Sin Jeong-won (신정원)

'Chaw' Explores Omnivore's Nightmare

Source | 2009/07/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

The homicidal hog movie "Chaw" is one of those films that takes a seed of truth and grows it into Jack's beanstalk. This tall tale of horror and adventure proves to be a fine addition to the local stock of computer graphics-ridden monster flicks ― offering a believable, rather than realistic, experience that persuades the viewer with more than just flesh-gnawing gore.

Dubbed the Korean Tim Burton for the punk horror flick "To Catch a Virgin Ghost" ("Sisily 2km"), Sin Jeong-won transforms familiar settings into an atmospheric space, where the narrative is propelled by suspense, dramatic counterpoints and solid character development (including some spoofs by a most memorable madwoman).

In recent years, there have been news reports of how deforesting and dwindling food sources drove ravenous wild boars to ravage dead bodies in tombs and attack villages. It took three years to design and realize via CG ― provided by the creative team behind "Star Wars Episode I: The Phant...| More

"Chaw" to be Unleashed July 16

Source | 2009/07/09 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Known for its innovative and daring use of genre combinations, Korean cinema breaks new ground yet again with "Chaw", a black comedy thriller about a killer pig wreaking havoc on a small mountain town.

Directed by SIN Jeong-won ("Sisily 2km"), the film stars popular actors EOM Tae-woong, JEONG Yu-mi and YOON Je-moon. While the posters may lead one to think "Chaw" is a chilling horror and gore flick, the film blends and subverts the monster genre into a witty, suspenseful black comedy.

The story is set in the peaceful mountain town of Sameri where plans are underway to develop the area. Soon mutilated bodies are found at the development site, and panic spreads across the community, as it is discovered that a huge wild boar is on the rampage.

Comparison to Korea's all time box office champ "The Host", are inevitable, and box office expectations are high. "Chaw" was shot in Seoul and San Francisco, and has been picked up by Hollywood's Variety Fine Cut for release in the Un...| More

Korean films leave their mark in Berlin

Source | 2009/02/18 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Action comedy "Chaw", directed by Sin Jeong-won, was sold to 10 countries.

Korean films made their mark at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival, which ended last Sunday.

Kim So-yong's "Treeless Mountain" won the Ecumenical Prize, while Lee Suk-gyung's "The Day After" took the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema Award. Both are independent films.

Treeless Mountain portrays two young sisters growing up in the countryside. They have been abandoned by their mother, who does not have enough money to raise them. But their aunt, with whom they are sent to live, is an alcoholic.

The 89-minute film was first screened at the 13th Pusan International Film Festival last year, where it won the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema Award.

"Treeless Mountain" will be released in U.S. theaters in April.

The Day After tells the story of a divorcee's life as she meets her soul mate.

Although these were the only two Korean films to win awards in Berlin, other Korean ...| More

12 Korean Films Invited to Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy

Source | 2005/04/15 | 0 comments | Permalink |

A total of 12 Korean films have been invited to the 7th Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy, which will open on Apr. 22.

According to the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) secretariat on Apr. 15, 10 Korean films have been invited to the main division of this festival and two others invited to its special division entitled "Three Asian Directors of Photography".

The Korean films invited to the main division of the Italian international film festival include "Everybody Has Secrets" directed by Jang Hyeon-soo, "Arahan Jangpung Daejakjeon" by Ryoo Seung-wan, "Gajok (A family)" by Lee Jeong-cheol, "Someone Special" by Jang Jin, "Sisily 2 km" by Sin Jeong-won, "Gil (road)" by Bae Chang-ho, "Green Chair" by Park Chul-soo, "R-Point" by Kong Soo-chang, "Flying Boys" by Byeon Yeong-joo, and "Some" by Jang Yoon-hyeon.

For the "Three Asian Directors of Photography" division, "Peppermint Candy" and "Memories of Murder", produced by director of photography Kim Hyung-koo, will be...| More

Korean culture on screen at USFK festival

Source | 2004/12/17 | 0 comments | Permalink |

December 17, 2004 ㅡ Six Korean films with English subtitles will be screened at the USFK Korean Film Festival, starting today at three U.S. base locations: the Multipurpose Training Facility at Yongsan Garrison, Osan Air Force Base Movie Theater and Camp Humphreys Movie Theater.
The opening ceremony takes place at 5:20 p.m. at Yongsan, followed by a screening of "Taegukgi" (2004), directed by Kang Je-gyu. "Taegukgi" was chosen because organizers wanted to show the effect of the Korean War on Koreans and its meaning to them. (Screenings are 5:30 p.m. Friday at Yongsan, and 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Camp Humphreys.)
"Save the Green Planet" ("Jigureul Jikyeora", 2002), was directed by Jeong Jun-hwan, named Best Director of a Foreign Film at the 25th Moscow International Film Festival. It's a heartwrenching and bizarre tale of a young man who believes aliens are trying to take over the planet. (Screenings: Friday, 3 p.m. at Yongsan and Saturday, 1 p.m. at Osan.)
"My Mother, the Me...| More