Kim Mi-jeong (김미정)

[Review] 'Shadows in the Palace'

Source | 2008/08/15 | 0 comments | Permalink |

A dark thriller exposes the underbelly of monarchical splendor
Kyu Hyun Kim (qhyunkim)

The time is the Joseon dynasty -- unspecified but presumed to be around 18th century. The place is the women's quarters inside the court, entirely staffed by women and governed by their own inhumanly strict rules. In this world completely devoid of a male presence, a simple act of stealing might result in amputated hands, while falling in love with a male court officer might lead to a Grand Guignol-like semi-public execution.

A royal maid, Wol-ryung (Seo Yeong-hee, "Jealousy is My Middle Name"), is found dead by hanging in a room, an apparent suicide. However, the medical officer, Cheon-ryung (Park Jin-hee, "Spy Lee Chul-jin", "Love Talk"), uncovers that not only was Wol-ryung murdered, but also that she recently gave birth to a child.

The supervising officer, Kim Seong-ryeong ("Rainbow Eyes"), who wants to whitewash everything, and the royal concubine (Yoon Se-ah, "Blood Rain"), who has be...| More

Daejong Film Fest Showcases Trends

Source | 2008/06/29 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

South Korea's esteemed 45th Daejong (Grand Bell) Film Festival held in southern Seoul, showcased the latest local box office trends, with its stronghold of original thrillers, stylistic period pieces and experimental projects. While superstars grabbed the limelight as expected, hitherto overlooked veteran actors and young debutant directors shined the most, suggesting that blatant star power, be it a reputed director or ravishing screen beauty, don't always guarantee ticket sales or awards.

The red carpet event took place outside the COEX Convention Hall in a sea of blinding camera flashes as glamorous cineastes filed in. Screen beauties like Han Chae-young, Park Jin-hee and Sin-Ae were elegant in cleavage-bearing, long evening gowns while others such as Kim Yoon-jin and Ko Ah-ra chose mini-dresses to show off their figures.

Actress Kim Ah-joong, who won last year's award for Best Actress ("200 Pounds Beauty"), and popular announcer Choe Gi-hwan...| More

KIM Ki-duk's "Dream" to compete in San Sebastian

Source | 2008/06/26 | 0 comments | Permalink |

"Dream" (Korean title: "Bimong"), the fifteenth film by director KIM Ki-duk, has been selected to compete at the 56th San Sebastian International Film Festival, to be held from September 18-27.

The film, which stars Japanese heartthrob Joe ODAGIRI and Korean actress LEE Na-young, centers around a man who experiences a startlingly realistic dream about a car accident, and later discovers that the accident occurred in real life.

KIM's previous films have premiered at Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Locarno, Karlovy Vary and Moscow, but this will be the first time for him to compete at the prestigious Spanish festival. Other Korean films that have competed at San Sebastian in recent years include BONG Joon-ho's "Memories of Murder" (2003), SONG Il-gon's "Spider Forest" (2004), HEO Jin-ho's "April Snow" (2005), LIM Sang-soo's "The Old Garden", and KIM Mi-jeong's "Shadows in the Palace" (2007).

In 2003, KIM's Spring, "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... And Spring" screened out of competiti...| More

Varied Korean line-up at NYC fest

Source | 2008/06/13 | 0 comments | Permalink |

This year's New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) will feature: LEE Myeong-se's "M",KANG Woo-suk's "Public Enemy Returns" (Gangcheoljoong: Gonggongui jeok 1-1), HEO Jin-ho's "Happiness" (Haengbok), KIM Mi-jeong's "Shadows in the Palace" (Goongnyeo), JEONG Byeong-gil's "Action Boys" (Woori Aeksyeonbaewooda), and KIM Ji-won's "The Butcher" (Dosalja).

New York City will host the Asian festival from June 20 until July 6. Other main films include the Japanese films Then Summer Came, and Always: Sunset on Third Street and the Chinese Assembly. NYAFF also selected films from Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Thailand.

The seventh NYAFF is organized by Subway Cinema (http://www.subwaycinema.com/), a New York based organization for the increased exposure of Asian cinema through annual events. It was also involved in the establishment of the New York Korean Film Festival in 2001. NYAFF is covered by leading media in the U.S., Europe, and Korea's leading film magazine Cine21.

Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)...| More

[DVD review] Hazy plot casts 'Shadows' on film

Source | 2008/01/25 | 0 comments | Permalink |

"Shadows in the Palace" (Goongnyeo) is a movie with an identity crisis.

It had the potential to weave in the flavor of "CSI" with the intriguing inner workings of a Joseon Dynasty palace.
The backstabbing, the petty fighting, the balance of power between the various concubines: That's what I imagined when I read the storyline.
Unfortunately, the end result was a lot of wasted potential.
The intrigue begins when Cheon Ryeong (Park Jin-hee), the medic for the court ladies, discovers Wol Ryeong, a fellow court lady, or goongyeo, dead.
While performing an autopsy on Wol, Cheon finds evidence of foul play. But higher court ladies, who fear that the murder will sway the king's affections for them, order Cheon to ignore her suspicions.
Intended to be a mystery thriller , the movie has aspects of horror that come into play out of nowhere about midway through. This just made me scratch my head. The movie tries to do too many things here and there and ends up weak overall.
Director Kim ...| More