[HanCinema's Digest] Cinema Snippets

"Train to Busan" is a harsh critique of modern Korean society, Kim Jee-woon's new film "The Age of Shadows" is Korea's official Oscar submission, watch a 2D animation by Yoodowon on the power and purpose of blinds, and KOBIZ's latest infographic features some of the country's most famous films about ghosts.

"S. Korea's Hit Zombie Film Is Also A Searing Critique Of Korean Society"

Yeo Sang-ho's zombie thriller "Train to Busan" dominated the Korea summer by accumulating over 11.5 million admissions, but what does the film say about modern Korean society? In this interesting piece by Elise Hu on NPR, you'll read about how the film acts as a blistering critique of Korean society and the danger of mass manipulation and selfishness. "Korea changed a lot in the last few years. We have to recognize we are pretty selfish", Yeon says. "And we have to change".

...READ ON NPR

'"The Age of Shadows" Chosen as South Korea's Oscar Submission, Upsetting "The Handmaiden"'

South Korea's official submission to the Academy Awards may come as a surprise to some given the quality and success of Park Chan-wook's "The Handmaiden", but it's Kim Jee-woon's historical action film "The Age of Shadows" (starring Song Kang-ho and Gong Yoo) that will be carrying the mantle for country at next year's Oscar ceremony.

...READ ON INDIEWIRE

"South Korea-based animator Yoodowon's lighthearted salute to the household blind"

South Korean animator Yoodowon from Seoul has created this unusual animation that "explores the anonymity and protection the humble household blind gives us". The 2D film uses silhouettes of repeating patterns to probe the power and purpose of blinds on the borderlands between public and private.

...WATCH ON ITS NICE THAT

"Come on, Ghost, You Wanna Fight?"

KOBIZ's latest infographic highlights a few films that have featured ghosts in them. As the article notes, the "horror season" that is summer has come to an end, but why didn't they perform in 2016? There are many manifestations of ghost in Korean cinema, and in this post, a number of the more popular ones are mentioned. What are some of your favourite Korean ghost stories? "A Tale of Two Sisters" (2013)? "White: The Melody of the Curse" (2011)?

...READ ON KOBIZ