While on a visit to Korea, I once asked a wise, old-looking Korean how he would describe the spirit of the Korean people. My friend who was interpreting answered the question instead, to my initial annoyance, giving the answer ‘Fun’, which I found doubly disappointing given its apparent banality. Several years on, I am beginning … [Read More]
Category: Festivals (page 42)
Ryoo Seung-wan interview: action, justice and laughter
Director Ryoo Seung-wan discusses The Unjust, corruption and justice in Korean cinema, evolving directorial style, acting influences, working with family, and future projects including The Berlin File. An engaging interview blending insight, humour, and candid reflection. [Read More]
Mark Morris on Lee Man-hee and the flowering of Korean film in the 1960s
Everybody in Britain has heard of Samsung computers or Hyundai cars. However, another aspect of South Korea today is its successful export of films, music and TV dramas to neighbouring countries, known as ‘Korean Wave’ or ‘Hallyu’. In order to get a Western perspective on Korean cinema, I visited the Korean Cultural Centre in London … [Read More]
A mixed review for Lee Man-hee, the classic film director for LKFF 2011
Most years, the London Korean Film Festival aims to include some classic films, usually from the 1960s, within its schedule. This is a valuable feature for UK cinemagoers, some of whom may be of the impression that Korean film started with Shiri. This year Lee Man-hee was featured, with two films: A Day Off and … [Read More]
Festival Film Review: why Dachimawa Lee is thoroughly groovy, and why I’m becoming a fan of Ryu Seung-wan
I have to confess that when I heard that Ryu Seung-wan was to be the featured director on the London Korean Film Festival 2011, my reaction was lukewarm. Of the films I had already seen, the silliness of Arahan did not endear the film to me, while seeing Jeon Do-yeon and Lee Hye-hyoung severely thrashed … [Read More]
‘War of the Arrows’ – Causing Death and Saving Lives
The opening gala of the London Korean Film Festival was a more rambunctious affair than I remember even last year’s being, due in no small part to the sudden and unexpected entrance of SHINee (I was lucky enough to be two rows behind them, but many who had specially booked seats I gather were incandescent … [Read More]
Festival Film Review: Suicide Forecast
LKL ponders on how a surprisingly charming film on the difficult subject of suicide could have useful lessons for financial sector remuneration strategy and sales practices. [Read More]
Lee Yong-baek honours Paik Nam June at Venice Biennale
There’s an awful amount of twaddle on display in the country pavilions at the Venice Biennale. Probably the greatest amount of tosh was to be found in the Australian pavilion, which included a free-standing notice-board cast in resin, and where an empty plinth entitled Venus rising from the Waves was heard to elicit the understandable … [Read More]
Chinese buy up tickets for Late Autumn
The Chinese community was out in force tonight to see Tang Wei in Kim Tae-yong’s “Late Autumn” at the Festival. Most audiences have been predominantly European. Tonight it was 95% Chinese. It was completely sold out. [Read More]
Sunny (써니, 2011) review: “it’s okay to cry”
In Sunny, director Kang Hyeong-cheol brings a freshness and vitality to a storyline that could easily have been clichéd and predictable. While it could never be considered deep, Sunny never tries to be, and instead successfully concentrates its efforts on mixing genuinely funny humour with truly moving drama, within an altogether engaging tale. [Read More]
Korean footnotes from Venice Biennale 2011
In previous biennales, Korean artists have had prominent solo exhibitions as collateral events to the main exhibition in the Giardini. We’ve had Atta Kim, Lee Ufan, and Chun Woo-jung in previous years, as well as participations in group shows. In 2011 I failed to find any Korean solo events. There were, however, three high profile … [Read More]
Getting to like Ryu Seung-wan
Catching up on my DVD pile, and getting to like Ryu Seung-wan. Looking forward to seeing some more next week at the #LKFF @koreanfilmfest [Read More]
Festival Film Review: Leafie, a Hen into the Wild
At last year’s LKFF the surprise success was the animation Green Days – which for me was the first Korean animation really to stand comparison with Japan’s Studio Ghibli. This year the story may well be the same, with another animation from a director making his first full-length feature. In a country where animation screenings … [Read More]
Festival visit: Ahn Eun-me Company – Princess Bari
In reviewing the amazing work of Ahn Eun-me I am always faced with a problem: how to convey in words the extraordinary visual and musical experience that is so unique to her. When writing about her Chunhyang in 2006 I was at a loss for words. Trying to convey the intensity of the visual and … [Read More]
The final schedule for the 2011 London Korean Film Festival
Here are the screening details for the 2011 London Korean Film Festival, including the screenings in Cambridge, Sheffield and Newcastle. For the events at the KCCUK, book by emailing [email protected]. London screenings and events Thurs 3 Nov 4:30pm SHINee – LKFF launch event – Odeon WE 7:30pm Opening gala War of the Arrows + Director … [Read More]
Lee Man-hee classic “A Day Off” + Mark Morris talk at KCC
Lee Man-hee’s classic film “A Day Off” (1969) will be screening as part of the London Korean Film Festival this year, with a talk by Dr Mark Morris. A Day Off is part of the Lee Man-hee DVD box set which might be in your to-watch pile. This is your opportunity to see it. The … [Read More]