Legendary director Im Kwon-taek (임권택) has directed over 100 films during the span of his still-ongoing career, beginning in 1962 with his debut feature Farewell to the Duman River (두만강아 잘 있거라). Since then he has been at the helm of several productions every year, working under military dictatorships, throughout the changes that led to a democratic government, and beyond.

Im Kwon-taek is highly interested in features of traditional Korean culture and history, using these devices to explore the notion of Korean identity and how it is informed.

Throughout his lengthy career, Im Kwon-taek has worked with some of the most notable Korean actors in the industry and received a large number of awards – both domestically and internationally – in recognition of his work, including ‘Best Director’ in 2002 for Chihwaseon (취화선) (aka Drunk on Women and Poetry) at the Cannes Film Festival. Furthermore, the title ‘Chevalier de l`Ordre de la Legion d`Honneur’ was bestowed upon the director by the French government in 2007 for his services to cinema.

Filmography

(please click on the image to be taken to the review)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revivre (화장) – 2014

Hanji (달빛 길어올리기) – 2011

Beyond the Years (천년학) – 2007

Low Life (하류인생) – 2004

Chihwaseon (AKA  Drunk on Women and Poetry/Painted Fire/Strokes of Fire) (취화선) – 2002

Chunhyang (춘향뎐) – 2000

Downfall (창) – 1997

Festival (축제) – 1996

The Taebaek Mountains (태백산맥) – 1994

Seopyeonje (서편제) – 1993

The General’s Son 3 (장군의 아들 3) – 1992

Fly High, Run Far (개벽) – 1991

The General’s Son 2 (장군의 아들 2) – 1991

The General’s Son (장군의 아들) – 1990

Come, Come, Come Upward (아제아제 바라아제) – 1989

Adada (아다다) – 1987

Diary of King Yeonsan (AKA Prince Yeonsan’s Life) (연산일기) – 1987

The Surrogate Womb (씨받이) – 1986

Ticket (티켓) – 1986

Gilsoddeum (길소뜸) – 1985

You Can’t Stop a River/ The Eternal Flow (흐르는 강물을 어찌 막으랴) – 1984

Daughter of Fire () – 1983

Village in the Mist (안개마을) – 1982

Crying in a Butterfly’s Embrace () – 1982

Polluted Ones () – 1982

Mandala () – 1981

Mismatched Nose (짝코) – 1980

Seize the Precious Sword (삼국대협) – 1972

Farewell to the Duman River (두만강아 잘 있거라) – 1962