The Big Swindle


The Big Swindle is a 2004 heist film written and directed by Choi Dong-hoon. It follows a group of four con men, one con woman, and one forger in a complex set of plots and counterplots against individual marks, against the Bank of Korea, against the police, and against each other.

Plot

Choi Chang-hyeok is driving in his car, when he suddenly finds himself followed by the police. In the following chase he tries to get away, but as his car emerges from a tunnel it goes over the side, down a cliff and he is killed in the burning wreck.
The reason he tried to get away, is that he had just left the Bank of Korea, where he was part of a scam, that got him and his four accomplices the neat sum of 5 billion won. He died, one of his accomplices was caught, and the other three disappeared – and so did all the money.
Eol-mae was the one caught by the police, and they try to get him to talk and reveal the scam and his accomplices. In flashbacks we see how the plan was hatched, and get to know the criminals.
The police tries to find out more about the killed Chang-hyeok, and find his brother, who is the owner of a used book store. He has been at odds with his deceased brother, but now gets a big life insurance.
This interests Seo In-kyeong very much. She has been living with Mr. Kim, who is a veteran con-artist and the money-man in the scam. In-kyeong got to know Chang-hyeok – and now wants to get to know his brother.

Awards and nominations

;2004 Busan Film Critics Awards
;2004 Grand Bell Awards
;2004 Blue Dragon Film Awards
;2004 Korean Film Awards
;2004 Director's Cut Awards