

This film whose main characters are marionettes deals with the old Korean folktale "Heungbu and Nolbu." Greedy elder brother Nolbu kicks his good-natured brother Heungbu out of home and takes all the inheritance from their father. Poor but good man Heungbu one day cures a swallow's broken leg and frees it to fly away. Next year, the swallow comes to Heungbu's and gives him a gourd seed. He plants the seed and split it in fall. A huge amount of gold, silver and gems come out of the gourd, and he becomes rich over a night. Nolbu gets green with envy of him.
“A staggering achievement of craft and ambition. Gang Tae-ung's vision lands with breathtaking precision.”
“Every frame feels alive. Heungbu and Nolbu is the rare release that takes its audience seriously.”