Imagine if simply interacting with the people around you seemed fraught with confrontation and hostility. For Cho-won (Seung-woo Cho), who has autism, everyday life is a marathon--a test of endurance in a world that often does not understand him. Now in his 20s and still reliant on his mother's care, Cho-won retains nearly everything he hears, but struggles to remember the etiquette and "normal" behavior that Korean society expects. His mother, Kyeong-sook (Mi-sook Kim), must also endure a life that demands endless patience toward her son and those he accidentally offends. Determination, however, runs in the family. Cho-won seems to excel at distance running, and Kyeong-sook sets ever higher goals for him. When a coach at Cho-won's school begrudgingly agrees to train him for an upcoming marathon, the experience forces both to grow. But Kyeong-sook, driven to see one son succeed while the rest of her family suffers, is forced to ask herself: is she pushing Cho-won for the sake of his happiness or for hers as a parent?

Based on the true story of Bae Hyeong-jin, the awarding-winning film Marathon (2005) was a critical and box office success. It was the first major Korean film to directly address autism in Korean society, and won multiple awards at the 42nd Annual Daejong Film Festival (also known as the Grand Bell Awards, equivalent to the Academy Awards): Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best First Time Director for Jeong Yun-cheol.

Doors open at 6:00 pm for a selection of light Korean snacks. The film (117 minutes) will begin promptly at 6:30 pm and be followed by a brief discussion with Korean Cultural center staff about themes from the film. This event is part of the Korean Cultural Center's Korean Cinema Series, presenting free bi-monthly film screenings. All films are presented in Korean with English subtitles. 

Discussion Following the Film
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