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| ▲ This still photo of action film "The Old Woman With The Knife" is provided by film distributor NEW. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, April 25 (Yonhap) -- “Who’d pay full price for this?” sneers young contract killer Tu-u (played by Kim Sung-cheol) as he stomps on bruised, overripe tangerines at a fruit stand. Watching silently nearby is Jojak (Lee Hye-young), her frail frame and gray hair a reflection of the damaged fruit—and perhaps, of herself.
Jojak is a legendary assassin who has never once made a mistake in over 40 years. In her prime, she could single-handedly eliminate 28 men in a single mission. But now, her hands tremble with age, her joints ache, and she must fight tooth and nail just to hold her own against adversaries she once would have taken down effortlessly.
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| ▲ This still photo of action film "The Old Woman With The Knife" is provided by film distributor NEW. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Her rival, Tu-u, is a rising star in the same assassination agency, “Shinseong Disinfection.” Brimming with youthful energy and ruthlessness, Tu-u seems to embody what Jojak once was—a swift, lethal force who can dispatch a group of men in seconds.
Director Min Kyu-dong’s new film The Old Woman With The Knife is a gripping action drama that pits an aging female assassin against a younger male counterpart. Based on the bestselling 2013 novel of the same name by Gu Byeong-mo, the film brings a rare and powerful female narrative to the screen, shedding light on aging, usefulness, and dignity.
Staying true to the novel’s central themes, the film portrays Jojak’s refusal to retire despite knowing her usefulness is waning. For her, aging may have dulled her reflexes, but not her conviction. In Shinseong Disinfection, assassinations are framed as a form of justice—ridding society of those worse than pests. With no family of her own, Jojak has devoted her entire life to this “pest control.”
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| ▲ This still photo of action film "The Old Woman With The Knife" is provided by film distributor NEW. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Her routine is upended when she meets a young veterinarian, Kang (played by Yeon Woo-jin). After treating her injuries and discovering her identity, Kang becomes a target—but Jojak, moved by his story of raising a daughter alone after his wife's death, cannot bring herself to kill him.
When someone else orders a hit on Kang, Jojak’s hesitation makes her a target of Tu-u and their agency. Though Tu-u could easily eliminate her, he chooses instead to torment her—relishing the hunt as a predator would.
Their battle intensifies into a brutal physical showdown, culminating in high-stakes action with knives and firearms. Despite her physical limitations, Jojak proves her veteran skills: wielding hairpins with lethal precision, using everyday objects as weapons, and even zipping across rooftops with a rope while taking down enemies.
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| ▲ This still photo of action film "The Old Woman With The Knife" is provided by film distributor NEW. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
At 63, Lee Hye-young delivers a performance both physically intense and emotionally nuanced. Though aided by stunt performers, she handled most of the demanding action herself—including being buried in dirt, covered in bugs, and rolling across concrete floors.
Her portrayal of a solitary woman confronting aging, affection, and vengeance has earned widespread acclaim. Berlinale executive Tricia Tuttle, where the film was invited earlier this year, praised Lee’s performance as “astounding and commanding.”
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| ▲ This still photo of action film "The Old Woman With The Knife" is provided by film distributor NEW. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
However, the film’s bold adaptation may disappoint some fans of the novel. The film focuses more on the conflict between Jojak and Tu-u, leaving less room for introspective moments that defined the book. Tu-u’s motives for seeking revenge against Jojak are also not fully fleshed out, potentially leaving viewers puzzled.
The Old Woman With The Knife opens in theaters April 30. Runtime: 122 minutes. Rated 15+.
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