The Last Dining Table (2006) - 마지막 밥상 (Ma-ji-mak Bab-sang)

"The Last Dining Table" released in France, yet not released in South Korea

2008/03/19 | Source | Permalink |

The film is a story of two low class families. The plot develops by following the story lines of Father and Son of one family who live in the slum area of Seoul, and Mother, Grandmother, and Daughter of another family who live in the rural area near Seoul. This highly developed, civilized world is rather strange to their eyes. At last, they don't get adapted to the society, give up their lives on Earth, and immigrate to Mars. Before they leave, they accomplish their desires.

There's not much in contemporary cinema to compare with "The Last Dining Table", a superbly composed tableau of forgotten and discarded people living on the outskirts of Seoul. With little dialogue and virtually no camera movement, this existential poem by debut helmer Roh Gyeong-tae uses stillness and a hypnotic soundscape to reflect profoundly, and ultimately with hope, on the hardships of those who are detached from the mainstream. Assisted immeasurably by a soundtrack of discordant industrial noises, bass t...| More

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HONG Sang-soo wins Best Director at Argentina Fest

2007/03/20 | Source | Permalink |

HONG Sang-soo has won the Best Director award for Woman on the Beach(2006) in main competition at the 22nd Mar del Plata International Film Festival in Argentina. The event, which ran March 8th – 18th in the resort town of Mar del Plata, is recognized as an A-list festival along with Cannes, Toronto, and Venice.

The announcement was made on the 17th at the event's closing award ceremony. Director HONG is renowned on the international festival circuit. Woman on the Beach has screened at the Berlin, Toronto, Vancouver, Tokyo and New York film festivals. At home HONG was named Director of the Year 2006 by the Korean Film Directors Association.

Woman on the Beach deflates romantic conventions in its tale of two men and two women, who meet, join and part while on vacation at a beach resort. It stars reemerging actress KO Hyeon-jeong and KIM Seung-woo (Between Love and Hate ("The Unbearable Lightness of Dating", 2006)). HONG's previous films include A "Tale of Cinema" (2005) ...| More

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Korean Competitors at Barcelona Fest

2007/03/19 | Source | Permalink |

The ninth edition of the Barcelona Asian Film Festival has selected KIM Tae-yong's "Family Ties" ("The Birth of a Family") (Gajokui Tansaeng), LEE SONG-Hee-il's "No Regret" (Hoohwehaji Anha) and ROH Kyeong-tae's "The Last Dining Table" (Majimak Babsang) for its competition.

Barcelona will host the festival from April 27 until May 6. The festival presents contemporary Asian cinema. Besides feature films, Barcelona also includes sections for digital projects and animations. HYAZGAR("Desert Dream") by Korean-Chinese director ZHANG Lu will open the film festival.

"Family Ties" ("The Birth of a Family") deconstructs the traditional family in three related narratives. The film received critical acclaim and was awarded at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.

"No Regret" is the top grossing independent film at the Korean box office. The gay-themed film revolves around the relationship between a wealthy man and a male escort. Distributor Fortissimo obtained the international distribution ri...| More

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Awarded Korean Productions at PIFF

2006/11/03 | Source | Permalink |

Director Noh Kyeong-tae's < The Last Dining Table > was awarded the NETPAC award for best Korean film at the 2006 Pusan International Film Festival. The NETPAC jury of the festival's 11th edition praised the film's unique style, humane portrayal of the lower class and the acting. The Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema (NETPAC) seeks to promote and distribute Asian cinema internationally.

The Wide Angel section of the Pusan International Film Festival presented a wide variety of documentaries, short films, animations and experimental films worldwide. The Sunje award is to assist directors from Wide Angel with his/her future project. This year's USD 20,000,- prize for short films were awarded to directors LEE Jin-woo for The Wind Stirs and YOON Seong-ho for Portfolio. The Wind Stirs thanked its award to the characterization and Portfolio for its experimental elements. There is a Special Mention for CHOI Young-jun's Merry Christmas because of the potential shown.

The Woonpa F...| More

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Varied new Korean films on display at PIFF

2006/11/03 | Source | Permalink |

The 11th edition of the Pusan International Film Festival drew attention for its various industry sidebars and other events, but those festival attendees who focused on the program itself declared it to be a good year for new Korean films.

Independent filmmakers in particular turned out a large number of interesting projects, which look sure to turn up at other major international festivals in the coming months. Some examples include < "No Regret" >, the feature debut of acclaimed indie director LEE SONG-Hee-il, about a male escort who becomes romantically involved with a rich man. Apart from the critical praise it earned, international rights to the film was also picked up by Fortissimo – one of the arthouse world's most famous sales companies.

< Ad-Lib Night > by director LEE Yoon-ki, about a woman who agrees to "stand in" as the daughter of a dying man, was also warmly received. After debuting with the award-winning < This Charming Girl > in 2004, LEE returned with < "Love Tal...| More

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