'Take-Off' shown with foreign subtitles

After spending two weeks in a row up top the Korean box office chart, the ski-jump feel-good film of the year "Take off" has begun screenings with English and Japanese subtitles. In Seoul, Yongsan CGV and CINUS Gangnam theaters have begun providing English subtitles while Lotte Cinemas in Myeongdong and Geondae have commenced screening the film with Japanese subtitles in addition to Lotte Cinemas in Busan.

Starring Ha Jung-woo and helmed by Kim Yong-hwa who directed Kim Ah-joong in the 2007 hit "200 Pounds Beauty," the film has climbed its way up to the number one spot and has stayed there for two consecutive weeks after bumping "Haeundae" down to second place.

Since its premiere a month ago, the inspirational sports film had been overshadowed by the whirlwind success of the tsunami disaster spectacle which had boasted an ensemble cast spearheaded by Sul Kyoung-gu, Ha Ji-won and Uhm Jung-hwa.

"Take-Off" has been riding a wave of positive word-of-mouth since its release. Ticket sales topped 5 million over the weekend, according to the Korean Film Council on Monday.

Budgeted at roughly $10 million, the film has been praised by both critics and audiences alike for the riveting ski-jump sequences which were filmed using the latest in digital technology. But on top of thrilling viewers with its nail-biting set-pieces, the film's success has been largely due to its emotional and inspiring story backed by a talented cast that portray characters rich in texture.

According to the producers of the film, the project spent three years in pre-production which included the construction of a ski-jump facility in Pyeonchang, Gangwon Province.

The story is centered on a rag-tag group of misfits who become unlikely representatives of the Korean National Ski-jump team.

At the center of the story is a Korean-American adoptee and former junior U.S. alpine ski champion played by Ha Jeong-woo who comes to Korea in search of his biological mother only to become captain of the team.

The success of the film has also drawn attention to the nation's real life national ski-jump team which still only consists of five registered members.

Since the film's premiere, news reports have poured out from domestic media about the lack of funding and infrastructure for the unpopular winter sport.