Nouveau Riche
| Nouveau Riche | |
|---|---|
 The theatrical poster for Nouveau Riche's Haean release. | |
| Original title | 사회등산 |
| Directed by | Chang San |
| Based on | Rising to High Society (상류사회로 올라가기) |
| Produced by | Won Su-ho |
| Starring | Kim Yu-ri, Seo Chae-won, Park Tae-in, Lee Na-yul |
Production company | WonSan Studios |
Release date | 17 July 2023 |
Running time | 135 minutes |
| Country |  Haesan |
| Languages | Haean, English dub available |
| Budget | £62 million |
| Box office | £214 million |
Nouveau Riche (original title: 사회등산, sahoe deungsan), is a feature length 2023 Haesanite historical fiction suspense film directed by Chang San and released by WonSan Studios. The film, starring Kim Yu-ri, Seo Chae-won, Park Tae-in, and Lee Na-yul, centers around a student at Haesan Univerisity in the late 1920s[a] who with the help of her high society friend, attempts to infiltrate a gala and win over her love interest. The script is loosely based on the novel Rising to High Society (original title: 상류사회로 올라가기, sangryusahoero ollagagi) with adaptations made by the scriptwriting and production team at WonSan Studios.
Plot[edit | edit source]
Suyang in the 1920s was an era of great opportunity, and for those who were well established, great excess. Nouveau Riche centers on Nahyeon (Kim Yu-ri), an academically gifted daughter of an industrial merchant, well enough off to have opportunity, but not wealthy enough to be truly rich. She scores extremely highly on her exams and attends Haesan University, the historic gathering place of heirs, heiresses, and generally young people who have more money than they know what to do with. There she befriends Haein (Seo Chae-won), from an extraordinarily wealthy mixed Haemin/Opthelian banking family, who has become disillusioned with the wealthy society she grew up around.[b].
The plot accelerates when Nahyeon catches the eye of Minsu (Park Tae-in), the wealthy, handsome heir apparent of a mercantile conglomerate. Haein receives an invitation to a grand gala that is hosted by Minsu's family, presumably to see what suitable matches are available amongst the nascent aristocrats of Haesan U. Haein, knowing of Minsu's interest in Nahyeon, and of Nahyeon's interest in Minsu, decides that Nahyeon should take her place at the gala. In order to be granted admission and to not blow her cover, Haein coaches Nahyeon about etiquette, the mannerisms of the elite, and forces her to memorize all of the intricate details of her life up into that point. After suitable training, Nahyeon is ready to become Lee Hae-in.
The day of the gala arrives, and at first everything goes well for Nahyeon, she enters effortlessly, she socializes with the elites with ease, and even has a moment with Minsu. However, the web of deceit is soon discovered, and the conclusion leaves the viewer to ponder the meaning of love, friendship, and prestige.
Reception[edit | edit source]
Nouveau Riche was released in Haean at the Sinju Film Festival, where it debuted to overwhelmingly positive reviews. The Suyang Times-Courier's film critic wrote that "Nouveau Riche evokes the grandeur, and pitfalls, of an era of extreme luxury. Between its humour and hijinks is a deep cutting social commentary punctuated by extraordinary performances by some of our nation's largest stars." The film would go on to win various awards at the National Movie Awards, including Best Picture, enabling it to become Haesan's nominee to the 2023 IDU Film Festival, where it was nominated for four awards, including Best Film, and won the award for Best Costume Design.
The film was a box office success in Haesan, and both its English dubbed and native Haean versions have received lucrative rights deals with streaming services around the IDU. 사회등산 grossed £153 million domestically, and £214 million total on a budget of £62 million.
Nouveau Riche has notably been banned in various nations. Pharitaya has censored the film and Opthelia has declined to allow it on to its approved list of foreign films due to its inherent criticism of class differences. Xiomera has not allowed screenings for similar reasons, along with the nation's current restrictions on Haesanite media[1] brought on by trade disputes resulting from the cancellation of the two nations' FTA.[2]
Accolades[edit | edit source]
| Event | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinju Film Festival | 17 July 2023 | Best Film | Nouveau Riche | Won | |
| Best Debut Film | Nouveau Riche | Won | |||
| National Movie Awards | 25 November 2023 | Best Picture | Nouveau Riche | Won | |
| Best Director | Chang Seo | Won | |||
| Best Actress | Kim Yu-ri | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Seo Chae-won | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Park Tae-in | Nominated | |||
| Best Costume Design | Nouveau Riche | Won | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Nouveau Riche | Won | |||
| Best Cinematography | Nouveau Riche | Won | |||
| Best Film Editing | Nouveau Riche | Won | |||
| Best Sound Mixing | Nouveau Riche | Nominated | |||
| 2023 IDU Film Festival | 10 January 2024 | Best Film | Nouveau Riche | Nominated | [3] |
| Best Costume Design | Nouveau Riche | Won | [3] | ||
| Best Actor | Kim Yu-ri | Nominated | [3] | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Seo Chae-won | Nominated | [3] |
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ The exact year is unspecified in the film.
- ↑ Haein's dialogue seems to indicate that she has been swayed by the Five Pillars, but that is never explicitly stated