Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (Movie - 2002)

Park Chan-wook claims jury prize at Cannes

Source | 2009/05/25 | Permalink |

Cannes has once again smiled on Park Chan-wook, even if he wasn't at the top of the award list this time around.

The internationally-acclaimed Korean director snatched the Jury Prize at the 62nd Cannes film festival Sunday with "Thirst" (Bakjwi). Park shared the third-highest honor with British director Andrea Arnold, who was honored for "Fish Tank".

This is the second time the Korean director has been honored at Cannes. He won the Grand Jury Prize, the second-highest award, in 2004 with the film "Old Boy".

"Filmmaking is a sincere joy from the very beginning to the end, and the last phase of that joy is to be in the Cannes film festival", Park said at the awards ceremony.

"I'd like to share this honor with my very dear friend and true collaborator, Song Kang-ho", he added.

Song plays the lead in Thirst, a thriller featuring a priest-turned-vampire grappling with his new identity and thirst for blood and sex.

Park stepped into the limelight with his 2000 hit "JSA - Jo...| More

'Thirst' thrills, but can it conquer Cannes?

Source | 2009/05/22 | Permalink |

When director Park Chan-wook's latest movie, "Thirst", hit local theaters on April 30, reactions from the audience were clearly divided between those who thought Park had fulfilled the expectations that followed his previous films versus those who thought the movie's plot and images were too provocative.

Yet the movie, called "Bakjwi" in Korean, drew 170,000 viewers just on its opening day, a record among films released this year, and the number rose at breakneck speed to reach 2 million last weekend.

In fact, Thirst was the talk of the town even before its release because it is one of the 20 films in competition for the Palme d'Or, the top prize at Cannes, and was touted as another critical hit for the internationally-acclaimed director.

Those gathered at Cannes certainly seem to be enthralled. After its gala screening there, it was reported to have received an eight-minute standing ovation.

Thirst tells the story of Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho), a devout Catholic priest who b...| More

Park's 'Thirst' Is Riveting

Source | 2009/04/26 | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Park Chan-wook's latest work "Thirst", like other great movies, makes you forget you're watching one, and you won't be able to stop it from shaking up every cell in your body unless you dart for the exit. Park-brand films are undoubtedly an acquired taste, and this vampire-priest story, slated to compete in Cannes next month, is certainly not for those with weak stomachs. Nor is it, despite being replete with tasteful humor only Song Kang-ho ("Secret Sunshine") can pull off and being the first South Korean film to be co-produced by a major Hollywood studio, for those seeking light-hearted entertainment.

This reporter admits having had to close her eyes and plug her ears for some of the extreme scenes, but still had the ultimate audiovisual experience discovering ironic amusement and empathizing with the protagonist's frenetic actions, disillusionment and despair, listless surrender and dissipation, and, finally, spiritual transformation.

In this...| More

Park Chan-wook Explores Self, Dream in 'Thirst'

2009/03/31 | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

Recently, celebrated cineastes like Lee Chang-dong ("Secret Sunshine") and top stars Jeon Do-yeon and "Rain", among many others, were seen visiting the set of Park Chan-wook's much talked-about feature, "Thirst". The film's trailer was revealed for the first time before the press, Tuesday, in Seoul, before its release April 30.

It was indeed novel to see the all-too-familiar, yet distinctly foreign, theme of Universal Pictures opening the impressionable clip. "Thirst" is the first South Korean film to be co-produced and distributed by a major Hollywood studio.

"I'm not so sure how it happened", Park told the crowded press room regarding Korean giant CJ Entertainment's partnership with Universal. In a video clip provided by organizers, Universal's Focus Features CEO James Shamus said he was "desperate to in some small way be part of this incredible filmmaking genius' work".

"I don't expect big results like grossing high in the American box off...| More

Danny Boyle Asked to Direct Lady Vengeance Remake

Source | 2009/01/14 | Permalink |

Reports of remakes of PARK Chan-wook's vengeance trilogy films have been headline news in the entertainment industry over the past year. The latest comes from the mouth of director Danny Boyle (Golden Globe winner for Slum Dog Millionaire) who told Empire Online that he has been asked to direct the remake of PARK's "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance".

The film, PARK's final installment in the revenge trilogy, made news earlier last year when actress Charlize Theron announced she would produce the project and take the lead role (play by LEE Young-ae in the original).

Boyle, who has won numerous awards for hits such as Trainspotting, The Beach, and 28 Days Later, was expected to direct The Bromeliad trilogy for Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks, but announced that the project had fallen through, making "Lady Vengeance" a serious possibility. Boyle added that he had just bought a DVD of PARK's first installment, "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance".

The news follows on reports late last year...| More