Chungmuro film festival: 214 flicks to catch

The 3rd Chungmuro International Film Festival in Seoul (Open the link) will be held in Jung-gu district in Seoul from August 24 to September 1. Films will be screened at several major cinema districts in Seoul including Dongdaemun, Megabox, Myeongdong CGV and Chungmuro Daehan Cinema. Chungmuro district in downtown Seoul is known in Korea as the mecca of domestic films.

This year's festival, themed "Yesterday, Now and Forever", aims to reflect on the present and future of the film industry through a presentation of some of the world's latest and most sensational films based on old classics.

A total of 214 films from 40 nations will be shown, classified into main, special and special gala sections. The main and special sections are further subdivided into four categories each.

The opener will be "New York I Love You" a collection of 11 short romance films directed by four directors, including famous Hollywood actress Natalie Portman. The film deals with the diverse love lives of city people, and will be premiered for the first time in Asia. If you want to see this film, you'd better hurry. There are only 200 places for this film and the opening ceremony.

Another movie to keep a close eye on is "Katalin Varga" directed by Peter Strickland, about a mother and her son's journey in search of the child's birth father. The movie gives a detailed depiction of a woman's sensitivity and won a New Talent Grand Pix at the 2009 Copenhagen International Film Festival and rave reviews at international film festivals in Venice and Berlin.

Those who prefer sophisticated pictures can try "Easy Virtue" a film adaptation of a play by the same name, directed by Stephen Elliott. The decline of the British upper class in the early 20th century is portrayed through a story of a shocking love between a father and his daughter-in-law.

Those coming to the cinema for a laugh with friends can choose to see "LOL (Laughing out Loud)" directed by Lisa Azuelos, starring Sophie Marceau. It's a comical film that depicts a daughter immersed in her world of cell phones, the Internet and boyfriends and a mother who feels a generation gap.

The film "8" is the best choice for viewers who believe a film should reflect on some of the major tasks of the era. Another omnibus film made by several directors and based on the background of the UN Millennium Development Goals to reduce the world's poverty by half by 2015, it tells several stories under the theme of love, peace and the environment.

Those who remember the black comedy film "American Beauty" (1999) that satirized the U.S. middle class t miss "Towelhead" directed by Alan Ball. Through the female protagonist, a 13-year old girl named Jasira, born between a conservative Lebanese father and an American mother, the film shows story of growth, deviation and reconciliation, coming to a very touching ending.

For something wild with passion, go to "Sex, Party and Lies" co-directed by Alacete and Menkes. It deals with just about everything about young people from love, friendship, clubs, sex, homosexuality, wandering and identity crisis. The film recorded performed very at the box office in Spain last year.

Asian movie lovers may like this one; "Seven 2 One-Play Big" which is having its world premiere, directed by Danny Pang. It shows the intricate ties between seven people who end up coincidentally wrapped up in a robbery at a convenience store.

For young children, there is "The Three Robbers" by Hayo Freitag from Germany, about a trio of thieves with hearts of gold.

There are two Hollywood movies in the special gala section; "Spread" an erotic, sexy film by David Mackenzie and "Halloween 2" an extreme thriller film by Rob Zombie.

Competing films will be presented in the Cine Opus section. The nine judges will include Professor Daniel Serceau of Paris 1 University's Film Department, Italian director Pascal Toneguzzo, Korean director Lee Myeong-se and actress Moon So-ri, among others.

You can re-visit the femme fatale charm of actress Marilyn Monroe in the main section and actor Shin Seong-il's homme fatale charm in the Cine Retro section. You will also get an eyeful of Asian action movie trends in the Cine Asia section, while the All That Cinema section features rare films from Czech Republic and South America.

Meanwhile, the organizing committee is also preparing additional some outdoor events, including a cultural performance at Namsan Hanok Village for two days from August 27. Prior to that there will be a free talking session with local movie directors and famous actors at the Woori Bank outdoor stage in Myeongdong on August 25 and 26.

A rock performance will also be on the outdoor stage in Myeongdong from 7 to 9 p.m. on August 28 and a free outdoor film screening for families will take place at City Hall Plaza from 8 to 10 p.m. on August 29 and 30.

Ticket reservations start from August 10 on the homepage. For more details visit the homepage. See the official trailer here (Open the link).

By Kim Hee-sung
Korea.net Staff Writer