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The Money

Name: The Money
Director: Kim So-dong
Released: 1958
Duration: 123 min

Representation Score

2.6/10

Limited

1958

Director

Kim So-dong

Runtime

123 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Money is a period-specific crime drama that adheres to the conventional social hierarchies of 1950s South Korea. The narrative centers on a male protagonist's descent from poverty into crime, emphasizing class struggle and the breakdown of the family unit. While the film provides a realistic look at the devastating impact of poverty and greed on the family unit, it lacks intentional diversity. The character dynamics and social structures remain firmly rooted in traditional mid-century norms. Ultimately, the film serves as a localized study of socioeconomic instability rather than a work that challenges cultural norms or explores diverse identities.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Money have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. The story focuses solely on the patriarchal family unit and the socioeconomic pressures faced by the male protagonist.

How does The Money portray gender?

Limited

Male characters like Bong Su and the loan shark play significant roles in driving the plot. Women and children appear as subjects of the protagonist's actions rather than active drivers of the story.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Money?

Fair

The cast is culturally homogeneous, reflecting the domestic focus of 1958 South Korean cinema. It lacks the diverse representation found in modern global productions.

How does The Money represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film explores systemic hardship and the corruptive nature of capital. It portrays the struggle against poverty as a tragic consequence of circumstances rather than a political critique.

Does The Money include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters with visible or invisible disabilities within the narrative.

Present on Screen

Provides a realistic, non-sanitized look at the devastating impact of poverty and greed on the family unit.
Offers a significant historical perspective on mid-century South Korean dramatic realism and class struggle.

Limited or Absent

Lacks significant roles for female characters, who remain secondary to the male-driven plot.
Provides no representation for LGBTQ+ identities or characters with disabilities.
Maintains a culturally homogeneous cast typical of its era's production constraints.

Official Synopsis

The Money is about a poor farmer whose bid for a better life ends up bringing calamity to his family. At the urging of loan shark Eok Jo (Choi Nam Hyun), Bong Su (Kim Seung Ho) sells his cows to start a business but he loses everything to a conman (No Kyung Hee). Bong Su accidentally kills Eok Jo in a fight and takes his money, and the police trace the crime back to Bong Su's son.

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