If Always had been made by any other director I would not have minded. I would not have gone to see it either. But as it was made by Song Il-gon, I went along, and was sorely disappointed. It’s not that it’s a bad film of its genre. It’s well made and moving. The lead … [Read More]
Event tag: Year of the 12 Directors (page 2)
KCC’s 100th screening: Song Il-gon at the Apollo Piccadilly
Having now enjoyed three of Song Il-gon’s films this month, we now reach the KCC’s 100th screening, Song Il-gon’s Always, followed by Q & A with the director himself. At the Apollo Piccadilly, this evening at 6:30pm. Song Il-gon: Always (오직 그대만) (2011) Starring: So Ji-sub, Han Hyo-joo Running Time: 105 min. (ENG Subs) Screening … [Read More]
Song Il-gon’s Feathers in the Wind: delicate and moving
The second Song Il-gon screening this month lived up to my high expectations. Feathers in the Wind has many similarities Song Il-gon’s beautiful debut Flower Island but still contains plenty that provokes thought in its own right. Like Flower Island, the destination is a southern island – this time the real island of Udo off … [Read More]
Song Il-gon’s Dance of Time at the KCC
Song Il-gon month continues this week with Dance of Time. It’s the KCC’s 99th screening. Which means of course that next week’s Song Il-gon at the Apollo it will be the 100th. Be sure to come. And from Dance of Time, expect more dancing by the sea. The first two films this month have been … [Read More]
Feathers in the Wind – the second Song Il-gon film at the KCC
Feathers in the Wind is probably the Song Il-gon film that has generated the most positive press. So, if you enjoyed last week’s Flower Island as much as I did, you’re going to love this one. Feathers in the Wind (2005) 7pm, 12th April 2012 Director: Song Il-gon Cast: Hyeong-seong Jang, Yong-cheol Kim, So-yeon Lee … [Read More]
Flower Island: beautiful, magical, weird
Song Il-gon’s debut feature Flower Island. I didn’t have much of a clue what it was about. But it was beautiful, magical, and a little bit weird. Great performances from all concerned. Links: Full-length reviews at Otherwhere | Koreanfilm.org | Love HK Film [Read More]
Song Il-gon month kicks off with Flower Island
This month’s going to be good. Don’t miss the four screenings of Song Il-gon’s movies this month. Visit Otherwhere for a quick run-down of why. Director: Song Il-gon Title: Flower Island (꽃섬, 2001) Running Time: 126 min Screening Date: 7:00pm, April 05, 2012 Theatre: Multi-Purpose Hall, KCCUK Synopsis: On a winter day, three women with … [Read More]
Meet Mr Daddy, and Park Kwang-su, at the Apollo, 29 March.
Park Kwang-su month wraps up with what seems to be a break from the past. Meet Mr Daddy (2007, also known as Shiny Day, 눈부신 날에) was his comeback film, eight years after Uprising. And judging by the trailer it’s a feelgood drama, completely unlike the more serious socially aware films of the 80s and … [Read More]
A Single Spark at the KCC
Park Kwang-su month continues at the KCC with the story of Jeon Tae-il. We’re back on an upward trajectory after last week’s Uprising. A Single Spark (1995) 7pm, 12th March 2012 Director: Park Kwang-su Cast: Park Joong-hoon, Hong Kyoung-in, Kim Bo-kyeong Genre: Political drama Certificate: 15 Running Time: 96 min Venue: The Korean Cultural Centre … [Read More]
Park Kwangsu at the KCC #2: The Uprising
The attractions of today’s second screening of Park Kwang-su month include Lee Jeong-jae in period costume and a brief glimpse of Shim Eun-ha dressed as one of Jeju Island’s famous diving women. But in general people find this particular movie as dull as ditchwater. The Uprising (1999) Director: Park Kwangsu Running Time: 110 mins Date: … [Read More]
Park Kwang-su month kicks off with Chilsu and Mansu, 8 March
The schedule for this month is as follows: 8th: Chilsu and Mansu (1988) 15th: The Uprising (1999) 22nd: A Single Spark (1995) 29th: Meet Mr Daddy (2007) (at the Apollo, with Q&A afterwards) For me, the film I’m most looking forward to out of all the films to be screened this year, at least for … [Read More]
Reality and fiction intertwine in E J-yong’s deliciously amusing fake documentary Actresses
“Which one did you think is the most beautiful?” It was one obvious conversation opener at the bar after the screening of E J-yong’s Actresses, in which six of Korea’s top actresses aged from their early 20s to their 60s, gather for a Vogue photoshoot in a film which its director calls “part reality show, … [Read More]
E J-yong month concludes with Actresses + Q&A
I’ve been enjoying this month. Even though I only managed to get to one screening of E J-yong’s films at the KCC (which happens to be my favourite one), I’ve used the month as an opportunity rewatch my DVDs of Untold Scandal and Asako in Ruby Shoes – both of which I enjoyed much more … [Read More]
One year, 12 directors, 59 films, 12 Q&As. What could be better?
The KCC have announced their lineup for their much anticipated “Year of the Twelve Directors” – a season unimaginable a few years ago. A very simple concept: four films by the same director, each month giving a mini-retrospective, followed by a Q&A with the director. And a very well-balanced programme it is, featuring veteran directors … [Read More]
On rewatching some favourite films: An Affair and Secret Sunshine
Last week, I re-watched two of my all-time favourite Korean films. Or at least, I thought they were. Film number one: E J-yong’s An Affair (1998), which was in the first dozen of Korean films I ever saw. I caught it at the 2001 London Korean Film Festival (yes, there have been Korean Film Festivals … [Read More]
Dasepo Naughty Girls: two hours of colourful mayhem
The KCC’s E J-yong month is shaping up nicely. This coming Thursday is your chance to see Dasepo Naughty Girls, one of those films which is so difficult to categorise. It’s a completely different film from E J-yong’s earlier work such as last week’s subdued romance of An Affair and the Joseon dynasty costume drama … [Read More]