Fists of Legend
(전설 의 주먹)
Saturday, April 13, 2013
New Korean Films: Punching Bags and Mannequins (2013 Week 15)
(by Fabien Schneider)
A producer of a television fighting contest, Kyu-Min, is seeking amateurs to compete against professional athletes. She tries to persuade Lim Duk-Kyu, the tenant of a noodle restaurant, but he only agrees reluctantly because he needs the prize money to compensate the hospitalization of a girl her daughter beat up. He doesn't know yet that Kyu-Min has also fetched two of his high school friends for the competition.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
An Early Korean Youth Film: Early Rain (초우, Chou) 1966
.png)
The aftermath of World War II brought about a quick change in social values, which reevaluated the needs and lifestyles of youths around the world. In the US, James Dean and Elvis Presley captured the imagination of millions of young Americans in search of a new identity. A similar thing happened in Japan with the rapid modernization of a strict society that had recently undergone a shameful loss in the Pacific Theatre. Social roles were changing and up and coming directors such as Suzuki Seijun and Oshima Nagisa were taping into a youth culture of revolt that began to brew in the late 1950s.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Korean Box Office: Running Man Quick Off the Mark (04/05-04/07, 2013)
.jpg)
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Lack of Focus Hinders An Ethics Lesson (분노의 윤리학, Boonnoeui yoonrihak) 2013
.jpg)
Ensemble casts and high concept scripts seems to be all the rage these days in Korean cinema and An Ethics Lesson, billed as an erotic thriller, is the latest addition to this trend. But as wonderful as Korea's multi-genre concoctions have been in the past, these days, in an effort to push the enveloped ever further, there has arisen a disturbing trend of films which, through the application of an all but the kitchen sink approach, have become whitewashed and bland.
Friday, April 5, 2013
New Korean Films: US Companies Rush In (2013 Week 14)
(by Fabien Schneider)
The one and only dream of Cha Jong-woo is to raise enough money to live under the same roof with his 17-year old son, who resulted from a youthful indiscretion. This is why he works in a garage by day and spends his nights as a taxi driver. One day, he suddenly realizes that that the rich client he was driving to his destination has been murdered, not understanding how this could have happen. By bad intuition, he decides to flee, and thus the next day becomes the prime suspect. Meanwhile, his son, not believing the news, is trying to find out what really happened.
Running Man
(런닝맨)
The one and only dream of Cha Jong-woo is to raise enough money to live under the same roof with his 17-year old son, who resulted from a youthful indiscretion. This is why he works in a garage by day and spends his nights as a taxi driver. One day, he suddenly realizes that that the rich client he was driving to his destination has been murdered, not understanding how this could have happen. By bad intuition, he decides to flee, and thus the next day becomes the prime suspect. Meanwhile, his son, not believing the news, is trying to find out what really happened.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Korean Box Office: G.I. Joe 2 Wipes Out the Competition (03/29-03/31, 2013)
G.I. Joe 2 Wipes out the Competition
Sunday, March 31, 2013
MKC Thought Leaders' Corner: March 2013
This month, the experts chime in on what various things they're noticing in the current Korean film industry. This month's question:
Are you noticing any trends in Korean films these days?
Many to thanks to all the contributors for their time and insightful comments. Responses listed alphabetically, followed by the thoughts of MKC's teammembers.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Lee Man-hee's The Road to Sampo (삼포 가는길, Samo Ganeungil) 1975
.png)
New Korean Films: The Shifting Sands of Indie Films (2013 Week 13)
(by Fabien Schneider)
This week is the calm before the storm: I have only two independent films to introduce to you, and both will only have limited distribution. But this is not a reason not to be interested in them, because they are two quite original projects.
This week is the calm before the storm: I have only two independent films to introduce to you, and both will only have limited distribution. But this is not a reason not to be interested in them, because they are two quite original projects.
Following Sand River
(모래가 흐르는 강)
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
14th Jeonju Film Fest Reveals Lineup!
Monday, March 25, 2013
Korean Box Office: Strong Start for Very Ordinary Couple (03/22-03/24, 2013)
Strong Start for Very Ordinary Couple
.jpg)
March is generally not a busy period for movies and South Korea is no exception. After a rocket-fueled start which saw records fall as local films dominated (Miracle in Cell No.7, The Berlin File, New World, etc.) and almost completely shut out Hollywood, things have settled down considerably as the industry lies in wait for what is likely to be a gargantuan summer season. That said, at 1.69 million admissions, business was up slightly and the market share occupied by domestic films was still very strong at 67%.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Re-encounter (혜화,동, Hye-hwa, Dong) 2010
.jpg)
(by refresh_daemon)
Friday, March 22, 2013
New Korean Films: Rememberance of the Lost Ones (2013 Week 12)
(by Fabien Schneider)
Eighteen characters are brought together in sketches with original situations, and the topics of all their discussions quickly turn to sex: a 70-year old man who returns to childhood by chatting with teenagers, a suicidal soldier and a serial killer, a naturist blind-date, or God trying to regulate the desire in his first two attempts at making humans, are only a few of these strange stories.
Eating, Talking, Faucking
(생생활활)
Eighteen characters are brought together in sketches with original situations, and the topics of all their discussions quickly turn to sex: a 70-year old man who returns to childhood by chatting with teenagers, a suicidal soldier and a serial killer, a naturist blind-date, or God trying to regulate the desire in his first two attempts at making humans, are only a few of these strange stories.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Fribourg 2013: National Security (남영동1985, Namyeong-dong 1985) 2012
.jpg)
Playing at the 27th Fribourg International Film Festival (March 16-23, 2013)
Corruption, injustice and terror have always been a sad reality of politics. Over the years, many filmmakers have gone to great lengths (sometimes even putting their lives in peril) in a bid to give a voice to the victims of political malfeasance and to shed light on the frequently covered-up truths within the halls of power. Notable examples include Pontecorvo’s The Battle of Algiers (1966) and Costa-Gavras’ Z (1969). Among the pantheon of political works it is true that those that endure are the ones that shock; works that can elicit an audible gasp from audience members. However, a filmmaker must be careful not to go too far and should also pay due consideration to narrative and filmic requirements when presenting a politically charged narrative on screen.
Chung Ji-young made a big comeback following a 13-year absence this time last year when Unbowed debuted at the 16th edition of the Busan Film Festival. Hot on its heels and proving that it wasn’t a fluke, he has returned with a searing indictment of the brutal Chun Doo-hwan administration that terrorized Korea for the better part of the 1980s.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Fribourg 2013: Your Time Is Up (누구나 제 명에 죽고 싶다, Nuguna Je Myeonge Juggosipda) 2012
.jpg)
Playing at the 27th Fribourg International Film Festival (March 16-23, 2013)
I discussed the Korean Academy of Film Arts, or more precisely their graduation feature projects, for my recent piece on When Winter Screams, a film I enjoyed with some reservations. Now it’s time to take a look at the other major 2012 KAFA production. Your Time Is Up has had a more successful festival run so far, largely because it was programmed alongside Lee Don-ku’s excellent Fatal during last October’s Busan International Film Festival in the New Currents section. Due to the exposure afforded by that selection, this KAFA project has found itself competing with Jang Kun-jae’s Sleepless Night and about a dozen other films during this month’s Fribourg International Film Festival.
I discussed the Korean Academy of Film Arts, or more precisely their graduation feature projects, for my recent piece on When Winter Screams, a film I enjoyed with some reservations. Now it’s time to take a look at the other major 2012 KAFA production. Your Time Is Up has had a more successful festival run so far, largely because it was programmed alongside Lee Don-ku’s excellent Fatal during last October’s Busan International Film Festival in the New Currents section. Due to the exposure afforded by that selection, this KAFA project has found itself competing with Jang Kun-jae’s Sleepless Night and about a dozen other films during this month’s Fribourg International Film Festival.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Fribourg 2013: Meaningful Stillness in Jang Kun-jae's Sleepless Night (2012)
.jpg)
Of late, Korean Cinema has made for rather bleak viewing. Hushed up sexual violence has been very prevalent but politics, torture and much else besides have also found their way into these recent narratives. For this reason, among many others, I am particularly grateful for Jang Kun-jae's magnificent sophomore feature Sleepless Night. His new film, though not without its portrayal of injustice and hardship, is a film about happiness, or at least one loving couple's pursuit of it in modern day Seoul.
Korean Box Office: Warm Bodies First Foreign No.1 of 2013 (03/15-03/17, 2013)
Warm Bodies First Foreign No.1 of 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Fribourg 2013: A Brand New Life (여행자, Yeo-haeng-ja) 2009
Oomie Lecomte’s film A Brand New Life fills an interesting position in the pantheon of Korean cinema. It is a woman’s film made by a foreigner, and by that token alone it is somewhat of an anomaly. While decidedly European in many aspects, it still succeeds in engaging with many thematic elements commonly associated with Korean cinema. In addition, the film is set in 1975 and features a storyline where characters with unfortunate pasts come and go as circumstances beyond their control dictate.
Friday, March 15, 2013
When Winter Screams (설인, Seolin) 2012
I’ve made no secret of my admiration for Korea’s wonderful film schools, which are responsible for some of the best professionals working in the industry today. One such institution is the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA), a government-sponsored school affiliated with the Korean Film Council that sports such illustrious alumni as MKC favorite Bong Joon-ho. A few years ago, KAFA began to make full-blown feature length films as graduation projects (with the support of industry giant CJ Entertainment) and the results have been formidable. 2010 featured the one-two punch of Bleak Night and End of Animal while 2011’s crop included Choked and Mirage.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
New Korean Films: The Coming of New Indie Filmmakers (2013 Week 11)
(by Fabien Schneider)
This week is all to the glory of independent cinema since the Korean Academy of Art Films delivers two films from its students and a third debut movie completes the series. But don't get your hopes up, success will only smile upon My Paparoti, as this one has all the cards in hand to propel itself to the top of the box office. There is also a particular challenger that I decided not to include in my article despite being quite interesting for what it tells about the foreign interests in the Korean market: The Fifth Execution, a Russian film co-produced with South Korea and the U.S., where the main character is embodied by Kim Bo-seong, a famous actor of the 90s who starred in the trilogy of Two Cops, a few comedies and some soap operas.
This week is all to the glory of independent cinema since the Korean Academy of Art Films delivers two films from its students and a third debut movie completes the series. But don't get your hopes up, success will only smile upon My Paparoti, as this one has all the cards in hand to propel itself to the top of the box office. There is also a particular challenger that I decided not to include in my article despite being quite interesting for what it tells about the foreign interests in the Korean market: The Fifth Execution, a Russian film co-produced with South Korea and the U.S., where the main character is embodied by Kim Bo-seong, a famous actor of the 90s who starred in the trilogy of Two Cops, a few comedies and some soap operas.
Your Time is Up
(누구나 제 명 에 죽고 싶다)
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
An Ambitious Korean Gangster Film: New World (신세계, Sinsegye) 2013
.jpg)
Ever since I discovered Korean cinema, I’ve been a fan of the industry’s frequent experimentations with genre. Almost every film that comes out of the country seems to be an amalgamation of different tropes but there is one genre that has remained for the most part untouched: the gangster film. When Korean filmmakers decide to make a gangster film, they tend to leave experimentation aside and instead look to emulate some of world cinema’s most beloved criminal narratives.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Between Memory and Awareness: Jiseul (지슬) 2012
(by Fabien Schneider)
MKC is co-presenting Jiseul as part of this year's CAAMFest. Film screens on March 15th & 19th. Click here for more details.
Film watched at the 19th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema
As soon as the moving silhouettes detaching themselves from the ambient darkness begin to raise their voices, the fire that provided their scant comfort peters out. Suddenly, all of them realize that they are now trapped in the black under a few meters of rock. They do not know how many days they have lurked there like hibernating animals, but one thing is certain, they still need to wait one more day. And then another. Who knows when this nightmare will come to an end? With little historical context, the young director O Muel ruthlessly immerses us into one of the darkest episodes of the Cold War. One that is seldom documented in South Korea, and that the U.S. has preferred to ignore. With a careful, solemn aesthetic, the director tackles the process of remembrance, one equal to that of the dramatic event. Though it will surely be appreciated by the local population as the outlet that they expected for so long, the film remains too hermetic to allow a foreign audience to understand the true value of its drama. Spectators have to make due with a simple introductory text, insufficient and somewhat dubious from a historical perspective.
Monday, March 11, 2013
KBO: New World Holds Firm During Slow Weekend (03/08-03/10, 2013)
New World Holds Firm During Slow Weekend
.jpg)
| Title | Release Date | Market Share | Weekend | Total | Screens | |
| 1 | New World | 13/02/21 | 30.90% | 508,893 | 3,369,650 | 555 |
| 2 | Miracle in Cell No.7 | 13/01/23 | 16.70% | 291,884 | 12,177,983 | 433 |
| 3 | Psychometry | 13/03/07 | 14.80% | 242,319 | 297,330 | 429 |
| 4 | Oz: The Great and Powerful (us) | 13/03/07 | 13.60% | 208,962 | 228,696 | 425 |
| 5 | Jack the Giant Slayer (us) | 13/02/28 | 8.60% | 147,478 | 885,989 | 364 |
| 6 | Zero Dark Thirty (us) | 13/03/07 | 3.50% | 61,171 | 72,222 | 258 |
| 7 | The Berlin File | 13/01/30 | 3.40% | 56,401 | 7,100,309 | 287 |
| 8 | 12 Chinese Zodiac Heads (cn) | 13/02/27 | 2.40% | 41,665 | 296,010 | 187 |
| 9 | Stoker (us) | 13/02/28 | 2.40% | 38,430 | 343,752 | 204 |
| 10 | b (In) | 13/02/21 | 0.90% | 17,266 | 302,550 | 168 |
Sunday, March 10, 2013
New Korean Films: Is There Room For Yet Another Thriller? (2013 Week 10)
(by Fabien Schneider)
This week will probably see no new hit for Korean films and thus should maintain the established order at the box office. With a short movie for film buffs and a collection of independent short films in very limited distribution, only Psychometry has the ability to attract thousands of spectators, but finds itself in the worst possible situations, being released after two big successful thrillers.
This week will probably see no new hit for Korean films and thus should maintain the established order at the box office. With a short movie for film buffs and a collection of independent short films in very limited distribution, only Psychometry has the ability to attract thousands of spectators, but finds itself in the worst possible situations, being released after two big successful thrillers.
Psychometry
(사이코메트리)
Why Hollywood Genre Flicks Need Korean Film, Not Korean Filmmakers
(by Peter Gutiérrez)
Here’s a snobby confession for you: I don’t read the New York Times much for insights into international cinema. But when it recently ran a piece entitled South Korean Crossover in Hollywood, I had to pay attention. Rather predictably it compared and contrasted Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook, and Kim Ji-woon, taking an approach that cited previous waves of foreign-born directors arriving in the US and making the entire issue seem like one of immigration.
Here’s a snobby confession for you: I don’t read the New York Times much for insights into international cinema. But when it recently ran a piece entitled South Korean Crossover in Hollywood, I had to pay attention. Rather predictably it compared and contrasted Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook, and Kim Ji-woon, taking an approach that cited previous waves of foreign-born directors arriving in the US and making the entire issue seem like one of immigration.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
BIFF 2012: Perfect Number (용의자X, Yong-eui-ja-X) 2012
.jpg)
Part of MKC's coverage of the 17th Busan International Film Festival.
I originally saw Bang Eun-jin’s sophomore film Perfect Number at the Busan International Film Festival last October. I am a big fan of the Japanese book (‘The Devotion of Suspect X’ by Keigo Hegashino) that it was based on and as I felt that the story would be a great fit for Korean cinema my expectations were very high. Too high it seems as I found myself a little disappointed by a film delivering something I wasn’t expecting.
A reclusive math teacher is smitten with his next-door neighbor who lives with her niece. One day her ex-husband comes to visit and a violent altercation ends with his lifeless corpse hitting the ground. The teacher has heard what transpired and knocks on their door. Quiet, composed and intelligent, he offers to help his distressed neighbors.
A reclusive math teacher is smitten with his next-door neighbor who lives with her niece. One day her ex-husband comes to visit and a violent altercation ends with his lifeless corpse hitting the ground. The teacher has heard what transpired and knocks on their door. Quiet, composed and intelligent, he offers to help his distressed neighbors.
Monday, March 4, 2013
KBO: New World Repeats up Top, Stoker Unconvincing (03/1-03/03, 2013)
New World Repeats up Top, Stoker Unconvincing
.jpg)
| Title | Release Date | Market Share | Weekend | Total | Screens | |
| 1 | New World | 13/02/21 | 29.40% | 849,376 | 2,530,048 | 604 |
| 2 | Miracle in Cell No.7 | 13/01/23 | 25.10% | 777,968 | 11,704,634 | 577 |
| 3 | Jack the Giant Slayer (us) | 13/02/28 | 19.40% | 545,550 | 659,854 | 507 |
| 4 | The Berlin File | 13/01/30 | 6.40% | 189,296 | 6,997,749 | 362 |
| 5 | Stoker (us) | 13/02/28 | 5.80% | 165,408 | 240,639 | 329 |
| 6 | 12 Chinese Zodiac Heads (cn) | 13/02/27 | 5.20% | 162,566 | 217,242 | 300 |
| 7 | Delhi Safair (In) | 13/02/21 | 2.50% | 83,606 | 280,563 | 263 |
| 8 | The Giant King (us/th) | 13/02/21 | 1.00% | 33,808 | 149,067 | 180 |
| 9 | Sky Force 3D (us, hk) | 13/02/28 | 0.90% | 30,991 | 43,496 | 183 |
| 10 | An Ethics Lesson | 13/02/21 | 0.60% | 18,065 | 215,985 | 147 |
Saturday, March 2, 2013
MKC Thought Leaders' Corner: February 2013
This month, we take a look at the star system in Korea. February's roster of experts take a look at the many stars in the Korea film industry, many of them hailing from the realms of Kpop and Kdrama. This month's question:
How valuable are stars in the Korean film industry?
Many to thanks to all the contributors for their time and insightful comments. Responses listed alphabetically, followed by the thoughts of MKC's teammembers.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
New Korean Films: Meta-Narratives and Binge Drinking (2013 Week 9)
(by Fabien Schneider)
The program for this week looks quite unique, with only two new films, but two independent productions that both have many similarities: they were screened in the Berlinale this month, and propose experiments with narrative. Nothing that could shake the top of the current box office of course, but it will be interesting to see which of these two movies will get the most endorsement from the public.
Nobody's Daughter Haewon (누구의 딸도 아닌 해원)
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Divorce, Korean Style: All About My Wife (내 아내의 모든 것, Nae Anaeui Modeun Geot) 2012
.jpg)
(by Rex Baylon)
There used to be a time when America was known as a manufacturing giant. In agriculture, electronics, and automobile design America seemed not to have any contenders. With regards to film, Hollywood was the first and last word when it came to cinema. Even as the US began its slow decline, the soft power of American cinema never seemed to waver even through all the social upheaval of the twentieth century; while presidents came and went, one hit wonders rose and fell, and wars were won or lost, Hollywood never lost its luster in the eyes of foreign and domestic audiences.
Monday, February 25, 2013
For Eternal Hearts (별빛 속으로, Byeolbit Sokeuro) 2007
.jpg)
(by refresh_daemon)
There is an almost early Korean New Wave sensibility to the storytelling of For Eternal Hearts with its loose, observant narrative, that gives it an almost art-film like aesthetic, but the film's rather forced and self-cancelling narrative fails to build any significant dramatic tension, even despite throwing in several twists, to elevate this romance-less supernatural romance film from its murky story and visuals.
It all starts with a German literature professor, Hyeon Suyeong (Jeong Jin-yeong), who runs into a classroom full of students who ask him to recount his first love. He then tells of how as a young man (Jeong Gyeong-ho), he was taken by a spunky fellow student, nicknamed Pippi (Kim Gyu-ri), but shortly after he meets her, she commits suicide following a few cryptic comments about following love into death. However, shortly after her death, Suyeong starts seeing Pippi and she leads him to a job tutoring a high school student, Suji (Cha Su-yeon), who is instantly infatuated by Suyeong, but things are not what they seem.
KBO: Close Race as New World Beats Miracle (02/22-02/24, 2013)
Close Race as New World Beats Miracle
.jpg)
| Title | Release Date | Market Share | Weekend | Total | Screens | |
| 1 | New World | 13/02/21 | 35.50% | 860,754 | 1,038,890 | 671 |
| 2 | Miracle in Cell No.7 | 13/01/23 | 33.10% | 855,942 | 10,386,785 | 667 |
| 3 | The Berlin File | 13/01/30 | 12.00% | 303,727 | 6,608,013 | 440 |
| 4 | An Ethics Lesson | 13/02/21 | 4.30% | 104,494 | 145,437 | 302 |
| 5 | Delhi Safari (In) | 13/02/21 | 3.30% | 90,837 | 110,358 | 289 |
| 6 | How to Use Guys With Secret Tips | 13/02/14 | 2.10% | 56,007 | 454,704 | 223 |
| 7 | The Giant King (us/th) | 13/02/21 | 1.80% | 52,646 | 66,897 | 228 |
| 8 | A Good Day to Die Hard (us) | 13/02/06 | 1.60% | 40,442 | 1,422,089 | 169 |
| 9 | The Last Stand (us) | 13/02/21 | 1.40% | 34,220 | 44,280 | 296 |
| 10 | Marco Makaco (de) | 13/02/14 | 0.80% | 22,656 | 159,640 | 131 |
Friday, February 22, 2013
Park Chan-wook's Stoker (2013)
Hollywood has a history of cherry-picking the world’s greatest filmmaking talents. Though many greats such as Billy Wilder, Fritz Lang, F.W. Murnau and Roman Polanksi have made some of their finest works on American soil, the same can’t always be said of Asian directors. Besides Ang Lee, most Asian cineastes have had trouble adapting their style to the US. This year all eyes are on a few Korean directors making their Hollywood debuts to see if they can buck the trend.
It’s been a longer wait then usual for Park Chan-wook’s new film and the prospect of him working in the States with internationally recognizable faces has meant that expectations for his latest have been sky high. Unlike Kim Jee-woon, who was forced to work on a very controlled project with his Hollywood debut The Last Stand, Park was given much greater freedom for his film.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
New Korean Films: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (2013 Week 8)
(by Fabien Schneider)
This week will be very bloody and will features many deaths, both within these new films and between them at the box office. Two of the largest distributors in Korea, NEW and Lotte, will each propose a thriller full of promise. And although I will not dwell on this film because technically it isn't Korean, CJ Entertainment is also going to unsheathe The Last Stand by Kim Jee-woon. Three films not allowed for children, three films that seem to have each their strengths and weaknesses. Which one will manage to make it out alive?
This week will be very bloody and will features many deaths, both within these new films and between them at the box office. Two of the largest distributors in Korea, NEW and Lotte, will each propose a thriller full of promise. And although I will not dwell on this film because technically it isn't Korean, CJ Entertainment is also going to unsheathe The Last Stand by Kim Jee-woon. Three films not allowed for children, three films that seem to have each their strengths and weaknesses. Which one will manage to make it out alive?
New World (신세계)
Monday, February 18, 2013
KBO: Miracle Stays Flat for 4th Straight Weekend (02/15-02/17, 2013)
Miracle Stays Flat for 4th Straight Weekend
.jpg)
| Title | Release Date | Market Share | Weekend | Total | Screens | |
| 1 | Miracle in Cell No.7 | 13/01/23 | 41.20% | 1,129,726 | 8,867,424 | 721 |
| 2 | The Berlin File | 13/01/30 | 24.10% | 644,456 | 5,980,252 | 579 |
| 3 | A Good Day to Die Hard (us) | 13/02/06 | 7.80% | 210,178 | 1,297,703 | 329 |
| 4 | How to Use Guys With Secret Tips | 13/02/14 | 7.40% | 200,891 | 266,891 | 367 |
| 5 | Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (us) | 13/02/14 | 5.70% | 138,407 | 177,571 | 297 |
| 6 | Marco Makaco (de) | 13/02/14 | 2.90% | 88,766 | 96,848 | 276 |
| 7 | South Bound | 13/02/06 | 3.00% | 84,070 | 772,586 | 240 |
| 8 | The Snow Queen (ru) | 13/02/07 | 1.90% | 58,181 | 245,463 | 229 |
| 9 | Silver Linings Playbook (uk) | 13/02/14 | 1.90% | 48,935 | 70,731 | 223 |
| 10 | Pororo: the Racing Adventure | 13/01/23 | 1.10% | 30,952 | 867,20 | 102 |
Thursday, February 14, 2013
New Korean Films: A Wide Variety (2013 Week 7)
(by Fabien Schneider)
This week, compared to last week, is rich with new releases. But with two documentaries, an indie fiction and a harmless romantic comedy, The Berlin File and Miracle in Cell Number 7 don't have to worry about their top spots at the box office. At least until next week, when the highly anticipated The New World will climb aboard the stage.
From Seoul to Varanasi (불륜의 시대)
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Dirty Blood (나쁜 피, Nah-beun pi) 2012
As a society Korea has been slow to change despite its economic growth. At times it can seem like a gigantic, perpetually simmering pot of discontent that seems dangerously close to boiling over. One aspect of Korean society that is often brushed under the carpet is repressed sexuality and while it isn’t something you will encounter much in TV dramas, music and the news, the Korean film industry, of late, has been vocal in its depiction of the widespread abuse that rages through the country. Truth be told, it is often used opportunistically and many of the works in question tread a very fine line.
Dirty Blood is one such film that exists in dangerous territory. While other 2012 features that examined sex crimes in an aggressive fashion, such as Don’t Cry Mommy and Azooma, did so in a relatively black and white fashion. Director Kang Hyo-jin opts to operate in a grey area, much like Lee Don-ku did with his incendiary debut Fatal, also last year.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The Ultimate Revenge Narrative: 26 Years (26년, 26-nyeon) 2012
Just like anyone else, I come from a country (Ireland) with historical scars that refuse to completely fade away. The sad fact is that these days my connection with my home is tenuous at best. Nevertheless, as we approach the centenary following the Easter Rising of 1916, this terrible event that saw a group a passionate Irishman stand up to their English oppressors, only to be brutally suppressed, is still an indelible part of who I am.
My grandmother (who recently died aged 100) was only four when it happened. It should be ancient history for me: a bygone event that took place in a country I didn't spend much of my youth in and that I don’t easily identify with. Yet somehow, I feel a sense of solidarity with those young men (and a few women) who stood up to an unvanquishable foe in the name of what they felt was right.
KBO: Miracle, Berlin Dominate Lunar New Year Frame (02/08-02/10, 2013)
Miracle, Berlin Dominate Lunar New Year Frame
.jpg)
| Title | Release Date | Market Share | Weekend | Total | Screens | |
| 1 | Miracle in Cell No. 7 | 13/01/23 | 37.10% | 1,308,317 | 6,281,296 | 802 |
| 2 | The Berlin File | 13/01/30 | 33.50% | 1,153,414 | 4,181,031 | 784 |
| 3 | A Good Day to Die Hard (us) | 13/02/06 | 14.30% | 479,370 | 625,388 | 458 |
| 4 | South Bound | 13/02/06 | 8.30% | 292,274 | 402,602 | 420 |
| 5 | The Snow Queen (ru) | 13/02/07 | 1.90% | 73,355 | 84,889 | 311 |
| 6 | Pororo: the Racing Adventure | 13/01/23 | 1.70% | 59,252 | 756,564 | 287 |
| 7 | Monsters Inc. (us) | 1/12/20 | 1.20% | 31,377 | 34,863 | 173 |
| 8 | Les Miserables (uk/us) | 12/12/19 | 0.50% | 18,153 | 5,835,054 | 51 |
| 9 | Man on the Edge | 13/01/09 | 0.40% | 13,499 | 3,884,380 | 64 |
| 10 | Life of Pie (us) | 13/01/01 | 0.20% | 4,728 | 1,568,566 | 10 |
Monday, February 11, 2013
Berlinale 2013: Pluto (명왕성, Myeongwangsong) 2012
.jpg)
One of the ten Korean films screening at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival.
Film festivals can be a great place to catch up with big films from established luminaries of world cinema but for the ardent cinephile, the most exciting thing is to make a fresh discovery. With patience and some discerning selecting, you will almost always come away with a few pleasant surprises but, while it is wonderful to stumble upon an accomplished debut or sophomore films from emerging talents in the field, every so often you will see something that gives you a special feeling. It is an unmistakable sense of being part of something new and exciting, in the presence of an artist with raw talent, effortless ability and an intuitive understanding of film. These spine-tingling moments don’t happen at every festival but when they do it makes all the searching worthwhile.
Shin Su-won’s second feature Pluto gave me this feeling. However, before singing too much of its praises, I should say that it is a flawed work. More than the film itself, it is the potential of the director that gave me goosebumps. Without a doubt, Shin is about to be a major player in Korean cinema and could well become a force on the international scene before long.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)