Choi In-ho (최인호)

No Wave, just a Korean breeze in Poland

2008/04/28 | Source | Permalink |

The Korean Wave has been spreading Korean pop culture across Asia and beyond for more than a decade, although it has barely reached Poland, in the centre of Europe. It is sad to admit, but Korean culture (traditional as well as the "new wave") does not exist in Polish minds as a distinctive identity. It is often mixed in with Chinese and Japanese cultures, which are more defined in Poland yet still often confused with each other.

Still, it is trendy nowadays in Poland to go to an East Asian restaurant, buy Chinese souvenirs, own Japanese-style furniture, follow feng-shui rules, watch an Asian movie or send kids to taekwondo or karate classes.

Although Polish knowledge of Korean culture is minimal, the present article aims to show that there is a gentle Korean wind that is blowing into Poland faster than the mainstream Wave.

There is, however, still no trace of: (1) the Korean entertainment industry invading the Polish media market; (2) any Polish fans adopting the lifestyles o...| More

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Berlin Spotlight on Korean-American Filmmaker

2008/02/11 | Source | Permalink |

Korean-American director Dennis Lee has become, in Lord Byron's words, "famous overnight" at the Berlin International Film Festival. His "Fireflies in the Garden" starring Julia Roberts was screened at the Berlinale Palast, the main venue, on Sunday at 10:30 p.m., a coveted time slot for every filmmaker. Tickets sold out already three days earlier despite the size of the theater -- it has 1,600 seats.

Having surprised the world by being invited to the competition of the one of the world's three leading film festivals with his feature film debut, the rookie director is fully booked for interview after interview with reporters from around the world on Sunday and Monday.

Roberts is not the only Hollywood star in the film. Other big names include Ryon Reynolds, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson and Carrie-Anne Moss. They all said they agreed to appear in the film because they were deeply moved by the screenplay, which the director himself wrote. In an interview, Lee stressed several times t...| More

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[MOVIE REVIEW] Lee Myeong-se's psychodrama 'M' big on the glitzy visuals

2007/10/18 | Source | Permalink |

Lee Myeong-se's latest psychodrama "M" got a lot of attention at the Pusan International Film Festival which ended on Friday, partly because there were only a handful of "new" Korean films making their formal debuts. Another, more important reason was that "M" features top-rated stars such as Kang Dong-won.

He is a heartthrob in Korea, and director Lee, who became famous for his stylized features like "Nowhere to Hide" and "Duelist". The two were a big draw during a press preview held in Seoul on Tuesday.

The film revolves around the experience of a writer of a bestseller, Min-woo (played by Gang), and his dreamy journey into the past where he attempts to reunite with his first love, whose existence is shrouded in mystery.

Min-woo has a bad case of writer's block; to break out of this artistic stalemate, he immerses himself in flashbacks involving his first love, Mi-mi (Lee Yeon-hee). But this psychological quest involves several obstacles, one of which is the suspicion of his...| More

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Korean-American Snares Julia Roberts for Debut Film

2007/09/14 | Source | Permalink |

Julia Roberts will make her bigscreen return in 37-year-old Korean-American director Dennis Lee's family drama "Fireflies in the Garden", according to sources on Thursday. Roberts, whose most recent film was "Ocean's Twelve" in 2004, disappeared from public view after giving birth three years ago.

Lee, who also wrote the film's screenplay, is a nephew of Korean novelist Choi In-ho. A film studies major at Columbia University in New York, his student film "Jesus Henry Christ" won the silver medal at the Student Academy Awards in 2003. "Fireflies in the Garden" is his feature-film debut.

Roberts agreed to appear in the film after being deeply moved by the screenplay, a fictionalized account of Lee's life. Willem Dafoe of "Spider-Man II" and Carrie-Anne Moss of "The Matrix" will also star, sources said.

Called "America's Sweetheart", Roberts is among Hollywood's most powerful actresses, commanding salaries upwards of $20 million. ...| More

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Deep film legacy draws director back to the lens

2007/09/12 | Source | Permalink |

Ha Myeong-joong will never forget the last phone conversation he had with his older brother in early 1979. "You should be a director, not an actor", thundered his sibling, who, at 4 a.m. was obviously under the influence of alcohol.
That older brother was Ha Gil-jong, a star director known for making films that were critical of the military regimes.
"Okay, I will keep that in mind", answered Ha, who was then a well-regarded actor whose fame had spread to Hong Kong and Japan.
Ha said that there was something in his brother's voice that he could not resist.
Shortly after the phone conversation, Ha Gil-jong had a stroke and died three days later, at the age of 38.
At the funeral Ha hugged his brother's coffin and, with tears in his eyes, swore that he would honor his deceased brother's wishes. He made his directorial debut soon after, in 1983.
Ha soon felt his older brother's premonition had been accurate.
His 1984 film, "Blazing Sun", became the first Korean film selected f...| More

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