Shim Kwang-jin (심광진)

A film that requires patience to enjoy

2007/10/01 | Source | Permalink |

Everything goes well when you have a happy family, according to an old Korean saying. A happy family, however, can be quite a challenging goal, especially because you can't choose your parents and children.
Korean society has long seen the clash between longtime Confucian traditions and the evolution of new ways of thinking. That has given new material to Korean filmmakers. One recent notable current of the Korean film scene is a nouveau approach that breaks away from the traditional definition of a family, from "Family Ties" ("The Birth of a Family", 2006) directed by Kim Tae-yong to "Shim's Family", earlier this year by Jeong Yoon-cheol.
The latest in the queue, released recently as a DVD, is "Lee Dae-geun, Lee Daek-eun", directed by Shim Gwang-jin. The Korean title is a pun on the lead actor's name, Lee Dae-geun, which also sounds in Korean like "This family is ..". Its English title is "Mr. Lee vs. Mr. Lee" ("Long Day's Journey into Night").
The lead role features Lee, an aging ...| More

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A movie tough guy with a few regrets offers some advice

2007/05/10 | Source | Permalink |

He's back - Lee Dae-geun, the star who appeared in "Bet on My Disco" (2002) as "big brother", a supporting character, has returned as the leading actor in "Long Day's Journey into Night", which was released last week. The film is very loosely based on the 66-year-old actor's life but the family in question is not his own but a fictional version
"Entering the mid-60s of my life, I felt it was necessary to spend some time with my family. Looking back, I have starred in more than 300 movies over my 40-year career", said Lee. "Backstage, every object and person seemed to be living inside a drama".
Lee was once an iconic strong man. In "Kim Du-han" (1974), "Kim Chun-sam" (1975), "King of Beggars" (1975) and "Sirasoni" (1979), he appeared as a lawman. In "Mulberry Tree" (1985), and "Byeon Kang-soe" (1986), he played a macho sex symbol. Shim Kwang-jin, the director of "Long Day's Journey into Night" praised "Lee's macho image which transcends cliches. His character contains humorous and rhe...| More

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Lee Dae-geun attempts to offer new image

2007/04/26 | Source | Permalink |

Lee Dae-geun, for most Korean moviegoers now in their 30s or older, is the very definition of a sex symbol. Since his debut in 1964, he has appeared in more than 300 films, many of which helped cultivate his association with sexual energy.

Lee's new role in "Long Day's Journey into Night" does not have any connection with his famous sex image. The film, based on a famous local drama, involves a weakened status of a father -- an old, powerless and lonely Korean father.

In the film, Lee leads a family that is now barely functioning. In his youth, he wandered around the country in the hope of becoming a real actor, but ended up running a small, shabby signature stamp-making shop in a rural area. He has two sons and one daughter, now all grown-ups, but they have not visited their father's house in the past three years.

Lee realizes that it is time to mend fences with his children, especially right before the anniversary of his wife's death. In the name of preparing for the memoria...| More

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Movies Reflect on Contemporary Fathers

2007/04/24 | Source | Permalink |

By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter

There have been many films that have shed light on motherly love such as "Running Boy" ("Marathon" - 2005), "Herb" (2006) and "Sunflower" (2007), where single mothers raised their children overcoming hardships.

Now it's the fathers' turn. This spring, local filmmakers are paying a particular attention to fathers, as many new films portray the contemporary father.

At the box office, the audience can choose from a range of films that center on fatherly love. These fathers have different jobs according to their social class. But what they share in common is, of course, the devotion and affection they have for their family.

"Meet Mr. Daddy" ("Shiny Day" - at theaters)

Directed by Park Kwang-soo, the film is a story of a man who learns about fatherly love, something he never experienced as a child himself.

Jong-dae is a ruthless and selfish man. One day, after a fight, he is placed in a police cell. He receives a visitor, a former love.

S...| More

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