A shaman is offered a large amount of money to move a tomb. He moves with his companion, Ji Gwan. After suffering from serial paranormal events, a wealthy family living in LA summons a young rising shaman duo Hwa-rim (KIM Go-eun) and Bong-gil (LEE Do-hyun) to save the newborn of the family. Once they arrive, … [Read More]
People: Choi Min-sik
Festival Film Review: Heaven – To the Land of Happiness
In recent years the LKFF programmers have been getting into a groove of scheduling indie, minority interest movies for the closing film of the festival. This year, they turned things upside down by programming the festival’s most appealing film (for me, at least,) to end the fortnight. Yes, the opening movie, Mogadishu, is the top … [Read More]
Chihwaseon screens at the National Gallery
The second in the London East Asia Film Festival’s KCinema 100 series is Chihwaseon by the veteran director Im Kwon-taek, which tells the story of iconoclastic Joseon Dynasty artist Jang Seung-eop (pen name Owon). It will be screened at the National Gallery. Chihwaseon (취화선) Dir: Im Kwon-taek (2002, 116 mins) Cast: Choi Min-sik, Ahn Sung-ki … [Read More]
Heart Blackened (침묵, 2017) review: wealth, blood and deception
Heart Blackened is a visually sumptuous, multi-layered and beautifully involved tale of love, hate, sacrifice and murder. While based on a 2013 Chinese film it never feels like simply a rehash. In fact, Heart Blackened could almost be considered as a modern day re-telling of a Pansori-type tale, and as such it ultimately feels utterly Korean through and through. [Read More]
2015 Travel Diary day 1: Arrivals — an evening in Hongdae
Myeongdong, Seoul, 29 May. One flight is much like the next, the only differences being the food and in-flight entertainment. Asiana did a very acceptable bibimbap on the way out and, more ambitiously, a ssambap on the way back. Their tinned makgeolli, which I sampled on the return leg, is not to be recommended. Maybe … [Read More]
Choi Min-sik interview: “I don’t like the hammer”
Choi Min-sik reflects on screen quotas and cultural diversity, his director-led approach to choosing roles, and portraying extreme characters through empathy. He discusses violence as social commentary, collaboration with auteurs, international work, historical roles, actor responsibility, and sustaining Korean cinema beyond commercial imperatives. [Read More]
Lady Vengeance continues the Choi Min-sik season at the KCC
Is it wrong like Lady Vengeance? I have to admit it’s one of my guilty pleasures. I sense in Lady V a slightly cocky director consciously aiming his work at an international audience for the first time, after the success of Oldboy. After all, Koreans don’t need to have it explained that prisoners might want … [Read More]
Chihwaseon at the KCC
The Choi Min-sik season at the KCC continues on 8 August. As usual, booking is required via the KCC website. Chihwaseon (취화선) Director: Im Kwon-taek (2002) Running Time: 120min Screening Date: 7pm, 8 August 2013 Synopsis This multi award winning film from director Im Kwon-taek sees Choi Min-sik playing renowned Korean painter Jang Seung-up in … [Read More]
Oldboy screens at the KCC
Well, you can’t have a Choi Min-sik season without a screening of possibly the best-known film to have come out of Korea this century. Oldboy Director: Park Chan-wook Running Time: 120min Screening Date: 7pm, 25 July 2013 Synopsis: Oh Dae-su is an average businessman, but after celebrating his daughter’s birthday he finds himself kidnapped and … [Read More]
Failan opens the Choi Min-sik season at the KCC
It’s quite a popular weepie, but I’ve never really “got” it. I guess I’ve got a gene missing when it comes to some melodramas. Anyway, it’s the opening film of the Choi Min-sik season: Failan Dir: SONG Hae-seong, 2001 Running Time: 116mins Screening Date: 7pm, 11 July 2013 Synopsis Kang-Jae is a low level gangster … [Read More]
Year of the Four Actors – the schedule
After 2012’s Year of the 12 Directors, 2013 brings Year of the 4 Actors, with 24 films and three Q&As featuring Moon So-ri, Jeon Do-yeon, Choi Min-sik and Ha Jung-woo. Here’s the schedule: Date Title Director Moon Sori 17 January The President’s Barber Lim Chan-sang 31 January A Good Lawyer’s Wife Im Sang-soo 14 February … [Read More]
Leafie – A Hen into the Wild (마당을 나온 암탉, 2011) review: a hen with a heart
Beneath its gentle humour and warmth, Leafie explores outsiderhood, family, selfless love, and sacrifice, building toward a quietly heartbreaking yet uplifting conclusion that resonates with both children and adults. Disney once asked viewers to believe that an elephant can fly. With Leafie, you’ll believe that a hen has a heart, and a beautiful one at that. [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]
Choi Min-sik season: Crying Fist screens at the KCC
The KCC wraps up its Choi Min-sik season on Thursday with Crying Fist, the last screening of the year. 7pm, Thursday 23rd December Director: Ryoo Seung-wan Cast: Choi Min-sik, Ryoo Seung-bum Genre: Drama Certificate: 12 (South Korea) Running Time: 134 mins Venue: The Korean Cultural Centre UK Ground Floor, Grand Buildings 1-3 Strand, London WC2N … [Read More]
Choi Min-sik season: Happy End screens at the KCC
The Choi Min-sik season continues at the KCC with Happy End this Thursday – a well-regarded film from 1999: 7pm, Thursday 9th December Director: Jung Ji-woon Cast: Choi Min-sik, Jeon Do-yeon Genre: Drama Certificate: 18 (South Korea) Running Time: 99 mins Venue: The Korean Cultural Centre UK Ground Floor, Grand Buildings 1-3 Strand, London WC2N … [Read More]
I Saw The Devil (악마를 보았다, 2010) review: a visceral descent into the emptiness of revenge
A visceral, brutal yet at times beautiful film, I Saw The Devil pits a sadistic serial killer against a grieving secret agent, and shows that no closure, appeasement or fulfillment is to be found in the act of revenge, with only emptiness and the unforeseen consequences of vengeful actions ultimately resulting from it. [Read More]