Here you will find reviews of Korean short films. Please click on the picture, and you will be taken to the review.

Awaiting (민우씨 오는 날) – ★★★☆☆

“Awaiting is a beautifully moving and quite lovely short film by director Kang Je-gyu, who has impressively altered his epic sensibilities to portray the touching story of a woman waiting for her husband’s return. Compassionate, intimate and distinctly Korean, Awaiting is a poignant and endearing tale.”

City (도시) – ★★☆☆☆

“City is a nobel attempt at revealing and deconstructing the man-made barriers that halt people from becoming friends and communities, and inviting the audience to see ‘the real’ in the postmodern society we all inhabit. However, without any protagonist or narrative to guide audiences through this brave new world, City is rather flat.”

Going South (남쪽으로 간다) – ★★★☆☆

“Going South is a vibrant, attractive queer film examining homosexuality within the Korean military, and deserves praise merely for broaching the subject. Director Leesong Hee-il offers an interesting perspective in role of the military in defining contemporary Korean masculinity.”

The Hideout (소굴) – ★★★☆☆

“The Hideout is successful in representing a powerful female central character and her resourcefulness, and there are adequate moments of suspense and tension that make it compelling enough to be invested in the safety of the journalist, which is under constant threat.”

Negligence of Duty/Social Service Agent (복무태만) – ★★☆☆☆

“Negligence of Duty is a short story about a man who has delayed his military service. At 32 years old he has left his duty late. However he is simply an irritation and his 26 minute narrative ‘journey’, which reveals how his arrogance destroys his life, is unimaginative and unconvincing.”

Night Fishing (파란만장) – ★★★★★

“Night Fishing is  an incredible piece of filmmaking, even more so considering the technology and camera utilised. Equal parts thrilling, mysterious and intriguing, this short film of 33 minutes or so captures more intensity than productions 3 times its length. It is a premier example of taking a short, simple story and constructing a framework of mystery and intrigue around it, one that is wholly entertaining and fascinating to watch.”

Promise (약속) – ★★★★☆

“Promise is a poignant and compelling tale about the difficulties of separation. The narrative is a touching humanist story, one that deserves a longer running time. it is a truly captivating story that explores an emotional conundrum with maturity and dignity”

Remember O Goddess (나를 잊지 말아요) – ★★★★☆

“In Remember O Goddess director Lee Yoon-jung explores the concept of alienation in conjunction with identity in contemporary Seoul, constructing a fascinating and enthralling psychological noir that exemplifies the incredible quality of Korean independent cinema. It’s a short film that easily surpasses the majority of feature length productions”

Sprout (콩나물) – ★★★★☆

“Sprout is a lovely and endearing tale of youthful innocence. Writer/director Yoon Ga-eun has crafted a very charming and deceptively simple story of a girl on a quest, with the new experiences she encounters constantly heartwarming. In short, Sprout is a lovely, beautifully told story of discovery.”

Suddenly, Last Summer (지난여름, 갑자기) – ★★★★☆

“Suddenly, Last Summer is a subtle and moving exploration of the relationship between a high school teacher and student. Director Leesong Hee-il delicately inserts information throughout that continually evolves the connection between them, challenging preconceptions while never adopting a moral position”

Sweet Temptation (잘 먹고 잘 사는 법) – ★★★★☆

“Sweet Temptation won the Grand Prize at the 2013 Jeonju Film Festival in the Korean Short Film category, and not without good reason. Director Jeong Han-Jin has produced a lovely and endearing story about the bond between mother and son, and temptations that forge internal conflict in innocent minds. Sweet Temptation is a charming and heart-warming film.”

You Are More Than Beautiful (그녀의 연기) – ★★★★☆

“You Are More Than Beautiful is a delightful short film by director Kim Tae-yong. As one of the few directors in the Korean film industry creating fully-developed female roles his films are always interesting, and actress Gong Hyo-jin takes full advantage of the opportunity to perform her acting talent. Throughout the film she is utterly compelling and wonderfully charismatic, living up to the title as her passion for life and positivity make her more than an attractive women. A lovely short film.”

The X (더 엑스) – N/A

“The X is ultimately a technological experiment rather than a short film. Directed by auteur Kim Ji-woon, the production is intended as a showcase for Screen X technology. Aside from an impressive car chase and one of two key shots, director Kim and his team generally fail to exploit the potential offered by Screen X making it feel somewhat gimmicky, although time will tell if the industry adopts what’s on offer.”