With the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival gearing up for it’s 17th installment, a large variety of films have been selected to showcase the diverse genre filmmaking talent across the globe.

There are some wonderfully titled categories throughout the program that emphasise the dedication to popular cinema, and within each are an eclectic selection of Korean films that highlight the many and varied productions emerging from the country.

This article will explore the films within the ‘Puchon Choice’ category, which contains one current and highly popular feature film from director Jang Cheol-su, and several noteworthy shorts that explore a host of topics through genre frameworks.

Puchon Choice

Secretly, Greatly (은밀하게 위대하게)

Director: Jang Cheol-soo (장철수)

Synopsis: Based on the popular webcomic and still enjoying a healthy run at the box office, director Jang’s Secretly, Greatly has broken several records – biggest opening day (497,560), most admissions in one day (919,035) and the fastest film to cross the one million mark (36 hours) (Source: Kobiz). The success has largely been attributed to the three heartthrob actors within the film, notably Kim Soo-hyun whose star power has increased dramatically. This will be the first showing of the film with English subtitles in Korea, so fans will be quick to get tickets.  Please see below for the trailer.

Buchon Choice: Short 1

8

Director: Lee Sang-il (이상일)

Synopsis: There is precious little information about director Lee’s 3 minute short fiction film, but judging from the stills it appears to be an abduction horror/thriller set in an apartment.

Two Boys and a Sheep (소년과 양)

Director: Lee Hyeong-seok (이형석)

Synopsis: This 18 minute fiction gets its international premiere at PiFan 2013, and features several protagonists quarreling over the titular sheep. Looks to be one of the more quirky offerings from the festival.

When the Moon is on the Wane (달이 기울면)

Director: Jeong So-yeong (정소영)

Synopsis: In a village full of tilting houses only one woman – Jae-ah – stays behind to wait for her brother. An intriguing premise that hints at exploring the notion of community and family, as well as history and memory and how they erode over time.

Buchon Choice: Short 2

Dirty Harry (더티혜리)

Director: Lee Yo-seob (이요섭)

Synopsis: Director Lee’s 28 minute short explores teenage pregnancy. When Harry discovers her best friend Crush is pregnant, she tracks down the father – a delivery boy from a local Chinese restaurant.

The Rumblings (밀청)

Director: Choi Ju-young (최주용)

Synopsis: Mi-yeon lives a monotonous life ever since her husband passed away, and one day begins to listen in her neighbor’s conversations. But what started as fun suddenly turns serious.

A Stranger Dream (이몽)

Director: Tak Sae-woong (탁세웅)

Synopsis: Horror/thriller A Stranger Dream depicts a young woman who witnesses the murder of a man living in a luxurious mansion – in her dreams. They are so vivid, and continually recur, that the woman then decides to seek out the man and warn him.