Seo Jang-won (서장원)

Pruning the Grapevine in Competition at Karlovy Vary

2007/06/22 | Source | Permalink |

Korean film "Pruning the Grapevine" (2006), by MIN Byeong-hoon, will screen in the Official Selection – Competition section of the 42nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The event which is held each year in the picturesque valley also known as Karlsbad, in the western province of Bohemia, Czech Republic, opens on June 29th for a nine-day run. A total of six Korean features will screen in various sections of the festival.

Grapevine director MIN is known to Karlovy Vary programmers, after his first film, "The Flight of the Bee" (1998, co-directed by Jamshed Usmonov) and his second, "Let's Not Cry", were screened at previous editions of the festival with the latter winning both a FIPRESCI award and a main jury Special Mention in 2002. Grapevine lead SEO Jang-won is also a familiar face at Karlovy Vary after his screen debut "The Unforgiven" was shown at last year's event.

"Pruning the Grapevine" was the recipient of KOFIC's Art Film Production Support program in 2005 a...| More

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Face Your Fears and You Will Be Saved

2007/02/22 | Source | Permalink |

"Pruning the Grapevine" by director Min Byeong-hoon is a movie of a theological student who is swaying between love for God and secular love. Su-hyeon (played by Seo Jang-won) leaves his girlfriend Su-ah (played by Lee Min-jeong) and focuses on the theological school. But he is shaken upon receiving a wedding card from Su-ah. He tries to quit school, but the head of the school advises him to go to a monastery. There, he meets sister Helena (played by Lee Min-jeong) who looks exactly like Su-ah.

The movie focuses on fear and its heaviness. Characters deny and run away from their fears. The more they run, they face bigger fears. The movie implies that we can find peace and be saved when facing our greatest fears. Characters all face fears: Su-hyeon's girlfriend dies, the head of the school meets a girl who is about to die from a disease, and sister Helena meets Su-hyeon, who resembles her dead boyfriend.

Similar situations were also portrayed in Min's last movie. "The Flight of the...| More

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Korean Films at the 59th Cannes Film Festival

2006/05/09 | Source | Permalink |

Yoon Jong-bin
The Unforgiven in Un Certain Regard

First-time feature director Yoon Jong-bin makes his international debut in the Un Certain Regard at this year's Cannes. His film is about two boyhood friends who meet during their mandatory military service and later experience the tragic consequences of habitual violence in the army. With its steady and non-self-indulgent approach to drama, the film made its world premiere at the Pusan International Film Festival to accolades from critics and audiences alike, garnering invitations from the world's most prestigious festivals.

The Unforgiven was originally 27 year-old Yoon Jong-bin's graduation film from the Film Studies Department at Chung-Ang University, based on his experiences while serving in the army himself. "Every Korean man that does military service has experiences like this", says Yoon, referringto the bullying and violence. "It's not a special story. If you are a man and live in Korean society, you can't live apart fro...| More

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Korean Movie "The Unforgiven" Invited to Sundance and Berlin Film Festival Next Year

2005/11/10 | Source | Permalink |

There was a sense of excitement and genuine curiosity that filled the famed theater in the downtown district of Seoul Jongro-gu, before the recent premiere of "The Unforgiven". The young cast of more than 10 took the stage to make their welcoming remarks prior to the press conference. The audience was taken aback by their innocent, and rather plain, appearances. They stood like deer caught in the headlights, quite contrary to the confidence generated by overwhelming praise for and popularity of their movie.

"I still cannot believe I am standing here today", exclaimed Jang Seon-hee (27), a member of the production crew, "it all began so unexpectedly and I never thought I would come this far". Another comment was made by Seo Jang-won (22), one of the actors of this underdog film, "I was cast because I said I can cut my hair when the director asked me if I could". That director is Yoon Jong-bin (26), a senior at Chung-Ang University, Art School of Drama & Cinema, who has made this film...| More

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Director Looks at Pressures of Military Life

2005/10/23 | Source | Permalink |

By Lee Jin-woo
Staff Reporter

Director Yoon Jong-bin's first feature film "The Unforgiven" drew keen attention at the Pusan International Film Festival earlier this month with its precise depiction of Korean military hierarchy. Those who missed the film in Pusan will have a chance to see it when it opens in Seoul this Friday.

Yoon, 26, a recent college graduate, tells the story of two junior high school friends who meet later in life. One is a sergeant who quickly adjusts to military life and the other is a private who struggles to resist the army's malpractices.

In the film, the sergeant, Tae-jung, tries to help his rebellious friend, private Sung-young, but the latter continues to cause trouble by breaking taboos in the barracks. After Tae-jung is discharged, Sung-young visits him on his annual leave but Tae-jung notices a change in his restless friend.

During an interview with The Korea Times in Pusan, Yoon said he is not fond of persuasive storytelling styles such as "...| More

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