Jenny, Juno (Movie - 2004)

A Clueless Fantasy of Parenthood

Source | 2005/02/10 | 0 comments | Permalink |

by Seung-Jae Lee


The controversial can of worms "Jenny, Juno" has finally popped its lid: the second film by director Kim Ho-joon of the famed "My Little Bride", "Jenny, Juno" was revealed for the first time at a press screening on February 1.

The movie, which depicts a 15-year-old middle school student's pregnancy and delivery, initially received a rating of "18 years or over" by the Korean Media Rating Board, but the rating was lowered to "15 years or over" after an appeal for reconsideration, triggering a fierce debate on the ethics and freedom of movie-making. Over 970,000 people have already visited the film's official website ( http://www.jj2005.com ) as of February 10, which opened to viewers less than a month ago on January 17. The website bulletin board is teeming with postings that support or denounce the film's controversial subject matter.

To begin with the conclusion, "Jenny, Juno" belies the uproar surrounding it by being calm to the point of blandness. Conf...| More

Rating Board Deems Teen Film Too Adult

Source | 2005/01/04 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter

The rating board for local films is finding the content and posters for recent movies about teenagers in sexual or adult situations to be too adult for younger viewers.

The upcoming film "Jenny, Juno" tells of a couple in middle school who give a birth to a baby. Given the taboo nature of its subject, it seemed natural that it got a rating of 18 and over.

However, other recent films about teenagers dealing with the adult situation of marriage, such as "Orin Sinbu (My Little Bride)" and "Yogosaeng Sijibbonaegi (Marrying School Girl)", were given the rating of 12 and over and 15 and over, respectively.

Showeast, the production company of "Jenny, Juno", said that they avoided showing overtly sexual scenes and tried to honestly depict the issues and problems faced by teenagers in real life. The company has requested that the Korea Media Rating Board (KMRB) reconsider its rating of the film.

However, an official from the rating board said tha...| More

Young-teen actresses strut innocent looks on screen

Source | 2004/11/16 | 0 comments | Permalink |

When 17-year-old Moon Geun-yeong starred in "My Little Bride", a romantic comedy, released in April, few expected she would steal the show. Her counterpart Kim Rae-won was a sure to hog the spotlight as a proven heartthrob. But it turned out that young Moon out-charmed her co-star.
Moon is now a part of something much bigger: a wave of young-teen female stars featured on the silver screen. The concept usually refers to those in the 13 to 15 age group.

Although Moon does not strictly fit the definition, her image as an irresistible kid is inspiring other producers and directors to recruit young actresses.

For instance, "Lovely Rivals" ("Yeoseonsang vs. Yeojeja") which will be released tomorrow nationwide, features Lee Se-yeong as an elementary school student who confronts her teacher played by Yeom Jeong-a. Lee is not a mere supporting character; her role is on equal footing with veteran actress Yeom.

Lee already showcased her talent in "When I was Nine" and "Sweet Sixti...| More