Man on High Heels

Plot

Yoon Ji-wook is a hard-as-nails homicide detective known for her undisputed ability to nab violent criminals. She is revered as a legend in the police force and at the same time feared among the mafia for her brutality in cracking down on crime. Yet, she has a secret that she must hide from the world she lives in. Ji-wook was assigned male at birth, and she has wanted to live her life as a woman since her teenager years. She tries to suppress this inner desire, but in vain. Ji-wook finally reaches the point where she can no longer hide who she truly is, and decides to take the plunge and get a gender affirmation operation. However, before she has a chance to do so, unexpected crises arise and interfere with her plans. A gang that suffered from the cold, hard steel of Ji-wook's handcuffs is dead set on getting their revenge against her. Ji-wook resigns and tries to go about making her dream a reality, but people close to her get sucked into the revenge plot she finds herself at the center of. When some of those people get killed and a girl named Jang-mi falls into danger, she realizes that she can't stand idly by any longer.

Cast

Box office

Man on High Heels was released in South Korea on June 4, 2014. Despite its star director and actor, the film underperformed at the box office against Hollywood blockbusters X-Men: Days of Future Past and Edge of Tomorrow. It opened at sixth place on the box office, drawing 338,663 admissions.

Awards

Man on High Heels won "le grand prix" 2016 du festival international du film policier de Beaune (France).