Festival News – Page 2

October 3, 2015December 29, 2015

Twenty Again (두 번째 스물) – ★★☆☆☆

Twenty Again (두 번째 스물)

On a flight to Italy, middle-aged film director Min-gu (Kim Seung-woo (김승우) surprisingly comes face-to-face with his first love, Min-ha (Lee Tae-ran (이태란). Though she initially pretends not to recognise him, a spark is clearly rekindled between the two and when Min-ha discovers he is working at a nearby film festival in Turin she sets out to meet her lost love again. Although now in their forties the passion from their younger days is instantly rekindled, and the lovers decide to travel around Italy together to relive their ‘second twenties.’

A refreshingly original and beautifully shot romantic tale, director Park Heung-sik’s Twenty Again is an entertaining story of two 40-somethings rekindling the passion of their first true love. While somewhat contrived and clearly owing a huge debt to Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise, Twenty Again is a welcome addition to the genre with its strong leads and appreciation of art and culture.

One of the great strengths of helmer/scribe Park Heung-sik’s Twenty Again is the manner in which he eschews the will they?/won’t they? cliches involving an impossibly attractive young couple, and instead explores the rather more complicated and mature romantic lives of those in their forties. It’s a welcome change and while contrivances are initially employed to bring the couple together, once the reunion occurs the story hits the ground running as both Min-gu and Min-ha have a palpable chemistry and are thoroughly compelling protagonists. The couple never shy away from discussing the complexities of their lives as both are married with children, yet it is particularly difficult to judge them as their Italian affair feels beautifully organic and reinvigorating, with their glances of adoration striking an incredibly sincere emotional core.

Min-gu and Min-ha rekindle their romance through a mutual appreciation of art and culture

Min-gu and Min-ha are also noteworthy as a professional and intellectual couple. Min-ha in particular is a wonderfully refreshing romantic lead, as she exudes intelligence, strength, assured elegance, and sexual empowerment to great effect, a far cry from the weak-willed naivety so often exemplified in her contemporaries. While the characterisation doesn’t always strike the correct balance between confident and cocky, playful and mean, Min-ha is still highly charismatic and makes it plain to see how shy director Min-gu could fall so deeply for her.

As their reconciliation develops, many of the conversations involve discussions of art, culture and philosophy as they travel around various picturesque Italian cities. It occasionally becomes a bit implausible as they have a seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of the arts despite having careers in wildly different fields, yet the topics are constantly engaging. Conversations regarding their relationship during their twenties resonate the most by far, especially a key scene in which the reasons behind their separation are discussed. At times however the narrative becomes akin to a series of repetitive vignettes, as the lovers sleep together then visit a gallery, have sex followed by a museum tour, and so on, with the conversations often not continuing across the course of their trip, which is something of a missed opportunity.

Director Park has undoubtedly been influenced by Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise in crafting Twenty Again, which is certainly no bad thing, yet he makes the misstep of referencing the film more than once through the course of the drama. By alluding to its source of inspiration the remarks draw the audience out of the story, instead of letting the film find its own unique voice, which it so clearly has.

Min-ha and Min-gu relish every second of their romantic ‘second twenties’ together

Verdict:

Twenty Again is a refreshingly original romantic tale by director Park Heung-sik, as two forty-somethings rekindle a past romance within the beautifully shot locales of Italy. The mature and compelling couple are consistently charismatic, and while the occasional shortcomings in the script detract from their journey, Twenty Again remains a passionate exploration of love.

★★☆☆☆

October 2, 2015December 28, 2015

— Leave a Comment

A Korean in Paris (파리의 한국남자) – ★★☆☆☆

A Korean in Paris (파리의 한국남자)

Ever since the sudden disappearance of his wife Yeong-wha (Pang Ji-in (팽지인) two years ago in Paris, native Korean Sang-ho (Cho Jaehyun (조재현) has lived homeless on the streets of the capital, hoping to find and bring her home. Each day Sang-ho scours the back alleys of the Parisian underworld fearing she may now be part of the sex trade, showing Yeong-hwa’s picture to prostitutes in his quest for information. Yet despite a frustrating lack of help to find her, Sang-ho refuses to give up.

A Korean in Paris (파리의 한국남자)

Slow-burning and insightful, director Jeon Soo-il’s A Korean in Paris is a gorgeously shot cross-cultural drama. Featuring keen observations of a Paris that lies beneath the tourist veneer alongside some truly stunning cinematography from Kim Sung-tai, the poetic film is a compelling mystery despite sporadically floundering from lack of impetus and sexual politics that are occasionally found wanting.

A Korean in Paris is a rare breed of drama by director Jeon Soo-il. Independent films from the peninsula often tend to focus on internal socio-cultural issues, yet director Jeon – who studied film direction as well as receiving a Masters and PhD in the French capital – has crafted a keen and insightful examination of Parisian society as told through the eyes of a middle-aged Korean man. It’s a consistently fascinating commentary as director Jeon explores the seedy underbelly beneath the city’s romantic veneer, exposing a rampant sex trade, a homelessness epidemic, and horrible racism towards poverty stricken immigrants. Such bleak subject matter is beautifully, and quite ironically, juxtaposed with the exquisite locations within the capital, captured in glorious fashion by the quality lensing of Kim Sung-tai, that serve as stunning backdrops to a city that is seemingly in decay.

Sang-ho scours the back streets of Paris every night looking for Yeong-wha

While very much a slow-burning drama, A Korean in Paris interestingly plays out akin to a mystery as Sang-ho traverses the city looking for any traces of his wife. Through his journey the film notably articulates that many Asian immigrants in Paris find themselves working in the sex trade, as well as the circumstances they endure. As Sang-ho shuffles along the numerous streets lined with prostitutes each night the story becomes somewhat repetitive, while the potential offered by his burgeoning relationship with a Korean prostitute (Lock Mi Kwan (미콴락) is squandered before it truly begins.

Things do pick up however when the narrative employs a flashback sequence revealing the events that led up to Yeong-hwa’s disappearance, conveying eccentricities in her character that raise certain questions and implies that the situation is far from a simple ‘disappearance’ case as previously believed. While the film attempts to avoid concrete answers and let audiences interpret events for themselves, the narrative infers a particular discourse that is rather unenlightened in regards to sexual politics.

Sang-ho lives in the dark underbelly of Paris, within view of the glossy veneer

Verdict:

A Korean in Paris is a slow-burning drama that examines the seedy underbelly of the French capital beneath the romantic veneer. While director Jeon Soo-il’s story is keenly insightful and cinematographer Kim Sung-tai lensing is gorgeously composed throughout, the rather repetitive nature of the story and unenlightened sexual politics make the film equal parts perplexing yet fascinating.

★★☆☆☆

Busan International Film Festival (20회 부산국제영화제) Festival News Korean Film Festivals 2015 Reviews

October 2, 2015December 10, 2015

— Leave a Comment

Ordinary People (소시민) – ★★☆☆☆

Ordinary People (소시민)

Jae-pil is about to have the worst Sunday of his life. From the moment the hapless salaryman wakes up in a grotty motel, he is beset by a host of problems – his bullying manager demands Jaepil ‘massage’ some figures or else lose his job; his estranged wife begins divorce proceedings while filing for custody of their daughter Soo-in; his nagging sister is demanding money to donate to her church; and he has just become the prime suspect in a murder case. One thing’s for sure – this Sunday is going to be hell.

A humorously dark tale, director Kim Byung-june’s Ordinary People is an entertaining slice of ironic satire that pokes fun at the insane challenges of the everyday salaryman. Striking the tone just right during the first half, the film spirals into theatrical silliness in the second, subverting the intelligent mockery for obvious gags.

Aside from a rather oddly dramatic preface during the opening credits, Ordinary People begins in promising fashion as director Kim explores the insanity within the mundane tasks bestowed upon the middle-aged Korean office worker. Using central protagonist Jae-pil as a cypher, he piles on the absurd stresses such employees endure with an impressively dark and often subtle wit, balancing the tone well between realism and farce as Jae-pil is pushed to breaking point. The title perfectly reflects director Kim’s brand of humour – these characters and events are indeed ‘ordinary’ in the lives of many Koreans yet there is a comedic ridiculousness to it all that he works hard to emphasise.

Jae-pil is told to ‘massage’ some figures for his company

However, just as with this year’s other darkly satirical film (and Jeonju Film Festival winner) Alice in Earnestland, Ordinary People takes an ill-advised turn at the halfway mark. Through a misunderstanding in an apparent murder case Jae-pil is considered a suspect, from which the events and characters all suddenly descend into farcical comedy the likes of which wouldn’t be out of place on a Korean ‘gag concert’ TV show. The dry and ironic humour of the first hour comes undone as the Jae-pil’s situation comes increasingly ludicrous and the acting evermore theatrical, culminating in the eye-rolling introduction of colourful chubby gangster trio the Bear Brothers. Director Kim is certainly aware as his protagonists recount how bizarre the events have become, yet it continues to escalate until the film reaches its overly long conclusion with trite melodrama.

While the introduction to the characters and their relationships are in need of tightening, both Jae-pil and his sister are great devices through which to explore the stresses of contemporary Koreans. Jae-pil is a likeable protagonist and one who the audience genuinely want to succeed despite his occasionally frustrating whiny impotence to his problems. His sister, however, is largely pushed to the margins of the story, a real missed opportunity as her role as an intelligent journalist who quit due to marriage could have provided further great ironic satire from a female perspective, as well as offered a fun counterpoint to Jae-pil’s misadventures.

The situation escalates when Jae-pil finds himself in trouble with the law

Verdict:

Director Kim Byung-june’s Ordinary People begins in darkly satirical fashion through ironic jokes at an average salaryman’s expense, yet following such a promising opening the film missteps into absurd theatrical comedy at the halfway point before ending with trite melodrama. Yet the potential displayed in the first half means Kim’s future films are ones to watch out for.

★★☆☆☆

Busan International Film Festival (20회 부산국제영화제) Festival News Korean Film Festivals 2015 Reviews

August 25, 2015December 10, 2015

— Leave a Comment

BIFF 2015: Hidden Masterpieces of the 1960s

BIFF 2015

As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will play host to a special series of screenings entitled Korean Cinema Retrospective: Hidden Masterpieces of the 1960s.

With hostilities between the two Koreas resulting in a truce 1953 and the South’s subsequent emphatic drive for redevelopment, the ’60s proved to be a burgeoning period for cinema with filmmakers producing an average of 200 films per year.

This period of modernisation is to be celebrated by screening 8 of the lesser known films from the decade, some of which were considered lost for all time until a discovery earlier this year by a travelling film operator unearthed 450 sought after classics. His donation of the film reels to the Korean Film Archive has resulted in filling in many of the gaps of Korea’s cinematic heritage which, after restoration, can finally be experienced on the big screen.

Below are the films in the Hidden Masterpieces program to be screened at BIFF, two of which can be viewed on the Korean Film Archive’s youtube channel.

Hidden Masterpieces of the 1960s

A Bloodthirsty Killer (살인마) (1965)

Director Lee Yong-min (이용민)

A Bloodthirsty Killer

Classic K-horror A Bloodthirsty Killer uses the genre to explore the social and cultural issues of the era. Aeja is a cheerful and content woman living a comfortable existence with her husband, yet her happiness inspires incredible jealousy in those around her resulting in her murder at the hands of her mother-in-law and niece. Following Aeja’s untimely death, strange things begin occurring as her spirit returns from the grave seeking revenge.

The film blends Eastern and Western generic conventions in depicting the new affluent classes emerging in the ’60s, and the subsequent jealousy of those less fortunate.

Jealousy of the emerging affluence in the ’60s is a key theme

The Body Confession (육체의 고백) (1964)

Director Jo Keung-ha (조긍하)

The Body Confession

The role of women in 1960s Korea was fraught to say the least, but for single mothers it was extremely taxing. The Body Confession examines the life of a middle-aged mother of three daughters living in Busan, who will do anything to see that her children receive the best of everything in life. To do so, she secretly works as a madam at a brothel, sacrificing all she has for her family’s wellbeing. Yet with troubles beginning to arise for each daughter she struggles to cope.

The Body Confession is in many ways a companion piece for last year’s Ode To My Father, but from a female perspective and with far more depth.

To watch The Body Confession online, click here.

The fraught existence of a single mother is examined

The Cash Is Mine (현금은 내 것이다) (1965)

Director Lee Sang-eon (이상언)

The Cash Is Mine

The Cash Is Mine is an early noir gangster film and, as Nameless Gangster and Gangnam Blues more recently explored, depicts the criminal underworld as an instrumental part of Korea’s development.

When local gangster Young-jun kills an old man at the behest of his syndicate, he comes to feel an enormous burden of guilt. With detectives closing in on him, Young-jun’s desire to make amends results in taking care of the old man’s daughter Eun-joo, protecting her despite great personal risk. Can he be both criminal and saviour, as well as evade incarceration for his transgression?

Rivals meet in this early noir crime thriller

The DMZ (비무장지대) (1965)

Director Park Sang-ho (박상호)

The DMZ

The DMZ was long thought lost until its sudden discovery in 2006. Amazingly the film was shot on location – a dangerous prospect at the time – with the permission of the U.S. 8th Army and the Military Armistice Commission, and carries a strong anti-war message.

The war drama follows two young children who become lost in the DMZ due to moving from the constant battles between North and South. As they walk around the perilous environment they are exposed to the horrors of war, witnessing corpses and weapons of destruction, as they attempt to survive on rations they occasionally find.

Two children become lost in the DMZ during conflict

The Door of the Body (육체의 문) (1965)

Director Lee Bong-rae (이봉래)

The Door of the Body

The Door of the Body explores feminist issues from a unique perspective, as rather than succumb to roles of ‘the wife’ or ‘the mother’ the lead protagonist wishes to use the growing liberal attitude of the era to become a businesswoman.

Arriving in Seoul from the country, Eun-sook sets her vision on owning her own beauty salon and begins working as a masseuse and prostitute to generate the required capitol, which she wisely invests in stocks and shares. Yet when Eun-sook falls in love with a con artist he manages to cheat her out of all her savings, leaving the young woman destitute and forced to find another way to achieve her dream.

A woman strives for independence during the tough era

The General’s Mustache (장군의 수염) (1968)

Director Lee Seong-gu (이성구)

The General’s Mustache

A real rarity in 1960s Korean film, The General’s Mustache blends live action detective drama with animated sequences, highlighting the advancements being made in the industry at the time.

When young photographer Kim Chul-woon is discovered dead in suspicious circumstances, two detectives are assigned to the case though answers prove elusive. Tracking one particular lead take the investigative team to a novelist, who informs them Chul-woon was writing a story called ‘The General’s Mustache’ as well as revealing that he was in a passionately intense relationship with a girl.

To watch The General’s Mustache online, click here.

The mystery of the man's death deepens when his relationship is revealed

The mystery deepens when the dead man’s relationship is revealed

Trees Stand on Slope (나무들 비탈에 서다) (1968)

Director Choi Ha-won (최하원)

Trees Stand on Slope

Trees Stand on Slope is arguably the big film in the program, as it’s one of the 450 films recently rediscovered and donated to the Korean Film Archive, now finally restored and ready to be experienced on the big screen.

The story, based on Hwang Sun-won’s novel, is a violent tale of jealousy, revenge and guilt examining issues from the Korean War. Envious of the love between best friend Dong-ho and his girlfriend Suk, Hyun-tae arranges a secret night with a prostitute while Suk is away. Beside himself with remorse, Dong-ho does the unthinkable which sends Hyun-tae into a downward spiral that sees him commit heinous acts of criminality.

Jealousy proves the be the downfall of three close friends

When Night Falls at Myeongdong (명동에 밤이 오면) (1964)

Director Lee Hyung-pyo (이형표)

When Night Falls at Myeongdong

Issues faced by women in Seoul are portrayed within When Night Falls at Myeongdong, a film that examined the gender imbalances in the capital as it dramatically became one of the most affluent in Asia.

In the bars of Myeongdong are scores of young attractive women, all of whom are waiting to find a handsome and rich suitor to marry and take them away from their miserable existence of drinking with strangers. One such woman is especially popular due to her incredible beauty, although she is notorious for being picky. Yet when a bank manager arrives one night and they hit it off, she may well have found her path to freedom.

Temptations arise in the bars of Myeongdong

Busan International Film Festival (20회 부산국제영화제) Festival News Korean Film Festivals 2015

August 1, 2015August 10, 2015

— Leave a Comment

12 Deep Red Nights : Chapter One (십이야 : 깊고 붉은 열두 개의 밤) – ★★☆☆☆

12 Deep Red Nights: Chapter 1

Horror omnibus films are consistently prevalent in Korean cinema, particularly arising at film festivals where directors – who are typically between projects – use the medium to showcase and experiment with their respective aesthetics through the short story form.

Last year’s horror anthology MAD SAD BAD opened the 2014 Jeonju Int. Film Festival and featured three talented directors experimenting with 3D technology for addition frights. Horror Stories kicked off the 2012 Bucheon Int. Fantastic Film Festival, depicting three tales encapsulated within a larger framework, while sequel Horror Stories 2 appeared at BiFan the following year.

Yet while the format allows directors to experiment with their craft, it also inevitably results in comparisons regarding which tale is more effective, an unfortunate byproduct director Oh In-cheon smartly circumvents by helming all four stories within 12 Deep Red Nights: Chapter 1.

1st Night – Driver

Following his well-received feature debut Mourning Grave, director Oh’s 12 Deep Red Nights: Chapter 1 articulates four tales of woe in the dark recesses of Korea after dark which, while competently helmed, disappointingly lack flair and creativity. While disorientating scenes of the urban nightlife are effective, the omnibus seems to be more akin to a practice run for future endeavours as director Oh experiments with pacing and generating suspense, with actual scares in very short supply. That said, it’s interesting how horror is derived from commonplace features of life in the peninsula.

In 1st Night – Driver, a young socialite calls for a driving service to take her home and begs the driver to kill her, promising to bestow all her wealth as a reward. For foreign audiences the notion of this industry will undoubtedly be initially difficult to digest, yet once accepted as commonplace in Korea the tale becomes an intriguing one. Tension is generated well as the driver struggles with the morality of the situation, yet the climax is a letdown.

2nd Night – PM 11:55 sees a female office worker return to her apartment, unknowingly followed by a hooded figure. Tasked with completing a translation assignment before midnight, the woman achieves her goal with five minutes to spare. Yet as she unwinds, the hooded figure begins consistently ringing her door bell and refuses to leave, with the woman unable to contact the outside world for help. PM 11:55 sets up a sense of panic well, clearly inspired by real circumstances. However director Oh seems unsure how to end the story, which comes to an unsatisfying, abrupt end.

2nd Night 11:55

The next tale, 3rd Night – atmosFEAR (or literally Sounds of a Man) is the most impressive in terms of generating an increasingly heightened aura of suspense. An audio technician requires ambient sound for his latest project, and uses his equipment to record the sounds that occur at night. After capturing conversations of couples arguing, he traverses a countryside area for natural ambience. Yet upon hearing a girl’s scream, he follows his recording equipment to investigate the source. While the camerawork and props are employed to created palpable tension, the finale is easily the most disappointing of all the short stories.

Finally, 4th Night – Secret Night tells the tale of junior office worker Yeong-min who attempts to steal company secrets. This segment is the most narratively driven and complete tale within the film, exploring the fraught dynamic between senior and junior company staff in Korea alongside issues of blackmail. Yet while Secret Night is the most structured tale, it’s also the most bland and laborious due to the overly long running time and drawn out story.

4th Night – Secret Night

Verdict:

Depicting four tales of nightly horror, omnibus 12 Deep Red Nights: Chapter 1 is a competent yet uninspiring addition to director Oh In-cheon’s filmography. The anthology serves more akin to a practice run for future endeavours rather than an inventive take on the genre. While suspense is generated well throughout each story disappointment quickly follows, and is a mediocre effort by a usually solid director.

★★☆☆☆

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (제 19회 부천국제판타스틱영화제) Festival News Korean Film Festivals 2015 Reviews

July 27, 2015December 28, 2015

— Leave a Comment

The Chosen: Forbidden Cave (퇴마: 무녀굴) – ★☆☆☆☆

The Chosen: Forbidden Cave (퇴마: 무녀굴)

N.B. This review is based on the Bucheon Fantastic Film Festival 2015 edit, screened at the closing ceremony.

Psychologist Jin-myeong (Kim Seong-gyoon (김성균) is unique in his trade as one of the few professionals who considers supernatural phenomena when treating clients, performing exorcisms with apprentice Ji-gwang (Kim Hye-seong (김혜성) when the need arises. Due to his unorthodox methods Jin-myeong has earned a notable reputation, attracting the unwanted attention of documentary producer Hye-in (Cha Ye-ryeon (차예련). Yet they are forced to combine their efforts when a disturbing new case occurs, as art curator Geum-joo (Yoo Seon (유선) is at the mercy of a particularly vindictive spirit, the secrets of which originate from forgotten childhood memories and a ghostly cave.

Geun-joo’s possession proves an extremely difficult task for psychologist/exorcist Jin-myeong

With a solid premise but poor execution, director Kim Hwi’s horror/thriller The Chosen: Forbidden Cave is heavy on frustration and light on scares. As the closing film for BiFan’s 2015 edition, the festival’s claim of the film’s ability to ‘punch up the horror scene’ in the industry is unfortunately pure hyperbole as The Chosen is, aside from a few well-constructed set-pieces, a bland addition in dire need of a re-edit.

The Chosen: Forbidden Cave begins in intriguing fashion as Jin-myeong lectures on the importance of shamanism when considering diagnosis, with a handful of scares to sell the concept. Yet from there the narrative rapidly descends into chaos as characters and themes randomly arise and recede, with the audience expected to instinctively know their place within the story. Jin-myeong appears to have the ability of foresight through dreams yet it is never made clear while a subplot, possibly involving his wife and a botched exorcism, is never explained; his subordinate Ji-gwang just seemingly appears during consultations while his supernatural gifts – other than furiously shaking a plant during treatments – are not ascertained; documentary producer Hye-in’s history and motivations are not revealed; and most importantly, there is zero logic in the aimless actions of the vindictive spirit that inhabits Geum-joo. Frustration quickly sets in as characters and events occur randomly, with a re-edit, and much greater elaboration and development, sorely needed.

The search for answers to Geum-joo’s affliction takes the team into horrific territory

While the ghost that inhabits Geum-joo is aggravatingly indiscriminate, the haphazard nature allows director Kim to stage a variety of horror set pieces that are generally well-constructed. While they are cliche and form a story more akin to a series of horror sequences than a coherent whole, the macabre scenes serve to present the tropes expected from the genre. Problematically however, as there are so many sequences of this manner, the impact and effectiveness of the horror is lost as audiences become increasingly immune.

Furthermore, the use of the 1948 Jeju Massacre as the ultimate source of terror within The Chosen is in particularly bad taste. Not that the tragic event doesn’t lend itself well to the genre, but the manner in which the tragedy is employed and interpreted as antiquated and misandrist, in need of purging by contemporary patriarchy and Christianity, is borderline offensive.

Actor Kim Seong-gyoon fares the best as psychologist/exorcist Jin-myeong within The Chosen. His stoic turn as the broad-minded professional halts emotional investment in the journey yet provides a solid foundation from which the events revolve around. The rest of the cast do not prosper as well. Yoo Seon is generally required to run around screaming and crying, while Cha Ye-ryeon and Kim Hye-seong are present merely to appear attractive and little else.

Horrific truths await in the cave

Verdict:

Aside from a solid premise and the occasional well-constructed horror sequence, The Chosen: Forbidden Cave is a big misstep from director Kim Hwi. The events and characters within the film appear and recede indiscriminately throughout the haphazard narrative while any sort of development is a rarity. The Chosen is a frustratingly bland addition to the K-horror scene.

★☆☆☆☆

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (제 19회 부천국제판타스틱영화제) Festival News Korean Film Festivals 2015 Reviews

July 25, 2015September 26, 2015

— Leave a Comment

Sunshine (선샤인) – ★★☆☆☆

Sunshine (선샤인)

North Korean refugee Seol-ji (Dana (다나) was a propaganda poster artist for the Dear Leader prior to her escape. Now settled in a district in Seoul with friend Soon-yeong (Lee Mi-so (이미소), Seol-ji works delivering flowers for a fellow refugee and paints during her spare time. Her skill is such that ambitious documentary director Shin-woong (Kang Eun-taek (강은탁) begs to film her and reveal Seol-ji’s talent to the world, yet she is reluctant due to the ramifications for her family should her North Korean identity be discovered. Agreeing to cancel her face on camera, the duo work together to craft a documentary about art yet quickly learn that Seol-ji’s abilities become problematic when asked to construct something original.

Documentary director Shin-woong begs Seol-ji to be his muse

Sweet and amiable, writer/director Park Jin-soon’s Sunshine is a rare breed of romantic-drama that leaves audiences with a resonating sense of contentment after the credits have run, yet when probed is ultimately found to be lacking in substance.

Helmer/scribe Park Jin-soon is competent at his craft and Sunshine begins in a promisingly quirky and infectious fashion, as eccentric artist Seol-ji and her rather unorthodox lifestyle are introduced alongside documentary director/borderline stalker Shin-woong who’s so desperate to capture her work on film. Their dynamic is enjoyable as Seol-ji’s reluctance to be filmed and Shin-woong’s persistence to do so clash with predictably entertaining results, informing a hint of romance underpinning the proceedings, while the picturesque Jeju Island scenery ensures the film is an attractive one throughout.

On the condition of anonymity Seol-ji agrees to be the subject of the documentary, and from there Sunshine begins its decline into mediocrity, albeit a very genial one.

A burgeoning romance underpins the collaboration

As Sunshine continues in charmingly amicable fashion, a host of subplots are interweaved into the narrative yet none are prioritised, compelling or given resolution. The story gently trundles along as the hints of romance that develop between Seol-ji and Shin-woong are given a slight love triangle twist, as Seol-ji struggles to draw anything original, as Shin-woong has problems at work, and so forth. Yet while such issues are featured, exploration simply isn’t present making it difficult to invest in their respective trajectories. The most glaring area this arises is in Seol-ji’s status as a North Korean residing in Seoul. Scant scenes touch upon the issue but in no real depth, aside from some last minute sequences with best friend Soon-yeong.

Sunshine is an enjoyable viewing experience largely due to actress Dana’s charismatic turn as artist Seol-ji. Dana infuses the character with a disarming innocence and vulnerability alongside passion and integrity, making what could have easily been a bland story into an entertaining one.

Shin-woong notices something specia and hiddenl in Seol-ji’s work

Verdict:

Sunshine is an enjoyable romantic drama that leaves audiences content with its genial themes, yet scratching the surface reveals a real lack of substance. Writer/director Park Jin-soon has crafted an amiable and visually attractive story yet one that never explores the host of subplots within, notably regarding North Korean issues. However, Dana’s charismatic performance elevates Sunshine into an entertaining tale.

★★☆☆☆

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (제 19회 부천국제판타스틱영화제) Festival News Korean Film Festivals 2015 Reviews

July 10, 2015July 25, 2015

— 1 Comment

BiFan 2015 – Korean Feature Films Part 2

BiFan 2015 will run for 10 days from July 16th~26th, and the biggest genre film festival in Asia is bigger than ever.

To celebrate the upcoming extravaganza, here at Hanguk Yeonghwa we are profiling the Korean films due to screened.

In Part 1, we took a look at the K-films present for the closing ceremony as well as within the Bucheon Choice: Feature, World Fantastic Cinema, and The Masters categories, respectively.

Here in Part 2 the K-films selected for Vision Express, the rather wordy KAFA+ Next D – “3D, Once Again,” and K-Indie Genre Strikes! are profiled.

To see PART 1 of our BiFan profile, please click here.

Vision Express

Amor (그리울 련) – director Han Cheol-su (한철수)

Hee-yeon's terminal illness doesn't deter boyfriend Tae-woo

Hee-yeon’s terminal illness doesn’t deter Tae-woo

Drama Amor follows the story of terminally ill Hee-yeon who, due to her situation, tries to tell her zookeeper boyfriend Tae-woo to forget about her and move on with his life. Yet one day Tae-woo finds a mysterious woman in a bad situation in a zoo bathroom, and discovers she is related to Hee-yeon.

Antigone (안티고네) – directors Kang Eok-seok (강억석), Kim Sung-pum (김성범), Park Seo-yeon (박서연)

The story of King Yong is told

Three directors have collaborated together to bring the story of King Yong to the big screen. Judging from the stills that have been released, the period drama has a definite Dogme 95 vibe through the absence of set design. The film retells a classic Greek tragedy, which examines the lives of King Yong and his family as they attempt to flee to Japan.

Purpose of Reunion (동창회의 목적) – director Jeong Dae-man (정대만)

Dong-chul owns a charming bar

Director Jeong Dae-man’s entry seems to be one of the more traditional drama offerings that focuses on the complexity of modern relationships. The plot involves Dong-chul, who owns a quaint bar, and wants to hold a reunion. Yet one of his guests is attractive Yujin, and they begin a relationship…but what will his wife say?

Sunshine (선샤인) – director Park Jin-soon (박진순)

Sul-ji is an artistic North Korean exile

Sunshine appears to be the only feature film at BiFan 2015 to explore the division between North and South Korea. The film follows former propaganda designer Sul-ji, now a florist, who is asked to be the subject of a documentary for a down-on-his-luck producer…but what will this mean for her family still north of the border?

KAFA+ Next D – “3D, Once Again”

MAD SAD BAD (신촌좀비만화) – directors Ryoo Seung-wan (류승완), Han Ji-seung (한지승), Kim Tae-yong (김태용)

Ghost (유령)

3D omnibus MAD SAD BAD opened the 2014 Jeonju Int. Film Festival, and features a variety of genres. The best is easily the supernatural drama Picnic by director Kim Tae-yong, while director Ryoo Seung-wan’s thriller Ghost – based on real events of teens who murder due to sns – is also good. Zombie comedy/horror I Saw You by director Han Ji-seung completes the omnibus.

K-Indie Genre Strikes!

12 Deep Red Nights (십이야: 깊고 붉은 열두 개의 밤 Chapter 1) – director Oh In-chun (오인천)

Four horror stories are told in the film

Director Oh In-chun, fresh from 2014 horror/romance Mourning Grave, returns with an omnibus of four chilling stories. Rather than separate tales, the events – titled Driver, PM 11:55, atmosFEAR and The Secret Night – are all interlinked. Director Oh’s film is also intended as the first part of a series of 12 horrors.

Mizo (미조) – director Nam Ki-woong (남기웅)

Mizo and Woo-sang have a violently sexual relatonship

Mizo premiered at Jeonju Film Fest 2014. The film depicts the story of a girl left in the trash as a child, who later returns to the area as an adult and forms relationships with the corrupt people living there, preparing her revenge. Mizo is violent and overtly sexual, but then that should come as no surprise from the director of Teenage Hooker Became a Killing Machine.

My Secret Partner (완벽한 파트너) – director Park Heon-soo (박헌수)

Comedy and sex mix to fun effect in this light-hearted take on modern relationships

Also known as Perfect Partner, this raunchy sex-comedy follows a screenwriter and a chef who, due to suffering from a severe lack of inspiration, embark on sexual relationships with their students to help unleash their passions. Yet the young objects of their lust have motivations of their own. Will the controversial relationships prove fruitful?

Ownerless Flower Uhwudong (어우동: 주인 없는 꽃) – director Lee Soo-sung (이수성)

An erotic love triangle features

Released in January 2015, Ownerless Flower Uhwudong is a rare independent period drama featuring plenty of lust and debauchery through the narrative, which centers on a twisted love triangle amongst the social elite. Director Lee Soo-sung is no stranger to raunchy material having helmed sex comedy Mango Tree in 2013, though his latest marks a big improvement.

Playboy Bong (아티스트 봉만대) – director Bong Man-dae (봉만대)

Tensions arise on the set of an erotic movie

Another sexy-comedy to arrive at BiFan 2015 is Playboy Bong. The film explores a film crew that go to Bali to shoot an erotic movie, but the producers are underwhelmed with the early footage. To salvage the film, porn director Bong Man-dae is hired yet when he arrives and begins demanding more erotic scenes, his presence escalates the situation.

Rough Play (배우는 배우다) – director Shin Yeon-shick (신연식)

An actor traverses madness

An unofficial sequel of sorts to Rough Cut, Rough Play premiered at Busan Film Fest in 2013. Written by Kim Ki-duk, the film explores the life of a struggling actor who finally becomes a star, yet as his power rises so does his arrogance, leading to an epic fall from grace. Ironically the film was responsible for catapulting idol star Lee Joon’s popularity, particularly for the inclusion of a bed scene.

The Stone (스톤) – director Cho Se-rae (조세래)

The gentlemen’s game of baduk turns violent

The Stone combines the criminal underworld with the classic Asian game of baduk. A young genius baduk player uses his skills to hustle local small time gangsters, yet when his ability comes to the attention of a crime boss, the two strike up an unlikely friendship. Through their gentlemanly games, they begin to see the errors of their ways.

To see PART 1 of our BiFan profile, please click here.

For the full BiFan screening schedule, please follow the link here.

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (제 19회 부천국제판타스틱영화제) Festival News Korean Film Festivals 2015

July 7, 2015August 5, 2015

— 1 Comment

BiFan 2015 – Korean Feature Films Part 1

From July 16th~26th, the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BiFan) will commence its 19th edition.

Asia’s biggest genre film extravaganza, BiFan (previously called PiFan) boasts a larger scale than ever before which is sure to please cineastes. Out of the 235 films due to be screened, 62 are world premieres while 61 will receive their Asian debut.

BiFan 2015 hosts an incredible range of programmes including staples such as Bucheon Choice and World Fantastic Cinema, in conjunction with more specialised categories that honour particular filmmakers and creative output as with I’m (not) Sono Sion, Mexican Genre Film Showcase, and Excellent Actor, Nice Guy Simon Yam.

Amongst all the international films to be screened, Korea will also make its presence known through a variety of genre offerings, as well as closing the festival as has occurred in previous years with The Terror Live and My Ordinary Love Story.

To see the Korean films being featured at BiFan, please see below.

For PART 2 of our BiFan profile, please click here.

Closing Film

The Chosen: Forbidden Cave (퇴마: 무녀굴) – director Kim Hui (김휘)

A psychologist must discover a secret to perform an exorcism

BiFan 2015 will close with a horror/thriller, based on Shin Jin-oh’s 201- novel ‘Moonyeogool.’ The film follows exorcist/psychologist Jin-myeong as he works on a case to free a client from a potentially dangerous spirit, yet to do so he must uncover a powerful secret. The Chosen is directed by Kim Hui, whose previous work includes Horror Stories 2 and Neighbours, and early buzz is particularly strong.

Bucheon Choice: Feature

Coin Locker Girl (차이나타운) – director Han Jun-hee (한준희)

The matriarch of a criminal empire has big plans

Urban crime drama Coin Locker Girl was a surprise hit upon release in April, grossing over $10 million. The film is visually impressive and features a wonderfully transformative performance by Kim Hye-su, as she adopts the role of a crime boss matriarch who turns on an enforcer (Kim Go-eun), and as such finds itself in competition at BiFan. You can read the review here.

Tattooist (타투이스트) – director Lee Seo (이서)

Soo-na notices something strange about a client’s tattoo

The second Korean film in competition is thriller Tattooist. Soo-na, a beautiful yet somewhat disturbed tattoo artist, is asked to design the mythical character Medusa on a new client’s back. Yet she begins to notice a correlation between the ink and a murder case involving young girls. Tattooist features renowned TV drama actors Yoon Jun-hee and Song Il-gook.

World Fantastic Cinema

Boy From Wonderland (앨리스: 원더랜드에서 온 소년) – director Huh Eun-hee (허은희)

Hye is haunted by nightmares and seeks the truth

Appearing to amalgamate fantasy, horror and thriller conventions, Boy From Wonderland depicts nightmare sufferer Hye-joong (Jung So-min) whose dreams have become so severe that they threaten her very life. To find the source of her terrors she travels to a lodge she visited 24 years prior and meets the mysterious Hwan (Hong Jong-hyun).

Malice (멜리스) – director Kim Yong-woon (김용운)

Ga-in’s jealousy becomes out of control

Ripley’s Syndrome informs the central premise of director Kim Yong-woon’s thriller, as a young woman becomes obsessed with her best friend’s life and begins to try and assume her very identity, including seducing her husband and stealing her child. Malice stars glamorous actress Hong Soo-ah as the psychologically unstable Ga-in.

Super Origin (시발, 놈 – 인류의 시작) – director Baek Seung-gi (백승기)

Unique beings arise 40,000 years ago

Director Baek Seung-gi made a name for himself with comedy-fantasy Super Virgin, and he returns with another quirky offering in the form of Super Origin. 40,000 years ago a light appeared in the sky and as a result strange beings appeared in the land, and start to form a civilisation, the likes of which has never been seen before.

The Masters

Angry Painter: Director’s Cut (성난 화가 디렉터스 컷) – director Jeon Kyu-hwan (전규환)

Passion, love and anger inform the painter’s world

A co-production between Korea and Estonia, Angry Painter tells the tale of two men who operate as violent bounty hunters. When a US soldier kills one of the men and his girlfriend, the remaining partner goes on a violent rampage for justice that takes him into the heart of Europe. Starring Yun Jun-sang.

For PART 2 of our BiFan profile, please click here.

For the full BiFan screening schedule, please follow the link here.

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (제 19회 부천국제판타스틱영화제) Festival News Korean Film Festivals 2015

May 25, 2015July 6, 2015

— 2 Comments

Snowy Road (눈길) – ★★★☆☆

Snowy Road (눈길)

During the Japanese occupation of Korea, Yeong-ae (Kim Sae-ron (김새론), the arrogant daughter of a rich man in the village, studies hard to learn the language of the hostile force and be accepted within the ranks. Poverty-stricken Jong-boon (Kim Hyang-ki (김향기), meanwhile, must contend herself with menial chores until the possibility of marrying out of hardship arises. Yet when the Japanese forces come looking for girls to be ‘comfort women’ – or rather, sexual slaves – financial status does not enter consideration and both youngsters are abducted into a life of horrific servitude.

In the present day Jong-boon (Kim Yeong-ok (김영옥), now an elderly woman, lives alone in a dilapidated part of town. Noticing that her teenage neighbour Eun-soo (Cho Soo-hyang (조수향) is in trouble, she takes it alone herself to help the girl and in doing so is forced to confront the traumatic experiences of her past.

Yeong-ae and Jong-boon are abducted and forced to provide sexual services to Japanese troops

Snowy Road originally aired as a two-part television drama, yet for the purpose of a cinematic release the episodes have been edited together to create a powerful testament to the horrific abuses Korean women suffered during the Japanese occupation. Despite a large number of films and documentaries exploring the subject matter over the years, upon receiving its world premiere at Jeonju Film Festival 2015, Snowy Road left audiences sobbing at the depiction of two of Korea’s youngest and most celebrated actresses reenacting the torture so many women suffered at the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army. While the film does not always escape the production shortcomings and melodramatic trappings of K-drama, Snowy Road is a particularly emotional piece that strongly resonates.

Director Lee Na-jeong and writer Yoo Bo-ra have crafted an impressive tribute to women’s suffering in both the past and present through the non-linear story, cutting between the two periods to reinforce how women’s rights have changed and how far they have yet to go. For scenes in the past, director Lee conveys the atrocities committed to Korean women through the abduction, imprisonment and abuses Yeong-ae and Jong-boon endure at the hands of the Japanese. Yet in the present a rather different set of injustices are dealt with, as elderly Jong-boon is routinely treated with disrespect while her young charge Eun-soo, alone and in need of money, becomes easy prey for wealthy middle-aged men. It is difficult to state how brave director Lee and writer Yoo are for examining the abuses of the past (Japanese men) and present (Korean men) and depicting them parallel to each other through the narrative, especially given the current highly conservative and patriarchal political climate, as well as with anti-Japanese sentiment so high following Prime Minister Abe’s denial that the incidents ever occurred. That is not to say that the crimes are in any way equal – rather, that Lee and Yoo’s bravery comes from not over-simplifying the debates put forth as purely the result of an external ‘other’, but also critically looking within contemporary Korean culture to explore the plights that effect modern Korean women. Snowy Road presents the issues well, impressively articulating that women need to stand united against injustices past and present to draw attention to their plight, rather than internalise guilt and shame.

Elderly Jong-boon and Eun-soo form a unique bond through their experiences

Elderly Jong-boon and Eun-soo form a unique bond due to their experiences

While Snowy Road ambitiously tackles such sensitive issues competently, the film consistently struggles to escape its origins, existing somewhere between a TV drama and film but not quite fitting into either category. Cinematography of landscapes are generally composed with skill and appear cinematic, yet when faced with more intimate moments or generating tension the budget limitations become increasingly clear. As such crucial scenes, most explicitly apparent at the internment camp where Yeong-ae and Jong-boon are abused, lack the potency and sense of urgency that a film of this nature should contain.

The film also falls into cliche TV drama territory as the narrative attempts to come to a close. Melodrama has long been a feature of Korean TV and film output so it comes as little surprise that such generic devices arise in Snowy Road, however a film dealing with the subject matter of comfort women hardly requires such heavy-handed efforts to evoke tears from the audience. The story is tragic enough without additional manipulative melodramatic tropes, and their inclusion does a disservice to those who experienced such horrific trauma.

However that said, director Lee has chosen a particularly solid cast to express the issues being put forth. Kim Sae-ron is really developing into a wonderfully talented actress, and following her stellar performance in A Girl at My Door she exudes the icy arrogance of her character in Snowy Road delightfully. Playing off Kim’s cold demeanour is no small effort yet Kim Hyang-ki (Thread of Lies) is especially likeable as the young and warm-hearted Jong-boon. The actresses have established their careers with monikers such as ‘the nation’s daughters’ which undoubtedly serves to generate even more emotional resonance. The actresses in the present are somewhat shortchanged by the script yet Cho Soo-hyang, who scored Best Actress at Busan Film Festival 2014 for Wild Flowers, and Kim Yeong-ok acquit themselves admirably.

Jong-boon and Yeong-ae attempt to flee the internment camp

Verdict:

Snowy Road is a highly emotional charged film about ‘comfort women’ and the horrific abuses they suffered during the Japanese occupation. Yet director Lee Na-jeong and writer Yoo Bo-ra impressively combine the sensitive subject matter with the issues faced by contemporary women, and deserve credit for it. While the film often struggles to escape its TV drama origins, Snowy Road is a powerful and resonating story on a vital topic.

★★★☆☆