Director Choi Seung-ho discusses Norigae’s origins in real-world abuse scandals, its critique of sexual coercion and lenient sentencing, and the choice to portray injustice through a sombre tone. He addresses funding constraints, casting challenges, and how lighting, music, and explicit scenes serve the film’s social and moral intent. [Read More]
People: Jang Ja-yeon
Norigae (노리개, 2013) review: power, abuse and a damning indictment of justice
Inspired by true-life tales of the sexual coercion and abuse of celebrity figures in Korea, ‘Norigae’ was guaranteed to be both controversial and shocking. It tells a story that desperately needed to be told and points an accusing finger at the free rein often afforded to the powerful at the expense of the vulnerable. [Read More]
Searching for the Elephant (펜트하우스 코끼리, 2009) review: overburdened by excess
A strong narrative storyline is sadly marred by overly stylised visuals and direction that largely feels forced and predictable. While certainly not a total waste, Searching for the Elephant is ultimately far less than the gripping, explicit thriller it so easily could, and should, have been. [Read More]
A belated look back at 2009
For the past 3 years LKL has concocted a quiz of the year as a way of gathering together some of the news stories which have most caught our eye. This year, as I came to draw up the list in mid December I found it hard to think of anything amusing or diverting: most … [Read More]