Modern Korean Cinema

Breezy Rom-Com A Wedding Invitation Rings A Little Hollow (分手合约, 2013)

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:55:00 +0000

In the film business these days, China seems to be the word on everyone lips as its market is in the midst of a breathless expansion. However, strict quotas on foreign imports mean that only 35 international films get to share in the spoils. To get around this system, a number of foreign companies have begun co-producing films with China, though the results thus far have been mixed. The Korean media giant CJ Entertainment has been investing in the mainland for quite some time but they have just scored their biggest hit with the romantic comedy A Wedding Invitation, their first fully-produced film for the Chinese market. Click to read more»

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Edinburgh 2013: Introduction to Korean Showcase

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:36:00 +0000

Part of Connor McMorran's coverage for MKC of the Edinburgh International Film Festival (June 19-30, 2013). Following last year’s retrospective of the works of the long overlooked Japanese director Shinji Somai, Edinburgh International Film Festival’s artistic director Chris Fujiwara now brings focus onto two likewise overlooked aspects of global cinema: the films of Sweden and Korea. Film festivals are an interesting concept as they bring films from all over the world to one particular town or city, allowing local cineastes to explore and discover a wide variety of directors and works. Yet, unfortunately, their main flaw is often their attempt to house such a diverse range of cinematic voices over the relatively short space of one...

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Korean Box Office: Man of Steel Not Quite Great Enough for Secretly (06/14-06/16, 2013)

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:37:00 +0000

Business was up again this past weekend as just over 2.5 million tickets were sold, though this was largely a result of two blockbusters ducking it out for the top spot. Each scored over one million, a achievement in itself though not the first time it's happened. Meanwhile, the local market share stood at 45%, ecent given the time of year and on par with last year's figure. However, with only two Korean titles in the top 10, one wonders what that figure might look like with a stronger mix of local fare on the marquees. Click to read more»

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New Korean Films: A Short Film Looking Up to the Big Shots (2013 Week 24)

noreply@blogger.com (Fabien Schneider) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 01:45:00 +0000

You Are More Than Beautiful (그녀의 연기) The father of Cheol-soo, who lives on Jeju Island, is about to die before he seeing his son get married. To fulfill his dream, Cheol-soo calls for the help of a young woman from Seoul, Yeong-hee, who will pretend to be his fiancee. While she is brushing up on the details of their fictional story in the car, Cheol-soo receives a call informing him that his father had been found unconscious. They hurry to get to the hospital and discover the father in a coma. Yeong-hee decides to still act the lie. Click to read more»

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Korean Box Office: Secretly Greatly Not-so-Secret in Great Debut (06/07-06/09, 2013)

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 02:04:00 +0000

The fortunes of the Korean film industry took a dramatic turn this weekend following the release of a major local film which set a slew of new records. Business was booming with almost 3 million admissions recorded over the frame, a significant jump over last year's 2.2 million and almost twice as much as last week. However, the better news was that the local market share lept to 77% (compared with 54% in 2012), following a spell when the domestic industry was having difficulty competing with Hollywood. TitleRelease DateMarket ShareWeekendTotalScreens 1Secretly Greatly13/06/0568.90%2,064,5863,491,5071341 2Star Trek: Into Darkness (us)13/05/3011.30%284,1351,261,090412 3Horror Stories 213/06/055.60%172,776347,311337 4Furious...

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Get Ready for 'Revenge Week' on MKC!

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 06:29:00 +0000

A while back we held a 'Jopok Week' on MKC, focusing on Korea's colorful output of gangster cinema. With reviews, features and guests galore, it was the most fun and engaging week we ever had. It's high time we put on a new event so I'm thrilled to announce that at the end of this month (June 24-30) it'll be 'Revenge Week' here on MKC. Perhaps more than any other genre, the revenge thriller or drama is ubiquitous with Korean cinema, particularly in the eyes of foreign viewers, many of whom were introduced to the nation's output through classic vengeful fare such Oldboy (2003) and A Bittersweet Life (2005). From Park Chan-wook's highly stylized Vengeance Trilogy and commercial films such as The Man From Nowhere (2010) to independent...

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Jeonju 2013: Experimental Echo of Dragon Explores Myths and Emotion (용문, 2013)

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:23:00 +0000

Part of MKC's coverage of the 14th Jeonju International Film Festival. When it comes to what we expect to see on screen, it’s worth considering sometimes just how strict we can be. Though we demand filmmakers to be creative, our definition of originality is actually quite narrow. As the lights dim and projectors roll, we wait for characters to show up and guide us along through their world and regale, sadden or shock us with their stories. Like many others I often lament the lack of ingenuity that plagues much of modern cinema but stick me in front of a film that does away with all standard forms of narrative (as we know them today) and suddenly I’m at a loss to process what’s unspooling before me. Click to read more»

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New Korean Films: North Korean Spy To Save South Korean Market (2013 Week 23)

noreply@blogger.com (Fabien Schneider) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 04:45:00 +0000

Secretly Greatly (은밀하게 위대하게) Ryu-hwan is a North Korean elite spy trained to kill. He was sent two years ago as a sleeper agent in Seoul. He lives in a small apartment owned by an old lady, for whom he also works. He knows everyone in the neighborhood but is only seen as that naive young guy with the mind of a child. Suddenly two other spies arrive in the area: Hae-rang pretends to be a rookie guitar player in a rock band, and Hae-jin a regular student. Ryu-hwan helps them to settle and get used to their new life, until they are ordered to commit suicide after a change of power in North Korea. Click to read more»

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MKC Thought Leaders' Corner: North Korea in South Korean Cinema (May 2013)

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 00:34:00 +0000

North Korea has been in the news a lot lately for its latest round of belligerent actions. Many believe that Western media has been exaggerating the danger the communist state poses to South Korea's national security. I can't say that I've noticed any especial alarm among the local populace yet there's no denying that the oppressive regime casts a long shadow over the country. Cinema is just one of the places where this is readily evident, so this month I asked the experts: Has Korean cinema's representation of North Korea changed over the years? Click to read more»

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Korean Box Office: Star Trek Leads Hollywood Onslaught (05/31-06/02, 2013)

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 02:10:00 +0000

Local fare continues to be overwhelmed at the Korean box office as it scored a meagre 17% market share compared with a much healthier 54% last year. What's more, despite a number of blockbusters on offer, business was also down with only 1.69 million tickets sold overall, down from 2012's 2.04 million during the same weekend. Click to read more»

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New Korean Films: Behold, K-pop Star in Approach! (2013 Week 22)

noreply@blogger.com (Fabien Schneider) — Fri, 31 May 2013 00:44:00 +0000

Rockin' on Heaven's Door (뜨거운 안녕) A K-pop star, Chung-ui, caused a scandal by being involved in a brawl after consuming too much alcohol, and so sees himself condemned to 300 hours of volunteer work in a hospital institute welcoming terminally ill patients. These people do not comply with the regulations, and the institute is threatened with closure. Only Anna still tries to maintain order, and she doesn’t hesitate to yell at Chung-ui as he always tries to do the bare minimum. When he comes upon patients rehearsing in their own band, he decides to personally get invested to help them improve. Click to read more»

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Moving to the City: Urbanization in The Ball Shot by a Midget (난장이가 쏘아올린 작은 공, 1981)

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Thu, 30 May 2013 04:11:00 +0000

Korean Cinema, especially when at its best, frequently explores pressing themes and social realities to thrilling effect. The deeper I delve into classic Korean cinema, the clearer it becomes that this has always been the case. Throughout Korean film history, the only real difference is that the issues mined by filmmakers have changed over time. One such trait has been encroaching urbanization and among the best examples of its representation on screen is Lee Won-se's The Ball Shot by a Midget (1981). Click to read more»

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Jeonju 2013: Lee Sang-woo's Thrilling EMERGENCY EXIT is a Poetic Gutpunch (비상구, 2013)

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Wed, 29 May 2013 08:50:00 +0000

Every year, the Jeonju International Film Festival commissions a pair of omnibus features. The longest-running and most famous of these is the Jeonju Digital Project, which has featured a number of star Asian directors over the years. The other is the Short! Short! Short! series, which focuses on young Korean directors helming experimental works. This year’s edition of the latter featured three shorts and four directors tasked with adapting the works of popular local writer Kim Young-ha. Based on Kim’s idiosyncratic stories, the works, each original in their own right, all featured a strong sense of style. Of course, as with many omnibuses, they didn’t all hit the mark. Lee Sang-woo’s opening segment Emergency Exit was my favorite of the...

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Bong Joon-ho to Set Sail as Producer with Sea Fog, Song Joong-ki in Talks to Star

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Wed, 29 May 2013 06:19:00 +0000

We're all eagerly anticipating Bong Joon-ho's post-apocalyptic sci-fi opus Snowpiercer but while we wait for him to put the finishing touches on his summer blockbuster, it seems the ace Korean director has set his sights on a new project. Bong's career as a producer looks to set sail with Sea Fog, a stowaway drama based on a 2007 play that is in turn drawn from real events circa 2001. Enormously popular Korean Idol Song Joong-ki (A Werewolf Boy) is said to be highly considering the lead role. Click to read more»

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New Korean Films: Save The Documentaries (2013 Week 21)

noreply@blogger.com (Fabien Schneider) — Mon, 27 May 2013 08:57:00 +0000

Dancing Forest (춤추는 숲) At the heart of the temple of globalization and consumerism that is Seoul lies a village created by some irreducible citizens gathered around the mountain Seongmi, who have been sharing during the last 17 years the mad dream of wanting to live in communion with nature. But the hard urban development is threatening in 2010 to raze the mountain to build a school. The community tries to oppose it by all means. Click to read more»

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Korean Box Office: Furious 6 First with Franchise Best Opening (05/24-05/26, 2013)

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Mon, 27 May 2013 05:37:00 +0000

Summer's heating with yet another Hollywood tentpole platforming. However, business dipped significantly to 1.83 million admissions, down from last year's 2.24 million. The local market share was also down to 30%. Click to read more»

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Channeling the Classics: The Russian Novel (러시안 소설) 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:51:00 +0000

Though I scarcely have the time to read these days there are a few classic works of literature I always go back to. On the one hand the French Naturalists taught me morality and on the other the great Russian novels forced me to grapple with existentialism and taught me about love. Tolstoy, Dostoyesky, Pushkin, Lermontov, and more had the ability to tip the balance of life from one extreme to the next, all in the flick of a page. Leafing through ‘Anna Karenina’ was a two-week journey through the human kaleidoscope of love and suffering, while the brief weekend it took to absorb ‘A Hero of our Time’ was like a torrid love affair, which, like its protagonist, shone bright and brief. Click to read more»

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Korean Box Office: Iron Man 3 Makes It 4 During Crowded Weekend (05/17-05/19, 2013)

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Mon, 20 May 2013 03:02:00 +0000

Business was strong again during the mid-May holiday weekend but local fare still found itself at a loss to match Hollywood's stream of tentpoles. Total business came in at 2.56 million admissions, up from 2.07 last year. Meanwhile the local market share was at 40%, down from 62% a year ago. Click to read more»

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Jeonju 2013: The Ethereal Dear Dolphin Explores Guilt and Grief (환상속의 그대, 2013)

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Sun, 19 May 2013 01:19:00 +0000

Part of MKC's coverage of the 14th Jeonju International Film Festival. The most anticipated film of the Jeonju International Film Festival’s Korean Competition this year, Kang Ji-na’s feature Dear Dolphin, was also the most polished. With its themes of love, loss and loneliness, as well as its vibrant colors, strong mise-en-scene and well-judged flights of fancy, its appeal is universal. Click to read more»

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Magicians (마법사들, 2005)

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:47:00 +0000

(by refresh_daemon) Magicians started out as one of three short films in an omnibus produced for the Jeonju International Film Festival in 2005, following writer-director Song Il-gon's international acclaim with his films started with his remarkable debut Flower Island (2001). However, when making his short version for the film festival, director Song also make an extended 95-minute feature version bearing a remarkable restriction that the film be shot in one seamless take. Yet, rather than ending up as a mere gimmick, Magicians gains a stage-like abstraction at times without losing the intimacy of the camera, which turns the strong performances of its cast into an emotionally resonant meditation on grief and living in the aftermath...

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New Korean Films: Lotte and N.E.W. Join the Party (2013 Week 20)

noreply@blogger.com (Fabien Schneider) — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:58:00 +0000

Happiness for Sale (미나문방구) Kang Mi-na is making many envious with her position as a public servant in a municipal district office. But overnight, her father becomes injured after falling in his stationery store, and she is asked to take over the management of the shop. She has Ever since her childhood she has hated the store named after her and hopes to sell it as soon as possible to get to her dream job, but she doesn't count on its loyal customers, some elementary school students, who insist that the shop keeps its doors open Click to read more»

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The Grand Heist (바람과 함께 사라지다) 2012

noreply@blogger.com (rex baylon) — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:04:00 +0000

The heist film is a unique offshoot of the crime genre. It inhabits a region where the violence is all style, the risks are all calculated, and the group trumps the man. In this postmodern media-drenched world that we live in, the heist genre can probably lay claim to being the first to tear down the fourth wall and poke fun at the artifice of cinema. From Edwin S. Porter’s The Great Train Robbery to the wheeling-dealing hustler Danny Ocean from the Ocean’s Eleven franchise, viewers have been addicted to the hip style of the caper. Click to read more»

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Korean Box Office: Iron Man 3 Threepeats up Top (05/10-05/12, 2013)

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:15:00 +0000

Iron Man 3 stood strong for a third week but overall business took a dive as it fell under the two million mark, with only 1.8 million tickets sold. Good weather and a lack of strong new titles were likely to blame for the slow cinema traffic. That said the Korean market share shot up significantly to 33%, still not a great result compared to the past few months but nonetheless a slight increase over last year. Click to read more»

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A Look at Korean Comedy and Mr. XXX-Kisser (아부의 왕, 2012)

noreply@blogger.com (Pierce Conran) — Sun, 12 May 2013 08:32:00 +0000

Many films passed through Korean theaters last year and a great number of them made their presence felt. But of course for every chart-topping hit there were many projects that failed to make their way to profitability. One such film that came and went during the sweltering summer months was Mr. XXX-Kisser (aka The King of Flattery, and I can’t see why they didn’t stick to that far superior English title), a mid-level comedy with no huge stars and very modest ambitions. Click to read more»

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New Korean Films: Local Studios Fight for Second Place (2013 Week 19)

noreply@blogger.com (Fabien Schneider) — Sat, 11 May 2013 05:35:00 +0000

Boomerang Family (고령화가족) Following the recent commercial failure of his debut film, a 48 year-old director, In-mo, has no choice but to return to live with his mother. He meets up his older brother, Han-mo, who has never left home and is still not working. But their younger sister, Mi-yeon, was just divorced from her second husband and is coming with her teenage daughter to spend a few weeks with her mother, until the formalities of her upcoming third wedding are settled. All of them will try to coexist as they did during their childhood, but their respective personal comfort has now become much more pervasive than before. Click to read more»

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