An exciting selection of Korean movies is lined up for the BFI London Film Festival, of which the highlight is undoubtedly Burning. Finally: Lee Chang-dong will be in town! All details below are from the BFI LFF website. Become a member and get access to tickets from 6 September, a week earlier than general release. … [Read More]
People: Cho Jin-woong
Bluebeard (해빙, 2017) review: probing the serial killer genre
In her second feature, Bluebeard, director Lee Soo-yeon infuses elements of both horror and psychological thriller within a fast-paced serial killer tale. While Bluebeard may not necessarily be mentioned alongside the best of the best of the genre, it nonetheless largely succeeds where some other serial killer films have failed, anal probes notwithstanding. [Read More]
The Handmaiden (아가씨, 2016) review: a masterclass in sensual storytelling
Park Chan-wook’s ‘The Handmaiden’ is a masterful film contrasting dark with light and (male) lecherous ugliness with (female) emotional beauty in a multilayered tale of immaculate depth and indeed meaning. Ultimately, ‘The Handmaiden’ sits atop the very best of Korean cinema, both in terms of narrative content and visual sumptuousness. [Read More]
Assassination (암살, 2015) review: a sumptuous period action epic
Set during the Colonial Period, Assassination is a star-studded, high-stakes thriller involving resistance fighters and double-crosses. Even from its early stages, it’s easy to see why it was such a huge draw at the box office. Sumptuous visuals combine with a gripping narrative to provide out-and-out entertainment, albeit overlong and lacking in character depth. [Read More]