By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Renowned German filmmaker speaks during a news conference at Sponge House theater in Apkujong-dong, Seoul, Wednesday. A retrospective of his films is being held in Seoul, which will later take place in other cities. /Yonhap
Wim Wenders is a highly acclaimed filmmaker whose work sparked the German New Wave Cinema movement in the '60s and '70s. But his movies are often received better in other countries than in his own.
He attributes this to the fact that he grew up under the huge influence of American culture and that his movies are not quite as German as most of other German films.
"I've been very attracted by America since I was a little boy", Wenders said Wednesday during a news conference at Sponge House theater in Apkujong-dong, Seoul. "I grew up in a completely destroyed country, post-war Germany. The German culture that I grew up with was rather boring".
Instead, what fascinated him was American culture with its comic strips, music, movies and novels. At that time, America was a "promised land" for him, he said.
The influence is easily seen in many of his films where he successfully combines experimental and aesthetic aspects with the conventions of Hollywood films. He has explored the individual's sufferings in modern society but also shown his interest in social issues and problems in the United States.
He expressed his concern over the domination of American culture as it has "colonized" people's sub-conscious as well as conscious lives.
"I've lived in America, for altogether 15 years. And it is no longer a `promised land' for me. There is this film called `Land of Plenty' that reveals what America represents to me today. It is extremely critical to America but it still shows how much I love the country, nevertheless", he said.
Maybe taking a look at his filmography is not enough to understand what the director has pursued in his films. The best way would be to see his representative works, and that is now possible as a retrospective of his films is being held here.
Titled "Wim Wenders Special", the event is dedicated to the German filmmaker, and his visit to Seoul is part of the event. Taking place at Sponge House Theater in Chongno, downtown Seoul until March 28, it will show 10 representative works by the director. During his stay, he will also meet local audiences in question and answer sessions.
The retrospective features "Alice in the Cities" (1973), "The American Friend" (1977), "Paris Texas" (1984), "Wings of Desire" (1987), "Buena Vista Social Club" (1999), "Land of Plenty" (2004) and "Don't Come Knocking" (2005).
The 61-year-old filmmaker has made about 30 films in various genres, many of which were internationally acclaimed. He won the 1984 Palme d'Or Award at Cannes with "Paris, Texas" and the Cannes Director's Award in 1987 for "Wings of Desire".
But since "Don't Come Knocking", he has not shot a film in almost two and a half years, which he said is due to a promise to his wife.
"After `Don't Come Knocking', I took a long break because I promised my wife not to shoot a film right away. Because I made three films in a row one after another", he said.
But while taking a break, he participated in a documentary project in Africa for the organization, Doctors Without Borders.
The documentary was made by five different directors about five different issues in Africa, which go unnoticed. Wenders' work, titled "The Invisible", is about the violence against women in areas of conflict in Africa.
This is the third time for him to visit South Korea for work_ a short visit to Seoul in 1976 and to Pusan in 2000. But he has visited the country unofficially several times.
He said he has a great interest in Korean culture and food, saying "I'm Addicted to Korean barbecue".
He has recently watched many Korean films as they have had a strong presence in major European film festivals such as Berlin, Venice and Cannes in the last few years.
The most impressive work that he has recently seen is "The President's Last Bang", which amazed him with its ironic and funny story based on fact.
For his next feature film, he is now writing a story, which he will shoot later this year in Italy. Another project for next year is a film in his native language shot in Germany.
The retrospective is scheduled to tour other cities across the country _ Pusan March 29-April 11, Kwangju April 13-19, Taegu April 26-29 and Taejon May 3-9.
For more information, call (02) 2285-2090 or visit Open the link
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