| 'Oishi Man': Magic of Love, Youth (Source) |
2009/02/19 |
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Franz Kafka once said that "literature must be the axe for the frozen sea within us", and good movies, like books and other works of art, sometimes have such inspirational power. "Oishi Man" is yet another small jewel of a film by Kim Jeong-joong, and despite its prevalent imagery of the frozen sea, the youthful romance seethes with warmth.
Perhaps love and youth compliment each other like no other pair can. Kim broke hearts with "HERs", set in snow-covered Alaskan plains. This time, the director takes viewers to the ice floes of northern Japan. In "Oishi Man", two young starlets ― South Korean model-turned-actor Lee Min-ki and Japanese heroine Chizuru Ikewaki ― make music and magic.
Hyeon-seok (Lee), a once promising musician, suffers an ear problem and ends up teaching tone-deaf "ajummas" (aunties) at a local singing class. The film shines upon hidden talents of the pretty-faced actor, as he croons rock tunes and ballads effortless... |More
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| Film Festival Spotlights Korean Diaspora (Source) |
2008/08/26 |
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Outside of the Korean Peninsula, some 7 million ethnic Koreans ― labeled Joseon or Goryeo "saram", Corean or Korean depending on geography ― dot the globe. A film festival aims to bring the Korean Diaspora into scope and inspire communication and understanding among the different branches: the 4th Corean Network Film Festival (CNFF) presents 24 films from eight countries beginning Thursday through Sunday at Indiespace in Myeongdong, central Seoul.
The festival allows the audience to explore different facets of the Korean experience through films that are either about the Diaspora or are made by directors of Korean heritage. "Neither Fish, Nor Fowl" (2002, Germany) by Matthias Keilich will open the festival Thursday evening. Michael, adopted by his German family at a young age, is constantly searching for his identity, not feeling neither fully German nor Korean. When he falls in love with Jin-hi, a Korean immigrant, his ignorance of the... |More
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| Jeonju Wraps with Awards and More (Source) |
2007/05/08 |
South Korea's best showcase of independent and art-house cinema, the Jeonju International Film Festival, closed May 4th with the Indie Vision Woosuk award of US$10 000 going to Chinese director YING Liang's "The Other Half".
The 9-day festival screened 185 films from 37 countries, this year selling 77 258 tickets, averaging an 80% occupancy rate for theaters, up from 70% last year. The public-friendly festival brought in a total of 76 guest visits to screenings to allow Q & A sessions with audiences.
The JJ-Star Award of US$10 000 for best film in the 'Korean Cinema on the Move' section, went to KIM Jeong-joong's "HERs". The HD feature debut presents the short love stories of four women all named "Gina" or the four love stories of one woman. Set in California, Las Vegas, Alaska, and a small rural town in Korea, Gina/the Ginas pass through these places, longing for someone, and experiencing the passions of love and the pains of loss.
Seongbuk Port by SHIN Min-jae won t... |More
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