London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

July daytime screenings: fantasy films

Each month the KCCUK library have been spotlighting cities or provinces of Korea with daily screenings of films set or filmed in those places. This month is no different as we celebrate the wonderful area of Puchon and, in particular, the Puchon Int’l Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan).

PiFAN poster

Puchon is deemed the cultural centre between two of Korea’s biggest and most popular areas, Seoul and Incheon, containing two of the area’s biggest cultural events/location with the PiFan festival and the Pucheon Philharmonic Orchestra. The area also boost many tourist attractions such as the world famous Architecture Theme Park, the Kim Deoksu Samulnori Theatre and the Dongchun Circus Theatre.

This year marks the 15th year the PiFan festival, happening every July, which highlights fantasy, thriller and horror films from around the globe. It has steadily become one of the biggest and most influential festivals of its kind, in the world. The films screened as part of this season are ones that have either screened as part of the festival’s in the past or are in the vein of the PiFan. Visit here to see what’s happening at this year’s event.
Below are the films playing through this season;

A Boy Who Went To Heaven (2005) (소년, 천국에 가다)

Boy goes to heavenDirector: Yoon Tae-yong
Genre: Fantasy/Drama
Certification: 12 (South Korea)
Running Time: 114 mins
Date & Time: Mon 12.00
Venue: The Library, KCCUK
Admission Free

Synopsis
Nemo, 13, lives with his single mother who dies in a train crash. He soon meets Boo-ja, a woman in her 30’s who is similar to his mother. He decides there and then that he loves her and will marry her. He constantly sends her anonymous letters eventually revealing himself to her but also dies in an accident. Left in shock Boo-ja spends her days drinking, but after a time realises Nemo’s love for her has survived his death and reaches out to her.

Yobi The Five Tailed Fox (2007) (천년여우 여우비)

Yobi The Five Tailed FoxDirector: Lee Sung-gang
Genre: Animation
Certification: PG (South Korea)
Running Time: 86 mins
Date & Time: Tue 12.00
Venue: The Library, KCCUK
Admission Free

Synopsis
Aliens crash land at a mountain where Yobi, a five tailed, shape shifting, fox lives. She becomes close to the aliens and decides that she wishes to leave with them. However one of them runs away and is taken in by a class of school kids. Yobi disguises herself as a girl to rescues the alien but quickly finds herself attached to a student named Geum-ie but her life is in danger when a fox hunter comes calling.

My Beautiful Girl, Mari (2005) (마리 이야기)

My Beautiful Girl MariDirector: Lee Sung-gang
Genre: Animation
Certification: PG (South Korea)
Running Time: 80 mins
Date & Time: Wed 12.00
Venue: The Library, KCCUK
Admission Free

Synopsis
In a secluded seaside village, Namoo, 12, finds that everyone eventually leaves him whether its his best friend leaving for Seoul or his mother paying more attention to her new boyfriend. One day he finds a mysterious shining marble in a lighthouse which transports him to a wonderful dream world where he meets Mari.

Magic (2010) (요술)

MagicDirector: Koo Hye-sun
Genre: Romance
Certification: 12 (South Korea)
Running Time: 95 mins
Date & Time: Thu 12.00
Venue: The Library, KCCUK
Admission Free

Synopsis
Myeong-jin and Jeong-woo both study cello at the same school but Myeong-jin is in awe of Jeong-woo’s genius. They meet Ji-eun, a pianist, writing an incredible composition named ‘Magic’. Jeong-woo offers to accompany her performance but on the day collapses. Ji-eun falls in love with Jeong-woo and watches over him turning down the advances of Myeong-jin.

D-War (2006) (디 워)

D-warDirector: Shim Hyung-rae
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Certification: 12 (South Korea)
Running Time: 92 mins
Date & Time: Fri 12.00
Venue: The Library, KCCUK
Admission Free

Synopsis
Based on the Korean legend where unknown creatures are said to return and devastate the planet. Reporter Ethan Kendrick is called to investigate an explosion and arrives at the conclusion that this is a sign of their return and a girl named Sarah is suppose to help him. While the Imoogi, a giant snake, makes its way to LA, wrecking havoc and destruction. With the entire city under siege, will Ethan and Sarah make it in time to save everyone.

Private Eye (2009) (그림자 살인)

Private EyeDirector: Park Dae-min
Genre: Mystery
Certification: 12 (South Korea)
Running Time: 111 mins
Date & Time: Mon 15.00
Venue: The Library, KCCUK
Admission Free

Synopsis
Seoul, 1910, Jin-ho travels around solving trivial family problems for money as a P.I. His dream is to save enough money to travel to America. One night a medical student,Gwang-soo, finds a body in the woods and secretly practices his dissections. The corpse’s happens to be the son of Seoul’s most powerful man. Afraid of being branded the killer, Gwang-soo, meets Jin-ho and asks him to find the real murderer.

Radio Dayz (2007) (라듸오 데이즈)

Radio DayzDirector: Ha Ki-ho
Genre: Comedy
Certification: 12 (South Korea)
Running Time: 111 mins
Date & Time: Tue 15.00
Venue: The Library, KCCUK
Admission Free

Synopsis
Korea’s first radio station established in the thirties is given the mission of producing the first live serial, radio play; “Flames of Love”. In charge are the unlikely team of; Lloyd, a good for nothing producer, Man-cheol, an announcer, Bong-al, a writer who never writes an ending, K an activist and sound tech, Myeong-wol a former prostitute, Mari a jazz singer and Sun-deok the stations gopher. How will this strange group make anything let alone a radio show.

Midnight Ballad For Ghost Theatre (2006) (삼거리 극장)

Midnight Ballad For Ghost TheatreDirector: Jeon Kye-soo
Genre: Musical
Certification: 12 (South Korea)
Running Time: 120 mins
Date & Time: Wed 15.00
Venue: The Library, KCCUK
Admission Free

Synopsis
So-dan is a girl bored with her life but manages to escape her humdrum world by visiting the run-down, Three Corners Theatre. Initially she goes to the theatre in search of her grandmother who is said to of disappeared upon entering the building. The theatre is not a regular theatre as when night falls ghost come out to play, preforming cabaret for the brave souls that enter.

Today and Other Days (2008) (저녁의 게임)

Today and Other DaysDirector: Choi Nak-kwon
Genre: Drama
Certification: 12 (South Korea)
Running Time: 120 mins
Date & Time: Thu 15.00
Venue: The Library, KCCUK
Admission Free

Synopsis
On the outskirts of town where the government’s re-development plan is being carried out an unmarried daughter lives with her father. He suffers from dementia, and plays cards all and every night. The daughter wishes to escape but the reality of her world will not allow her too.

Try To Remember (2010) (우리 만난 적 있나요)

Try To RememberDirector: Lim Jin-pyung
Genre: Romance
Certification: 12 (South Korea)
Running Time: 100 mins
Date & Time: Fri 15.00
Venue: The Library, KCCUK
Admission Free

Synopsis
A man and a woman, despite hardly knowing each other, have been suffering from the same dream and the same sense of deja vu. A magnetic force leads them to Andong, the historical and elegant city, where they find an anonymous woman’s 450 year old letter in a museum.

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