Write down on a piece of paper a list of techniques you expect to be used in a documentary about a controversial episode in recent history. Maybe it will include archive footage; expert talking heads giving their views of the historical problem; interviews with people who lived through it, witnessed it or even contributed to … [Read More]
Category: Festivals (page 27)
LKFF 2015: an index of reviews
Here is an index to reviews of some of the films screening at LKFF 2015. I’ll update this article with more links when I find them. Films are listed in order of screening. LKL = London Korean Links | EK = Eastern Kicks | THN = The Hollywood News | HC = Hangul Celluloid Film … [Read More]
A lunchtime of ceramics and an evening of awesomeness
I wish the lunch break had been longer at today’s Korean film conference at SOAS. I was planning on having a quick snack at Mr Mok’s Bibimbap Cafe in Museum Street, maybe say a brief hello to my friends at It’s All Greek a few doors away, and then look in at the British Museum’s … [Read More]
An introduction to “Love And…” — LKFF’s closing gala film
The London Korean Film Festival’s choice for the closing gala is an interesting one: Zhang Lu’s Love And… (the literal meaning of the Korean title, 필름시대사랑, is “Love of the Film Era”), which only recently opened at the Korean box office. Closing galas over the years have included blockbusters and mainstream movies such as Masquerade … [Read More]
CJ Entertainment celebrates its 20th birthday with a special strand at LKFF 2015
CJ Entertainment has been associated with some of the biggest and best films since the turn of the millennium. 20 years old this year, it is celebrating its birthday with a big splash at the 10th London Korean Film Festival organised by the KCCUK.1 Five screenings at this year’s festival are of CJ productions: Miss … [Read More]
A special exhibition of film posters as part of LKFF
To mark its 10th anniversary, the London Korean Film Festival presents a special exhibition of film posters from the Korean Film Archive (KOFA) at Picturehouse Central Gallery Space. Each poster was created as part of the KOFA’s programme of screenings and retrospectives showcasing its broad collection of Korean cinema. The exhibition is ongoing until 14th … [Read More]
A couple of changes to the LKFF schedule
There has been a couple of changes to the LKFF schedule in respect of movies starring Hwang Jung-min, the featured actor this year. Out go Waikiki Brothers (2001) and Moby Dick (2011) and in come The Unjust (2010) and New World (2013). The scheduling of The Unjust on Tuesday 3 November makes excellent sense as … [Read More]
Event report: the stories of our North Korean friends in New Malden
During last year’s New Malden Festival, the founders of the Korean Information Centre, Bona Shin and Glenna Debosco, hosted an evening looking at the experiences of North Korean refugees in New Malden. The event was a valuable opportunity for local residents and others to raise their awareness of this small community in their midst, and … [Read More]
Ryoo Seung-wan interview: Veteran, action cinema and imagined justice
Director Ryoo Seung-wan discusses Veteran as a fantasy of justice where power can be defeated, his shift toward humour, casting Hwang Jung-min and Yoo Ah-in, and plans for sequels. He reflects on audience appeal, realistic action choreography, and his view of action as the core language of cinema. [Read More]
Festival Film Review: Hong Won-chan’s The Office at LEAFF
The Office was the second of two Korean films to screen at the 0th edition of the London East Asia Film Festival, and came with strong credentials. Though a debut feature by Hong Won-chan, he was the scriptwriter for the well received Yellow Sea and even better received The Chaser. And the movie was Official … [Read More]
Conference news: Film and History — The Korean Example
Coinciding with the 10th London Korean Film Festival, a two-day conference at SOAS and the KCC. Registration is required via the SOAS website. Film and History: The Korean Example 5 – 6 November 2015 10:00 – 6:00 PM Russell Square: College Buildings, Djam Lecture Theatre Cinema has become a battle ground upon which history is … [Read More]
Festival Film Review: Ryoo Seung-wan’s Veteran
It was the first screening in the the trial “0th” iteration of the London East Asia Film Festival, but this really didn’t feel like a new film festival – more a continuation of past ones. We were opening in a venue that felt familiar, a lot of the faces front of house and on stage … [Read More]
Event news: Ryoo Seung-wan talking East Asian cinema with Chris Fujiwara
As part of the London East Asian Film Festival, director Ryoo Seung-wan will be discussing Asian cinema with Chris Fujiwara. Director Ryoo is over for the screening (with Q+A) of his hit film Veteran which opens the festival on 23 October. And remember that there’s another Korean film screening at the festival: Hong Won-chan’s Office, … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: Korean craft and design at Tent London 2015
LKL always tries to do a quick visit to Tent London to see what Korean designers are up to. It’s much more difficult to plan that 100% Design the other end of town as the website is not as helpful in displaying the exhibitors. So it’s a question of turning up, picking up the newspaper-style … [Read More]
Concert Notes: National Gugak Centre at the Lilian Baylis Theatre
You can’t really have a Korean music festival without some traditional music as once enjoyed by the court and literati. And who better to perform it that members of Korea’s National Gugak Centre, the body established to preserve and perform such music. The musicians have been touring Europe, most recently in Paris to launch Année … [Read More]
Festival Film Reviews: the four Korean films at the BFI London Film Fest 2015
It was a very pleasing selection of Korean films at the BFI London Film Festival this year. And for the first time that I can remember, I managed to get to all of them. Here are the verdicts. The Assassination 암살, Dir Choi Dong-hoon, 2015. With a fantastic ensemble cast, including Jeon Ji-hyun as the … [Read More]