperfections, and the role of pacing, rhythm, and time in creating one of the most influential fight scenes ever. Featuring behind-the-scenes details, interviews with lead actor Choi Min-sik, and analysis, this is the story of how a single hallway, a hammer, and bold filmmaking placed Oldboy—and South Korean cinema—on the global stage alongside contemporaries like Bong Joon-ho.

// Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:35 How it all began?
02:47 Cannes & International success
03:27 Context
04:09 Editing Time & Rhythm
06:58 CGI & Sound Design
07:50 Influence on other films
08:30 Oldboy's true importance

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// Korean subtitles & translation: 류강윤 ‪@ryu_yxxn‬

Credits:
Old Days (2016)
Autobiography of Oldboy
Oldboy Audio Commentary with Park Chan-wook

Oldboy Shot Length on Cinemetrics
https://cinemetrics.uchicago.edu/movi...

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