Park Chan-ok (박찬옥)

PARK's Paju to Open Rotterdam Film Festival

Source | 2009/11/19 | 0 comments | Permalink |

PARK Chan-ok's second feature "Paju" has been selected as the opening film at 39th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), set to run Jan. 27 – Feb. 7 next year in the Netherlands' port city. Rutger Wolfson, the festival's director, called "Paju" a "triumph of resilience and a powerful female voice from Asia, ambitious and intimate at the same time".

Director PARK is no stranger to Rotterdam. In 2003, her feature debut "Jealousy is My Middle Name", won the IFFR's Tiger Award for best film. In 2006, her project "Paju" was launched at IFFR's co-production maket, CineMart. PARK and the film's two leads will attend the upcoming IFFR to introduce the film to the opening night audience.

Starring LEE Seon-gyoon ("Sa-kwa"), SEO Woo ("Crush and Blush"), SIM I-yeong, and KIM Bo-kyeong, it is an atmospheric tale of a schoolgirl (SEO) in love with her sister's husband (LEE). When her sister dies mysteriously, she suspects him of murder and complex emotions arise between them.
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'Paju' to Open Rocarno Film Festival

Source | 2009/11/13 | 0 comments | Permalink |

"Paju", the second feature film by South Korean director Park Chan-ok, will open the upcoming International Film Festival in Rotterdam, the first Korean movie ever chosen to open the Dutch film fest, the event's Web site said Friday.

"Paju", which premiered at Korea's Pusan International Film Festival, has been praised as one of the most outstanding local creations of the year, drawing a realistic portrait of modern Korean society through the eyes of a young woman, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Director Park was the winner of the Tiger Award in the 2003 Rotterdam fest for her internationally-appraised debut "Jealousy Is My Middle Name".

Rutger Wolfson, director of the Dutch film event, called "Paju" a "triumph of resilience and a powerful female voice from Asia, ambitious and intimate at the same time".

The 39th Rotterdam festival will run Jan. 27-Feb. 7 next year in the Netherlands' port city.

The South Korean delegation that will introduce the film to Rotterdam's op...| More

Seo Woo Courted by Foreign Directors

Source | 2009/10/27 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Actress Seo Woo is being courted by foreign movie directors after "Paju", a film in which she starred with actor Lee Seon-gyoon, screened during the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) earlier this month.

According to Sports Hankook, the sister paper of The Korea Times, Seo, 21, had already been asked to appear in movies to be directed by American and Dutch directors.

An official with the actress' agency was quoted as saying, "We have been offered twice. But we have not decided on appearance yet. She will take a rest for the time being before choosing the next film. We will also consider going abroad".

Sports Hankook quoted a movie analyst as saying, "Ms. Seo has been recognized highly for her acting in the movie. She was all the more charming because Eun-mo, which she played in `Paju', remained an enigmatic figure".

Seo was among the group of Korean actors who visited Busan during PIFF as "Paju" competed in the New Currents section. The movie, directed by Park Chan-ok...| More

Lee Seon-gyoon Comments on His Role in 'Paju'

Source | 2009/10/26 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Actor Lee Seon-gyoon, who plays Jung-shik in Park Chan-ok's movie "Paju", was never known as a romantic guy. Jung-shik is a man who has to live with his deep wounds and sense of guilt. Lee describes his character as a "big person" who he didn't want to approach in an emotional way.

To Lee, "Paju" is a milestone, which he set by portraying Jung-shik, a former athlete who falls in love with his sister-in-law. It was Lee's first big-screen leading role, which has also become his favorite one and which demanded a higher degree of responsibility. "It was the most fulfilling role by far, " said Lee.

Lee said, "I wanted to play a more 'film-y' and inspirational role. I wanted to approach acting from a more serious perspective. Director Park Chan-ok has a very keen eye. I wanted to work with her and I made the right decision".

Lee says he was unable to study his character in more detail because of a time limit. His scenes were shot in an apartment building that was subject to demoliti...| More

Six filmmakers confront the struggle of the second time

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

'These budding directors shot their first films when Korean cinema was at its peak, so it's no wonder they now feel pressure'. -PIFF programmer

The "sophomore slump" refers to when a second effort fails to meet the standards or expectations of the first. It affects bands, performers and artists of all types - and movie directors are no exception.

Six emerging Korean directors discussed the pressure and the anxiety they felt while making their second films, as well as the challenges of dealing with the changing landscape of filmmaking in Korea at "Open Talk No. 2" during the Pusan International Film Festival, which closed its nine-day run last Friday.

The six directors - Park Chan-ok, Lee Song-hee-il, Lee Seong-han, Lee Hae-joon, Kim Tae-sik and Kim Dong-won-I - first gained recognition for their debut features at previous Pusan film festivals, and returned to this year's event with their second works.

"I feel like I keep growing through filmmaking, even though growing up is...| More