| Three takes on undiscovered Tokyo territories (Source) |
2009/05/07 |
Some cities in the world are simply unlike anywhere else. Take Tokyo, with its seething masses of people passing beneath an endless fog of neon and noise. Yet surprisingly few non-Japanese filmmakers take advantage of this place, where more people live than anywhere else in the world.
So it's exciting to see three non-Japanese filmmakers - Michel Gondry, Leos Carax and Bong Joon-ho - present their portraits of the city with the anthology film "Tokyo!" in the vein of "Paris, je t'aime".
The subject matter of Gondry's opening act, "Interior Design", is right in line with his other film, "The Science of Sleep" - about living with the quirks of an artist. Akira (Ryo Kase) is a budding filmmaker who comes to Tokyo with his girlfriend Hiroko (Ayako Fujitani) to make it big. But Akira mocks her for having no ambition - and it takes a bizarre transformation and a new home to find someone to appreciate her.
Anyone who's tried to find an apartment in Japan will nod at the parade of tiny... |More
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| Korean Films Bookend San Francisco IAAFF (Source) |
2009/02/25 |
Korean films will take center-stage at this year's 27th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF). LEE Yoon-ki's latest drama "My Dear Enemy", starring Cannes Best Actress winner JEON Do-yeon ("Secret Sunshine"), will kick off the festival March 12.
The official closing film will be Korean-American director KIM So-yong's second feature, "Treeless Mountain" on March 19, although the festival continues screenings until the 22nd. KIM's sophomore effort is her first shot entirely in Korea and tells the tale of two young sisters shuffled off from mother to aunt to grandparents. It has won numerous prizes including best film at the Dubai Int'l Film Festival.
Opener, "My Dear Enemy" also stars HA Jeong-woo, one of the most visible stars of 2008. It tells the tale of woman (JEON) collecting a debt from her ex-boyfriend (HA) who takes her on an enlightening journey through Seoul as he borrows cash from various friends to pay her off. Actor HA came to SFIA... |More
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| Heo Jin-ho Boards Chinese Omnibus Film (Source) |
2008/12/31 |
South Korean auteur Heo Jin-ho will direct a segment in the Chinese feature "Chengdu I Love You", along with Hong Kong director Fruit Chan and China's Cui Jian. The project was inspired by the resilience of the city and its inhabitants in the aftermath of the major earthquake which struck Sichuan province and its epicenter Chengdu on May 12, 2008.
Heo, Chan and Cui will each direct a themed 30-minute segment. Heo, known in China for his moving melodramas, "Christmas in August" and "April Snow", will handle the segment on love, while Chan takes on family life, and Cui friendship.
The three directors visited Chengdu for five days last December and are currently writing scripts based on their observations. The project, produced by Chen Weiming, expects to begin shooting this April.
Heo, who was impressed by the Sichuan people's hope and resilience, told the Chinese media, "The May 12 earthquake broke many hearts in South Korea, too, and it is the reason I joined this projec... |More
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| Guitarist Lee to Perform For Fans (Source) |
2008/10/20 |
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Prepare for a romantic evening with the jazzy guitar licks of Korea's best guitarist Lee Byeong-woo.
Lee, a successful guitarist and music producer for various dramas and movies, is holding his 2008 Lee Byeong-woo Guitar Concert for fans.
The 43-year-old musician has been in the industry for more than 20 years, and has gained popularity with his work in various areas, from drama and films to orchestras.
At this concert, guests will be able to watch Lee play the "dual guitar" - a guitar that has two necks. This special guitar was designed by Lee himself, allowing the player to obtain two different sounds. One neck was designed as a classical version, while the other acoustic.
The guitarist will offer his favorite numbers from his albums, including "Bird" and "Voyage" along with a classic guitar concerto. Guests will also have the chance to listen live to his famous numbers that appeared in hit movies. The original soundtracks from the movi... |More
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| Nearly 40 movies lined up for October release (Source) |
2008/09/20 |
It appears there will be no problem deciding what to watch this fall. Nearly 40 local and foreign films are being released in theaters next month.
From Korea, the firsts to open at cinemas include "Modern Boy" and "Go Go 70s", which feature adventures during the Japanese colonial rule and the 1970s. Both films open Oct. 2.
Following the line-up is the phantasmal tale of love "Dream" on Oct. 9, and "Crush and Blush" about a school teacher fighting for affection. "My wife got married" about a too-good-for-me-wife opens on Oct. 23.
"Sa-kwa" meaning apology in Korean and starring award-winning actress Moon So-ri is being released on Oct. 16, four years after its final production.
"Heartbreak Library", an unusual mix of thriller and melodrama, opens Oct. 23, followed by action-thriller "Mandate" and independent film "Summer whispers" later in the month.
"Tokyo!" a triptych feature set in Tokyo, Japan, will premier during October, and on Oct. 30, "26 years diary" opens, based ... |More
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