| 8 Korean films invited to the Rotterdam film fest (Source) |
2010/01/22 |
Korean movie poster "Paju" [Myung Films]
Eight Korean films have been invited to the 39th annual International Rotterdam Film Festival, according to the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) committee on Friday.
Film "Moscow" directed by Whang Cheol-mean and "Mother - 2009" by director Bong Joon-ho were chosen for the Spectrum section of the festival which highlights movies that contribute to the international film culture.##
Several other films including "Cafe Noir" by Jeong Seong-il-I, "Eighteen" by Jang Kun-jae, "Living Death" by Lee Yong-joo-I, "Elbowroom" by Ham Kyoung-rock and "Running Turtle" by Lee Yeon-woo were chosen to be featured under the B... |More
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| An illicit love affair mixed with mystery (Source) |
2009/10/15 |
By Park Sun-young
"There was never a moment when I didn't love you".
This would be such a romantic line in most movies, but it takes on a different meaning when uttered by the leading man in director Park Chan-ok's new film, "Paju".
The movie, which was screened in the New Currents section of the Pusan International Film Festival that ends today, attracted the attention of moviegoers even before its world premiere at the event in Busan.
The buzz centers around the film's sensitive theme: a forbidden love between a girl and her sister's husband. It is Park's second feature, coming on the heels of the award-winning film "Jealousy is My Middle Name" in 2002.
Before seeing this movie, I imagined - as many others have - that the film would be filled with scenes of love and betrayal. But I was wrong. There is much more to this movie than an illicit love affair.
The story follows Eun-mo (Seo Woo), who returns to her hometown Paju after three years abroad. She quickly learns ... |More
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| Hong Ji-young Looks on the Brighter Side of Adultery (Source) |
2009/05/01 |
What is more interesting about the film "The Naked Kitchen" by Hong Ji-young than the material is the way the director deals with it. Here, an adulterous affair is portrayed not as something scandalous or tragic but with humor and optimism.
Hong sidesteps any sweeping moral standards or family values and focuses instead on the emotions of the three actors, asking fundamental questions about love.
"Kitchen" reminds many people of last year's "Antique". Both deal with forbidden love, in the case of "Antique" homosexual love, and both adopt a bright, happy and playful tone. Perhaps that is only natural, since Min Gyoo-dong, who directed "Antique" is married to Hong. And indeed, both films were invited to the Berlin International Film Festival, and exported to Japan. "Antique" is released there this week and "The Naked Kitchen" on May 30.
"I don't think you can say that new relationships or illicit affairs always start from a deficiency. A new love can come even into the life of a... |More
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| Park Chan-wook New Film Generating Massive Buzz (Source) |
2009/03/24 |
Park Chan-wook's new movie "Thirst", released on Apr. 30, is already generating a huge buzz on the Internet at home and abroad. The preview trailer on YouTube has drawn 150,000 hits so far, and over 150 replies in three to four days.
Whether it will get an invitation from the Cannes Film Festival is another topic for speculation. AFP mentions "Thirst" and Bong Joon-ho's "Mother - 2009" as potential Korean invitees. The decision will be made in late April or early May.
"Thirst", follows Park's last movie after a two-year interval and is a melodrama about an illicit love affair between a priest who becomes a vampire after getting a blood transfusion from an unknown person and the wife of his friend.
"You get a glimpse of a thirst for forbidden love, the moral dilemma that a person goes through under extreme circumstances", Park explains. "A priest is a sacred, and sacrificing, figure, but in the movie, he can only survive on the blood of others. I wanted to express the angst tha... |More
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| "A Frozen Flower" Sold to 7 Countries (Source) |
2009/02/13 |
Korean historical film "A Frozen Flower" was sold to seven countries at the European Film Market held during the reputed Berlin International Film Festival. The film's Korean distributor, Showbox, announced that the film was sold to Spain, Czechoslovakia, Thailand, Russia, Turkey, Singapore and Brazil. At the American Film Market held prior to the one in Berlin, it was sold to three other countries - Japan, Germany and the Benelux Economic Union, consisting of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxemburg. Showbox said that foreign buyers were captivated by beautiful photography and the subject matter, which dealt with the forbidden love between the king and his chief bodyguard.
Directed by Yoo Ha and starring Jo In-seong and Joo Jin-mo, this visually stunning historical movie set against the last days of the Goryeo Dynasty was released late last year and is still going strong, nothing up four million in ticket sales so far. ... |More
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