Waikiki Brothers (2001) - 와이키키 브라더스

Musical to Show Retro Culture of 70-80s

Source | 2008/06/10 | Permalink |

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

There was a time when a roller-skating rink was one of the few places to hang around with friends among teenagers in 1980s.

The skaters enjoyed dancing to the strong dance beat song, "Harlem Desire" by London Boys, radiating their youth as they took a break from school routine.

Not only this piece but also other memorable hit songs from the 1970s-80s will resonate on stage to invoke the audience with nostalgia, along with retro dances and fashion in this new musical, "Really Really Like You".

The musical based on a 70's hit film of the same name will go on stage on June 13, starring actress Park Hae-mi, actors Park Sang-myeon, Lee Pil-mo and comedian Choi Byong-seo.

The musical will show love, hope and frustration among high school students and teachers who experience frustration and finally seek hope through a high school baseball team.

"This musical will present the pure Korean emotional touches", actor Park Sang-myeon told reporter...| More

Women's Film Fest Leaves Lasting Impression

Source | 2008/04/20 | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

One of the world's largest and most influential film events for women, the 10th International Women's Film's Festival in Seoul (IWFFIS), came to a close Friday. The festival may have ended, but nine-days of enabling people to "see the world through women's eyes" left a lasting impression.

The festival celebrated its big birthday with a big party, showing 140 films from 30 countries. It attracted over 50 thousand people, including over 40 female cineastes and scholars from 14 countries. Screenings recorded an average capacity of 86 percent, with numerous sell-outs.

Special guests included esteemed directors such as Peng Xiaolian, the first Chinese filmmaker; Helena Trestikova, recipient of the 2007 Best Czech Documentary Film Award; and Barbara Hammer, who presented an intriguing documentary on women divers native to Jeju Island.

The IWFFIS, being a playground for artistic and intellectual discussion, held two seminars at Ewha Womans Universit...| More

Women's Film Festival in Seoul Turns 10

Source | 2008/03/13 | Permalink |

The Women's Film Festival in Seoul (WFFIS) celebrates its 10th edition this year with a kick-off ceremony April 10th featuring an HD omnibus as its opener. Called Ten Ten, the movie features six 15 minute short films from five Korean female filmmakers (BYEON Yeong-joo, LEE Soo-yeon, JANG Hee-seon, LIM Sung-min, Helen Lee) and one German female director (Ulrike OTTINGER).

Running until April 18, WFFIS will screen a record 141 films from 30 countries under its banner motto "See the World through Women's Eyes". New this year, however, is a section titled Open Cinema in which feminist films by male directors will also be screened. Other sections of interest include Politics of the Body, which looks at how women's bodies are depicted and exploited, and the Fantastic Female Movie section, which highlights the imaginative side of the female psyche.

Festival organizer have named Korean director LIM Soon-rye recipient of its first Park Nam-ok Award for outstanding accomplishment. ...| More

Women's Film Festival takes issues to big screen

Source | 2008/03/11 | Permalink |

The 10th Women's Film Festival in Seoul will kick off at theaters on April 10, featuring a record 141 movies from 30 countries under the theme "See the World through Women's Eyes".

The festival will open with "Ten Ten", a high-definition omnibus movie featuring six Korean female filmmakers, festival organizers said at a news conference held in Seoul yesterday. The film will be screened at Theater Yong, where the festival's opening ceremony will be held, while other movies in the general categories will be shown at Artreon Theater in Shinchon, western Seoul.

The film festival, specializing in women's perspectives and related issues, has solidified its position as a key venue where local female filmmakers and their Asian counterparts gather to share thoughts about status on and off silver screens.

This year, the festival has broadened its own perspective a notch, introducing the Open Cinema section, in which feminist films made by male directors are screened. Also notable are th...| More

Handball 'Sleeper' Tops Box Office for Third Week

Source | 2008/01/30 | Permalink |

"Forever the Moment" tops box office figures for a third consecutive week. MK Pictures, the film's producer, said Tuesday that the film has drawn 2.64 million viewers since its release on Jan. 10. It is based on the real story of the Korean women's handball team, which won the silver medal in the Athens Olympics in 2004 after a neck-and-neck game with the world's no. 1 Denmark that ran for 128 minutes including double overtime and a shoot-out.

Directed by Lim Soon-rye, who also made "Waikiki Brothers" (2001), "Forever the Moment" stars Moon So-ri, Kim Jeong-eun, Kim Ji-young, and Jo Eun-ji as players and Eom Tae-woong as the coach.

A sports movie on the surface, it is actually a human drama dealing with the life of people on the fringe of society. Few people expected the success of a film dealing with an unpopular sport and including no stars in its cast. In fact, producers had such difficulties attracting investors that they were unable to raise the entire budget until preview.
...| More