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Category Archives: KCC Film Club

Recommended K-film viewing this weekend

21-Aug-08

Recommended K-film viewing this weekend

This Friday's screening at the KCC is the Jeong Brothers' Epitaph (2007). Synopsis as follows: “In a modern hospital in 1941, doctors witness weird events and learn DEATH is the sole healer.” In 1979, Dr. PARK receives an old photo album from his twenties in 1941 when mysterious things befell him and his colleagues. PARK was bound by his parents to marry a girl whom he never met, but fell in love with a dead woman who happened to be his arranged marriage. Meanwhile, a little girl who was apparently the only survivor a car accident was haunted by ghosts every night. After two doctors (a married couple) involved in these two stories return to their hospital from Tokyo, a series ...
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Tale of Two Sisters at the KCC

06-Aug-08

Tale of Two Sisters at the KCC

This week’s screening at the KCC is Kim Ji-woon’s (김지운) stylish suspense / horror flick Tale of Two Sisters (2003). (7 August, 7pm) Kim’s filmography is varied and of a high quality. He started with comedy - the macabre Quiet Family (1998) and the hugely fun Foul King (2000), and now seems to be in an action / thriller phase, with the post-Oldboy gangster noir Bittersweet Life (2005) and this year’s most anticipated film, “Manchurian western” The Good the Bad and the Weird (2008), which was such a hit at Cannes and which hopefully will be coming to London later this year. In between was his rather gruesome contribution to Three Extremes (2002), and possibly one of Korea’s most successful Ring-style ...
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Alienation and industrialisation in Green Fish

13-Jul-08

Alienation and industrialisation in Green Fish

Matthew Jackson encounters Lee Chang Dong for the first time “Good, but gruelling” was Jason Bechervaise’s summary of the film for me in the lift in on the way up to the screening of ‘Green Fish’ at the Cultural Centre on Thursday night. I later learned this film had been the subject of his dissertation, but I found this succinct version to be remarkably apt. The story follows a young man returning to his hometown to be faced with unemployment and a general sense of alienation. He is beguiled by a mixture of lust and lucre into the world of the minor-league mafia boss Bae Tae-kon and his paramour Mi-ae. This choice leads initially to financial security, and ultimately to adultery, murder, ...
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Lee Chang Dong featured at KCC

09-Jul-08

Lee Chang Dong featured at KCC

The theme for this month’s films at the KCC film club is Director Lee Chang Dong (right). A few weeks ago we had Im Sang-soo at the KCC talking about his “modern Korean history trilogy”; and the recent KOFIC book on Im says: Im Sang Soo is practically the only director now making films that take a long look at the lives of contemporary Koreans without losing their historical sense … There are few texts as good at understanding the sensibilities and concerns of modern Koreans as the films of Im Sang Soo. Strike out Im Sang Soo and replace with Lee Chang Dong and you have a statement with even greater validity. Having started as a writer Director Lee learned film-making on ...
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War Stories

10-Jun-08

War Stories

The Korean War started in June 1950, and the Korean Cultural Centre has selected the War as the theme for the two films to be screened there this month. The first, on 12 June, is Taegukgi (태극기 휘날리며, also known as Brotherhood, or even Brotherhood of War), by Kang Je gyu (2004), while later in the month on 26 June will be Welcome to Dongmakgol, (웰컴 투 동막골) directed by Park Kwang-hyeon (2005). The two films could not be more different, but in their way are both a strong contrast to films about the Korean war made in the recent past. From the late 50s through to the 70s, to generalise probably rather too much, South Korean films about the war were ...
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Im Sang Soo: Uncut

04-Jun-08

Im Sang Soo: Uncut

As part of the Tiger Asian film festival Im Sang Soo, director of socio-political films ‘The President’s Last Bang’, ‘A Good Lawyer’s Wife’ and ‘The Old Garden’, held a Q&A session on 30th May 2008 at the Korean Cultural Centre in London. There was a small but select feel to the gathering that took place in the multipurpose hall. It was an illuminating event, even for those who had neither seen nor heard of the films prior to this event – of which there were more than a few. Questions and answers were translated on the spot by Seh Hyun Rho to whom we extend our thanks and also to the Korean Cultural Centre for hosting the event. The following is a ...
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Im Sang Soo faces London grilling

26-May-08
Korean film director Im Sang Soo is participating in two Q&A sessions this week: Friday at the KCC and Saturday at the ICA, the latter in conjunction with the screening of The President's Last Bang. It has been said that Im Sang Soo is practically the only director now making films that take a long look at the lives of contemporary Koreans without losing their historical sense ... There are few texts as good at understanding the sensibilities and concerns of modern Koreans as the films of Im Sang Soo. ((Hun Moonyung in in the preface to KOFIC's just-published book on Im Sang Soo, the latest in their Korean Film Director series)) Director Im refers to his most recent three films as his ...
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Tiger Festival comes to London and Brighton

22-May-08
Three Korean films are coming to London and Brighton as part of the Tiger Far East Film Festival (1) The controversial CGI monster pic D-War (Shim Hyung-rye, 심형래, 2007) Synopsis (from KOFIC): A thousand years ago, in a little village on the Korean peninsula, a child of destiny is born with a Youijoo (a magic stone that bestows omnipotence) in her bosom. To pursue the occult Youijoo, Imoogi comes to earth from Heaven with a tremendous number of followers and begins to launch attacks against the people of the earth. A thousand years later in downtown L.A., a mysterious natural disaster takes place. While reporting on the case, a CNN reporter, Tom, begins to sense the colossal legend behind the chain of ...
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Korean Film Society launched

18-May-08
The twice-monthly film screenings at the KCC have got a strong body of supporters, and the films are very well attended. But, given the level of support, wouldn't it be nice if we could build something around the screenings -- a free and easy forum for enthusiasts and newcomers to talk about the varied world of Korean film? That's what Aashish Gadhvi thought, and I agree with him. Aashish sometimes helps out at the KCC - and at the screening of The Way Home earlier this month started trying to get support for getting this thing off the ground. The proposal is that people would meet up a little bit before the regular screenings to talk about particular topics, maybe the upcoming ...
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Family Ties to screen at KCC

16-May-08
The next film to feature at the KCC is Family Ties, also known as Birth of a Family (가족의 탄생), starring one of my favourite actresses, the talented Moon So-ri (below right). Synopsis Mi-ra, who runs a small snack food restaurant, has a trouble-maker brother, Hyung-chul. After being discharged from the military, he goes missing. After five years Hyung-chul suddenly comes back home accompanied by a middle-aged woman, Mu-sin. He gives a bunch of flowers to Mi-ra and introduces Mu-sin as his wife, even though they have not had a wedding ceremony. Mu-sin looks at least 20 years older than Hyung-chul. From that moment, an eccentric family is born. The screening is on 22 May at 7pm. As usual, pre-registration is required by ...
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The Way Home screens at the KCC

30-Apr-08
The KCC's theme for its two film screenings in May is the family. The first of the films, The Way Home (집으로...) was the surprise low-budget hit of 2002. This is director Lee Jeong-hyang's second film, her first being the gentle rom-com Art Museum by the Zoo, whose draw was the star actress Shim Eun-ha. For The Way Home, Lee used completely untried actors - with the exception of Yoo Seung-ho, who plays the spoilt brat. The synopsis from koreanfilm.org: The Way Home opens with a single mother who, faced with financial troubles, decides to leave her seven-year son with his mute grandmother in the countryside. Having run away from home at a young age, the mother introduces the two to each other ...
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200 Pound Beauty

16-Apr-08
The fourth film night at the Korean Cultural Centre on 24 April is the surprise hit of last year, 200 Pound Beauty. Synopsis Hanna is a lip sync vocalist for Ammy, the famous Korean pop singer. Even though she is always ignored because of her appearance, she has been a bright and lighthearted girl until Ammy humiliates her in front of Sang-jun, her secret love. At last she makes a decision of a lifetime to have plastic surgery all over her body. Yong-hwa Kim, Director Born in 1971, KIM majored in film at Chung-Ang University. In 2000, he made his graduation short film “Salty Fish”. The film got him invited to several international film festivals such as the Rochester International Film Festival and Houston ...
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Spring, Summer at the KCC

09-Apr-08
The KCC's third film screening, on Friday 11 April at 7pm, is Kim Ki-duk's Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter ... and Spring. From the KCC website: Synopsis Spring, a child monk audaciously stacks rocks on a frog's back. Summer, a young boy falls in love with a girl who comes to the buddhist monastery to convalesce. Fall, a young man who returns to the monastery a murderer. Winter, a man learns the art of Zen on a chilly mountain. Spring again, and an old monk raises a child. Against the dreamlike background of a monastery that stands in the middle of a forest, panoramic portraits of life flow in accordance with the four seasons. Biography After studying art in Paris, KIM Ki-duk returned to Korea ...
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Beyond the Years at the KCC

16-Mar-08
The KCC's second monthly film screening will be Im Kwon-taek's Beyond the Years (천년학). Im's 100th film, it's a sequel to his breakthrough movie from the early 1990s, Sopyonje. Here's the KCC's press release: KOREAN CULTURAL CENTRE UK, TRAFALGAR SQUARE Thursday, March 27th 2008, 7:00 PM As part of the Korean Film Night programme, and following the first successful showing of Virgin Snow, the Korean Cultural Centre UK proudly presents the first UK release of Beyond the Years. Beyond the Years is the one hundredth film of the highly prolific director Kwon Taek Im, casting Jae Hyun Cho (조재현) (Dong Ho) and Jung Hae Oh (오정해) (Song Wha). Dong Ho, a pansori drummer, is the adopted son of Yu Bong and the brother of Song ...
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Virgin Snow screening update

22-Feb-08
Further information just received from the Japan Society: Tuesday 26th February, 7.00pm Korean Cultural Centre 1 Northumberland Avenue London, WC2N 5EJ Hatsu Yuki No Koi (Virgin Snow) directed by Han Sang-hee Hatsu Yuki No Koi, or Virgin Snow, written by Ban Kazuhiko and directed by Han Sang-hee, stars the most popular young Korean actor of the day, Lee Jun-ki and the princess of Japanese cinema, Miyazaki Aoi. This Korean-Japanese production is primarily a high school love story set against the cityscapes of Kyoto and Seoul. Min (Lee), a Korean high school student comes to Japan when his father, a potter, is posted to a university in Kyoto. Min meets Nanae (Miyazaki) and promptly falls in love with her. The relationship blossoms and they overcome ...
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Virgin Snow at the KCC

14-Feb-08
News of what I believe is the first film screening at the new Korean Cultural Centre in London. In a joint venture with the Japan Society, Han Sang-hee's Virgin Snow (Hatsuyuki no Koi) will be screened at the KCC on 26 February at 7pm. The director is in London at the time, so I assume he will be there for Q&A. Details on the Japan Society website. Now, why on earth isn't it on the KCC's website yet? Update The event is, as of 20 February, now on the KCC website. More details here.
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