A plot which involves a dodgy international arms deal, a secret multibillion dollar bank account belonging to the extended family of Kim Jong-il and a power struggle in the wake of Kim Jong-un’s succession. A list of characters which includes operatives from the CIA, Mossad, and both North and South Korean security agencies, plus would-be … [Read More]
Event tag: Terracotta 2013
Ryoo Seung-wan interview: stars, spies and a divided city
Ryoo Seung-wan discusses star power, casting strategy and realism in The Berlin File, explaining Berlin’s symbolism as a divided city, his action-scene preparation, views on foreign markets, writing habits, limited interest in Hollywood, genre influences, and balancing commercial filmmaking with personal priorities. [Read More]
The Berlin File (베를린, 2013) review: a high-octane journey through espionage, loyalty and humanity
‘The Berlin File’ is at once a tale of political intrigue and a dissection of North and South Korean attitudes to humanity, morals and freedom all wrapped up in a high-octane thriller. While the ultimate narrative destination can largely be predicted, in this case the journey is equally as important, if not more so. [Read More]
Young Gun in the Time (영건 탐정사무소, 2012) review: love, loss, laughter, and lo-fi time travel
Young Gun in the Time uses classic Korean cinema genre merging to be at once science fiction, mystery thriller, action, romance and comedy. Though it is low budget through-and-through, that is in fact one of the many charms of this warm, engaging and gently funny film. [Read More]
A look at the 2013 Terracotta Far East Film Festival line-up
Three Korean films including the hit thriller The Berlin File are included in the line-up for this year’s Terracotta Festival. Saharial reviews the schedule. It’s that fantastic time of the year again when the Terracotta Film Festival hits London, and the line up announced last week is really exciting, especially when tied in with the … [Read More]
A Werewolf Boy (늑대소년, 2012) review: tender emotion, predictable path
A Werewolf Boy blends romance, fantasy and Korean melodrama into a warm, gently told story of love and otherness. While beautifully shot and anchored by strong performances, its familiar themes and uneven characterisation prevent it from fully transcending genre conventions, making the film more sweet than truly heartbreaking. [Read More]