Pruning the Grapevine in Competition at Karlovy Vary

Korean film "Pruning the Grapevine" (2006), by Min Byeong-hoon, will screen in the Official Selection – Competition section of the 42nd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. The event which is held each year in the picturesque valley also known as Karlsbad, in the western province of Bohemia, Czech Republic, opens on June 29th for a nine-day run. A total of six Korean features will screen in various sections of the festival.

Grapevine director MIN is known to Karlovy Vary programmers, after his first film, "The Flight of the Bee" (1998, co-directed by Jamshed Usmonov) and his second, "Let's Not Cry", were screened at previous editions of the festival with the latter winning both a FIPRESCI award and a main jury Special Mention in 2002. Grapevine lead Seo Jang-won is also a familiar face at Karlovy Vary after his screen debut "The Unforgiven" was shown at last year's event.

"Pruning the Grapevine" was the recipient of KOFIC's Art Film Production Support program in 2005 and its Marketing Support for Diversity program in 2006. The film tells the story of a catholic seminary student whose path to priesthood is complicated by a troubled relationship with his girlfriend. He follows his rector's advice and enters a monastary but just when his fate seems clear, a young female novice resembling his ex-girlfriend awakens his slumbering emotions.

The film, which will have its International Premier at the festival, was produced by Cine Space with Film Messenger handling its international sales. The director and lead actor will both attend the festival, while KOFIC will hold a special Korean Film Night reception on July 3rd.

Other films screening at the festival are Lee Chang-dong's Cannes winner "Secret Sunshine", Kim Ki-duk's minimalist "Breath", Sin Dong-il's artful chamber-piece "My Friend and His Wife", Park Cheol-hee's black and blind comedy-thriller "No Mercy for the Rude", and Bong Joon-ho's box office monster "The Host".

Nigel D'Sa (KOFIC)