Ransomed is a movie set in Beirut 1986, during the Lebanese civil war. A Korean diplomat is taken hostage without a trace. Two years later, a young diplomat, Min-jun, receives a phone call proving that the hostage is still alive. The movie follows the story of a South Korean diplomat who receives a coded message … [Read More]
People: Joo Ji-hoon
Festival Film Review: Dark Figure of Crime
In a standard police procedural about a serial killer, a detective – maybe a bit of a loner, often with a drink problem – goes from crime scene to crime scene, from victim to victim, trying to fit together the pieces of the jigsaw that will eventually lead to the murderer, before the next crime … [Read More]
Why I’m beginning to warm to Netflix
After a rocky start with Netflix, I’m now coming round to it. I started subscribing to the online service in order to watch Okja, the Netflix-only feature film by director Bong Joon-ho. Although that particular experience was a big disappointment, I continued the subscription in case I was tempted by any of the other movies … [Read More]
Movie review double bill: Along with the Gods 1 and 2
Somehow, I managed to miss last year’s fantasy blockbuster Along with the Gods. I didn’t spot that it got a brief UK release until it was too late, and the movie didn’t make to any of the UK festivals to my knowledge. I didn’t even read any reviews. But it registered in my brain as … [Read More]
Antique: A delicious slice of feel-good cinema
Saharial samples the delights of Antique, described as “entertaining and fabulously fruity” by one reviewer Story Based closely on the 2002 Yaoi manga Antique Bakery (西洋 骨董 洋菓子店, Seiyō Kottō Yōgashiten, “Western Antique Cake-Shop”) by Fumi Yoshinaga, the Korean adaptation broke through the million mark of legitimate viewers three weeks after opening. It was invited … [Read More]