[Credit: Triple Pictures Inc.] A film featuring veteran actors with a combined career spanning over 160 years is quietly making waves at theaters across South Korea and beyond. People and Meat has earned widespread critical acclaim, receiving praise from The New York Times and drawing enthusiastic reviews at the 30th Busan International Film Festival. The film has also been invited to international festivals, including the 26th Calgary International Film Festival and the 24th Tribeca Film Festival, establishing its artistic credibility both domestically and abroad. Thanks to strong audience support, People and Meat has enjoyed a resurgence in screenings, including special relay support showings and additional theater runs. Directed by Yang Jong Hyun, the film was released on October 7 and continues to screen in theaters.
[Credit: Triple Pictures Inc.] People and Meat follows three elderly strangers—played by Park Keun Hyong, Jang Yong, and Ye Su Jeong—who bond over their shared love of meat, a luxury they can’t afford alone. With limited funds, the trio embarks on a series of adventures to enjoy free meat together. Their journey begins modestly, scavenging for scraps and getting into minor scrapes, but their connection deepens over a simple bowl of beef soup. After successfully sneaking meat from a restaurant, the three solidify their bond and launch into what they jokingly call a meat-eating extravaganza—each outing more satisfying than the last.
[Credit: Triple Pictures Inc.] Through improvisation, ad-libbed antics, and sheer creativity, the men find joy not just in eating, but in savoring life itself. Yet, as the saying goes, “If you play with fire, you might get burned.” Their audacious meat heists eventually catch up with them, and society judges their secret lives without understanding the struggles they face. As the story unfolds, audiences are confronted with the blurred line between people and meat. The sizzling barbecue mirrors the fleeting, fiery passage of their lives. Are they just eating meat, or something deeper? Their actions straddle the moral and legal line, but viewers find it hard to condemn them for seeking joy in their golden years. By the end, People and Meat delivers a profound message: life is fair to everyone, and aging is an experience we all share. The film becomes both a celebration and an empathetic exploration of growing older. Even after the credits roll, the portraits of elderly individuals outside the theater linger in viewers’ minds, leaving an enduring reflection on life itself.
[Credit: Triple Pictures Inc.] Despite critical praise, many fans struggled to see People and Meat due to its limited screenings, often scheduled early in the morning or late at night. Independent films typically face such constraints, but audience demand for this heartfelt story was undeniable. Word-of-mouth support helped theaters expand showings from 60 in the second week to 73 in the third week, and the film continues to enjoy steady screenings into its fourth week.
[Credit: Triple Pictures Inc.] Several prominent figures—including actors Choi Kang Hee, Yoo Teo, Yoon Sang, director Jang Hang Jun, and Myung Films CEO Shim Jae Myung—organized voluntary relay support screenings to help more viewers see the film. Legendary singer Yang Hee Eun praised it as “a story that multiple generations can watch together and discuss—about aging and the life we want to live in later years.” She also announced a special support screening on November 19. In gratitude for the ongoing love, the cast and director Yang Jong Hyun will host a Q&A and special event on Saturday to personally thank audiences and celebrate the film’s success.
[Credit: Triple Pictures Inc.] Having survived the fierce competition for limited screenings as a true must-see film, People and Meat is now showing in theaters. Audiences are encouraged to catch this heartwarming, reflective, and surprisingly funny story while it’s still on the big screen.
