Programmers' Choice at Pusan Film Festival

This year's Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) shows a total of 245 movies from 63 different countries, with 64 movies being shown for the first time at the festival. For those who will have difficult time deciding what to see, here are some movies that the festival's four programmers say you shouldn't miss.


Crossing the Line (2006), U.K.

Directed by Daniel Gordon, the documentary tells the story of Comrade Joe, an American soldier who defected to North Korea in 1962. It is the third documentary related to North Korea by the British director, who was the first foreigner to shoot a documentary in Pyongyang. His previous two documentaries "The Game of Their Lives" (2002) and "A State of Mind" (2004) are acclaimed for their portrayal of ordinary people in North Korea, apart from any political stance.

The White Silk Dress (2006), Vietnam

Directed by Huynh Luu, the film is about a poor family in Vietnam in the 1960s. Set against a backdrop of deep-rooted traditional culture, each character survives a passionate tangle of love affairs and emotional drama, and dreams of a better life and future.

Illusion (2006), Philippines

Directed by Paolo Villaluna and Ellen Ramos, the film is a story of a young man who learns about love from a beautiful woman. Miguel visits his painter father but meets a nude model who is supposed to work for his father. As he pretends to be his father, he develops a serious relationship with her.

Eternal Summer (2006), Taiwan

Directed by Leste Chen, the gay-themed film revolves around two boys named Shane and Jonathan, whose relationship evolves into something forbidden. Jonathan guards and embraces Shane in his world, and all seems natural until lonely Carrie comes into their life.

"Driving With My Wife's Lover" (2006), Korea

Directed by Kim Tae-sik, the film revolves around a man who wants to punish his wife and her secret lover. Knowing that his wife's lover is a taxi driver, he intentionally gets into his taxi and asks for a long-distance drive. But as he gets to know his wife's lover, he soon realizes that his wife and the man might be really in love.

"People Crossing The River" (2006), Korea

Directed by Kim Deok-cheol, the documentary sheds light on the lives of people in South Korea and Japan, who have many things in common and share many parts of their history. Kim, an ethnic Korean living in Japan, filmed the documentary over six years.