Jo Jae-hyeon (조재현)

Best Play Series to Open With 'Equus'

Source | 2009/10/28 | 0 comments | Permalink |

From left, actors Jo Jae-hyeon, Ryoo Deok-hwan, Jeong Tae-woo and Song Seung-hwan pose at a press conference for "Equus", which will be on stage from Dec. 1 as the opening performance of "Yeongeuk Yeoljeon 3" (Series of the Best Plays) in Daehangno, central Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of organizers

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

"Yeongeuk Yeoljeon 3" (Series of the Best Plays) has unveiled this year's lineup of nine plays, and will embark on a 13-month run starting Dec. 1. The project consists of classic masterpieces, literature-based dramas and world premieres.

"Equus", written by Peter Shaffer in 1973, will be on stage as the opening performance.

The play portrays the story of Dysart, a psychiatrist who attempts to treat a young man named Alan who has a pathological fascination with horses.

Jo Jae-hyeon and renowned producer and actor Song Seung-hwan will take the role of Dysart. Television stars Jeong Tae-woo and Ryoo Deok-hwan will play Alan.

Jo, who is making hi...| More

'Executioner' Looks at Death Row

Source | 2009/10/22 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

There have been a good number of movies that deal with the agony of being on death row or feature capital punishment as the (un)just consequence of crime.

"The Executioner", which premiered at the 14th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF) earlier this month, however, delves into the actual process of the death penalty, which involves more than just a quick snap of the neck and a dead body (hanging is still the method used in South Korea).

In his feature directorial debut, Choi Jin-ho ("Reunion", which competed at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival) invites viewers to step into the shoes of prison staff who must carry out the actual deed.

The film poses some big ethical questions but manages to be clear cut in eliciting specific emotional responses from the audience. Nevertheless, "Executioner" gets caught in a sort of muddled gray zone; it's too formulaically mainstream for arthouse cinema yet, albeit being rep...| More

DMZ Hosts 1st Documentary Festival

Source | 2009/10/18 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas is one of the most heavily fortified areas in the world, but the no-man's land is also home to some of the rarest flora and fauna and is the most visited tourist attraction in South Korea.

The 1st DMZ Korean International Documentary Festival will open Thursday through Oct. 26 in the vicinity of the buffer zone to transform the living Cold War remnant into a festive venue for documentary films.

"The DMZ possesses more fictional elements than fiction, with many tearful stories to tell. Gyeonggi Province and Korea can't claim it as its own ― it is a world heritage. It has come to symbolize more than ideological conflicts and is a scientifically and historically significant space", said film festival chairman and Gyeonggi Province governor Kim Moon-soo in a press conference earlier this month in Seoul.

"I think I can say the festival will have succeeded if it simply inspires someone to...| More

[Talk of the town] Documentary fest takes flight

Source | 2009/10/07 | 0 comments | Permalink |

A press conference to announce the launch of the 1st DMZ Korean International Documentary Festival was held last Monday at the Sejong Hotel in Jung District, central Seoul. The organizing chairman of the festival, Governor of Gyeonggi Province Kim Moon-soo, attended the event along with the executive chairman, actor Jo Jae-hyeon.

Goodwill Ambassadors for the film festival were also appointed, including singer Yoon Do-hyeon and actress Lee In-hye.

The festival will kick off Oct. 22 through 26 at the demilitarized zone area and Paju, Gyeonggi. It will feature 62 documentary films from 30 countries around the world....| More

Demilitarized Zone to Be Venue for Film Festival

Source | 2009/07/28 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the Korean Peninsula is one of the most heavily armed areas in the world. But it is also a unique hot spot for both tourism and scientific research ― a specimen of the Cold War where rare species of flora and fauna abound.

The 38th Parallel now aims to reinvent the remnants of conflict into a space for artistic communication through the DMZ Korean International Documentary Festival (DMZ Docs), which opens its inaugural event from Oct. 21 to 26 in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

Under the theme "Peace, Communication and Life", the festival will showcase documentaries from near and far.

The opening festival will take place at Daeseong Elementary School, and festival goers can watch screenings at the Paju Unification Observatory, tour the area on bicycles and watch live performances by indie bands.

Popular actor and Gyeongi Performing and Film Council Chairman Jo Jae-hyeon will lead the event as festival d...| More