Kim Eung-su (김응수)

In Jeonju, spring brings wonderful films

2008/04/19 | Source | Permalink |

By Nigel D'Sa
Contributing Writer

The 9th Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) is nearing, and an impressive line-up of films has been announced for this year's event.

Set in its picturesque namesake city in Jeollabuk-do (province), JIFF runs May 1-9, bringing together innovative and independent films and filmmakers from around the world.

This year's program boasts a record total of 169 films with opening night going to Manda Kunitoshi's The Kiss in its International Premiere.

Japanese writer-turned-director Manda has already gained notice and won prizes at Cannes for his previous films, making this latest work highly anticipated.

JIFF's curtain-closer will be the Korean omnibus film "If You Were Me 4", produced by the National Human Rights Commission.

Each film in the series has a human rights issue as its theme with past concerns ranging from discrimination to forced surgery and bringing together a group of talented directors.

This year's project fe...| More

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Korean Films Premiering at 9th JIFF

2008/04/16 | Source | Permalink |

Ten Korean features will have their World Premiere at the Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF) this spring. Now in it's 9th edition the festival will run May 1st – 9th in the attractive and historical city of Jeonju, in North Jeolla province.

Korean highlights include documentary director KIM Dong-won's latest, "63 Years On", about the 'comfort women' enslaved by the Japanese military in stations across Asia during WW2. The film provides an historical investigation along with interviews with victims still living in Korea, China, and the Philippines. KIM is best known for his 2003 film Repatriation which raised the documentary genre to commercial prominence in South Korea.

In the Korean Cinema on the Move section, presents 10 new independent features mostly by debut directors. Among the most interesting are "Synching Blue" by SEO Won-tae, a director whose shorts films have garnered praise for their visual arrangements. This HD feature is about a man who seeks comfort i...| More

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'Bloody Reunion' [DVD Review] A competent slasher pic that could have been nastier

2008/01/20 | Source | Permalink |

Kyu Hyun Kim (qhyunkim)

Six twenty-something characters are invited for a party by their elementary school classmate Mi-ja (Seo Young-hee, the neurotic landlady from "Jealousy is My Middle Name"), who has been caring for her former teacher Ms. Park (Oh Mi-hee), now infirm and wheelchair-bound. The guests turn out to be a motley crew of losers and basket cases, however.

Worse, each of them bears a serious grudge against Ms. Park. Sun-hee (Lee Ji-hyeon, Yeo Gyoon-dong's "La Belle"), traumatized by the teacher's public taunting of her baby fat, has become addicted to plastic surgery and suffers from bulimia. Park Hyo-joon ("A Dirty Carnival") ruined his leg while being punished by Ms. Park and had to fold his childhood dream of becoming an ace baseball player. Se-ho (Yeo Hyeon-soo, "Holiday") and Eun-young (Yoo Seol-ah), now a couple, is still struggling against the memories of insults and put-downs regarding their childhood poverty.

Even Myung-ho (Lee Dong-gyoo, Kim Eung-su's "D...| More

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Must-Sees at Jeonju International Film Festival

2006/04/19 | Source | Permalink |

The following are five films that will be screened at the Seventh Jeonju International Film Festival that programmer Jung Soo-wan says shouldn't be missed.

Mutual Appreciation (2005)

Directed by Andrew Bujalski, the film revolves around Alan, who leaves for New York to find a drummer for his band. But he can't concentrate on his "mission", as he is attracted to his best friend's girlfriend. The film wittily deals with the problems of communication breakdown between young people in a modern society.

Heavenly Path (2006)

Directed by Kim Eung-su, the movie follows the journey of a man who goes to Ladakh in India to meet his ex-girlfriend. In the lofty mountain district he suffers from altitude sickness and has strange experiences. Different from previous works by the director, the film has many experimental aspects, but at the same time it can appeal to general audiences.

Workingman's Death (2005)

Directed by Michael Glawogger, the documentary film depicts the extremes t...| More

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'Desire' in All Its Complexities

2004/02/15 | Source | Permalink |

By Joon Soh

It's not surprising that Kim Eung-su, director of "Yokmang (Desire)", was a psychology major in his university years. His film, which opens on Friday, takes on a dysfunctional sexual triangle and lays bare the misdirected rage, desire and denial within it like a veteran Freudian.

Two-thirds of this twisted triangle is comprised of Kyu-min (Ahn Tae-gun) and his wife Rosa (Su Ah), whose marriage troubles seem to go even deeper than the fact that Kyu-min is secretly bisexual. Rosa finds this out in the beginning sequences of the film, during which she secretly tails her husband and discovers him in the apartment of another man: Leo (Lee Dong-gyu), a young male prostitute.

From there begins a psychological dance full of moves that teeter between black humor and a nightmare. Accidentally meeting in a host bar, Rosa and Leo end up getting into a disturbing sexual relationship/power struggle, but as the film progresses, it becomes increasingly unclear as to what they'r...| More

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