Jealousy Is My Middle Name (Movie - 2002)

Six filmmakers confront the struggle of the second time

Source | 2009/10/22 | 0 comments | Permalink |

'These budding directors shot their first films when Korean cinema was at its peak, so it's no wonder they now feel pressure'. -PIFF programmer

The "sophomore slump" refers to when a second effort fails to meet the standards or expectations of the first. It affects bands, performers and artists of all types - and movie directors are no exception.

Six emerging Korean directors discussed the pressure and the anxiety they felt while making their second films, as well as the challenges of dealing with the changing landscape of filmmaking in Korea at "Open Talk No. 2" during the Pusan International Film Festival, which closed its nine-day run last Friday.

The six directors - Park Chan-ok, Lee Song-hee-il, Lee Seong-han, Lee Hae-joon, Kim Tae-sik and Kim Dong-won-I - first gained recognition for their debut features at previous Pusan film festivals, and returned to this year's event with their second works.

"I feel like I keep growing through filmmaking, even though growing up is...| More

"Paju" To Be Released Oct 29

Source | 2009/10/22 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Korean distributor MK Pictures is to release PARK Chan-ok's second feature, "Paju", which recently had its World Premiere in competition at the Pusan International Film Festival where it won the NETPAC award. A release date on select screens across the nation is set for October 29.

Starring LEE Seon-gyoon ("Sa-kwa"), SEO Woo ("Crush and Blush"), Sim I-yeong, and Kim Bo-kyeong, it is an atmospheric tale of a schoolgirl (SEO) in love with her sister's husband (LEE). When her sister dies mysteriously, she suspects him of murder and complex emotions arise between them.

The film played to positive and highly impressed reviews during the festival with SEO's performance a highlight. The Hollywood Reporter wrote that "Seo delivers one of the most believable depictions of conflicted female emotion as has ever been put on film in Korea".

Screen International said of director PARK, "This should help to cement Park's reputation as one of Korea's most talented art-house directors" ...| More

An illicit love affair mixed with mystery

Source | 2009/10/15 | 0 comments | Permalink |

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

Pusan Int'l Film Festival to Kick Off in early October

Source | 2009/10/01 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Make your way to the southern port city of Busan for the 14th Pusan International Film Festival (Oct. 8 - 16).

It will be held on the biggest scale ever this year, featuring 355 films from 70 nations. With a budget expansion of nearly one billion won bringing the total up to 9.95 billion, the coast is clear for Korea's largest film festival to sail into harbor early next month.

The opener for this year is the Korean film "Good Morning President", an abridged version of the politics and lives of three different presidents, directed by Jang Jin and starring Korea's major heartthrob Jang Dong-gun and two veteran actors Lee Soon-jae and Ko Doo-sim. It's been three years since Busan selected a local film for its curtain raiser.

The closing film is "The Message" by Gao Qunshu and Chen Kuo-fu, and is a spy thriller movie set in China in 1942 during the war against Japan. It stars Zhou Xun, Lee Bingbing, Zhang Hanyu and Huang Xiaoming.

Some Korean films that are yet to hit local th...| More

PARK Chan-ok's Long Awaited 'Paju' Screens at Pusan

Source | 2009/10/01 | 0 comments | Permalink |

PARK Chan-ok's long awaited follow up to "Jealousy is my Middle Name" (2002) is to show at this year's Pusan International Film Festival. Jealousy, PARK's debut film, was well received at Pusan and also went on to play at the Rotterdam Film Festival.

The new film "Paju" a dark drama about prohibitive love stars the usually gentile LEE Seon-gyoon better known for his romantic/comic role in TV gender bending drama "Coffee Prince" and movies such as "Romantic Island" (2008). LEE's dark love interest is played by new comer actress Seo Woo. The film reveals what happens when a woman falls for her late sister's husband.

Director PARK has spent 7 years in development on "Paju" and the film is due for general release this October.

David Oxenbridge (KOFIC)...| More