| Kim Yoon-jin Sings in 'Harmony' Onscreen (Source) |
2010/01/12 |
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Not long after "The Executioner", the first movie to be filmed in a real prison, and "Actresses", featuring a rare all-female cast, comes "Harmony", about women living behind bars in tune to a different synchronization.
Kim Yoon-jin returns to the local screen two years after starring in the hit thriller "Seven Days". The "Lost" star has shed her serious image to wear an unfading smile and a blue jail uniform in the tearjerker family drama.
"It's a movie for which we had to reshoot scenes because we cried too much", the actress said Monday in Seoul following the film's press preview. Produced by "Haeundae" director Yoon Je-kyoon and directed by newcomer Kang Dae-gyoo, the movie is indeed designed to draw out tears ― and despite some oddly placed musical moments and mainstream superficiality, it works.
Kim stars as Jeong-hye, who, after killing her abusive husband, is sentenced to serve 10 years in Cheongju Women's Prison. She gives birt... |More
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| New Movies: "The Executioner", "The Relation of Face, Mind and Love" (Source) |
2009/11/05 |
Oh Jae-gyeong is a rookie prison officer.
Everything here feels new to him.
But the prisoners give Jae-gyeong an unfriendly welcome on his first day at work.
Bae Jong-ho, a veteran officer, sits down with Jae-gyeong and gives him guidance.
And then Jang Yong-du arrives on the scene.
It turns out that he is a death row inmate who committed multiple murders.
Another death row inmate Lee Seong-hwan, who has deeply repented his past crimes, builds a friendly relationship with senior officer Kim.
But an unexpected order falls on their shoulders.
An execution for the first time in 12 years.
No one wants to get their hands dirty, but Jong-ho steps up to the plate.
The rest of them decide to leave it up to luck and select the execution staff.
Tension runs high among the officers.
Death row inmate Seong-hwan is the first on the list and officer Kim feels a wave of mixed emotions.
"The Executioner" is a film that will stir the hearts and minds of audiences.
And are you ready to ... |More
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| Yoon Kye-sang's 'Leftist' Remarks Cause Online Stir (Source) |
2009/11/03 |
By Cho Jae-hyon
Staff Reporter
Actor Yoon Kye-sang, a former member of now-disbanded idol boy group G.O.D., is causing a stir on the Internet for his remarks that the Korean movie circle is dominated by "leftists".
In a recent interview with GQ Korea magazine, Yoon said, "The Korean movie circle is basically left-leaning, and very hostile to (an idol-turned actor)". He also said, "What I mean by leftists is that they are very closed. I don't care even if the word causes misunderstandings. I'm saying that as I myself experienced it".
However, as his remarks ignite disputes among Internet users, Yoon posted Monday an apologetic letter under the title of "A Shameful Day" on an online cafe of his fans.
"I'm really ashamed of my ignorance. I'm sorry to my fans", Yoon said. "Frankly speaking, I have wrongly understood the meaning of the word `leftist'. The word has no political connotation. And at the same time, I don't have any prejudice against the movie circle".
Yoon also ... |More
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| Yoon Kye-sang Determined to Gain Recognition as Actor (Source) |
2009/10/30 |
"I wanted to stay free of any thoughts when filming 'The Executioner'", said Yoon Kye-sang, who is known for his hard work in Chungmuro. Yoon admits that he is hard on himself because he wanted to receive recognition for his acting skills. He said, "I wanted people to recognize me as an actor".
To Yoon, being known only as a former member of the idol boy band G.O.D. is great pressure. That is also the reason he rarely appeared on variety shows. He wanted to be known as an actor, not as an entertainer.
Yoon debuted on the big screen in 2004 in Byeon Yeong-joo's movie "Flying Boys". It has already been six years since his debut. Yoon says he has walked a difficult road because of young passion.
In 2004, G.O.D. was embroiled in a scandal over its contract with its agency. That was also when Yoon received a movie script through his agency. It was the script for "Flying Boys". Director Byeon attached no importance whatsoever to Yoon's top celebrity status back then and gave him thr... |More
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| 'Executioner' Looks at Death Row
(Source) |
2009/10/22 |
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
There have been a good number of movies that deal with the agony of being on death row or feature capital punishment as the (un)just consequence of crime.
"The Executioner", which premiered at the 14th Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF) earlier this month, however, delves into the actual process of the death penalty, which involves more than just a quick snap of the neck and a dead body (hanging is still the method used in South Korea).
In his feature directorial debut, Choi Jin-ho ("Reunion", which competed at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival) invites viewers to step into the shoes of prison staff who must carry out the actual deed.
The film poses some big ethical questions but manages to be clear cut in eliciting specific emotional responses from the audience. Nevertheless, "Executioner" gets caught in a sort of muddled gray zone; it's too formulaically mainstream for arthouse cinema yet, albeit being rep... |More
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