A happily married couple, Hyun-su and Soo-jin, peaceful lives are disrupted by the disturbing nocturnal behaviour of Hyun-su. As they strive to unravel the horrifying secret of the inexplicable actions that occur during his sleep, the film delves into the efforts of these two individuals. Sparklingly tense and ingeniously eerie, Jason Yu’s 2023 feature-length debut … [Read More]
People: Lee Sun-kyun
A review of the Korean cultural year 2023
2023: a year when an environmental artist from Gwangju shared a hug with the King; four K-pop princesses went to Buckingham Palace and received honorary MBEs; and the tolling bell of Jirisan’s Daewonsa temple was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. The year marked the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UK … [Read More]
Parasite: a non-review
What can one say about a movie that has won Best Picture at Cannes and the Oscars, that has won best screenplay at the Oscars and BAFTAs, best edited drama feature at the Eddies, and best ensemble performance at the Screen Actors Guild? A movie that has been seen more widely in this country, and … [Read More]
Parasite (기생충, 2019) review: Bong Joon-ho’s masterful satire of class and capitalism
While one would routinely expect a film from a director as well thought of and respected as Bong Joon-ho to be exemplary, Parasite not only virtually redefines that description but also raises the bar for other films and directors to aspire to. In short, miss this wry, insightful and masterful social drama at your peril. [Read More]
Event news: A Hard Day screens at the KCC
The KCCUK’s second screening of the year is A Hard Day. You’ll come out feeling exhausted, but it’s a great ride. We loved it. A Hard Day (끝까지 간다) Dir Kim Seong-hun, 2013, 111 mins 11 February, 2016 at 7pm, KCCUK Registration required via the KCC website On the way back from his mother’s funeral, … [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]
Festival Film Review: Nobody’s Daughter Haewon
I often find myself falling asleep during Hong Sang Soo films. But my two most recent experiences – a second viewing of HaHaHa as part of the KCC’s Moon So-ri season – and Nobody’s Daughter Haewon at the ICA, coinciding with its screening at the 57th BFI London Film Festival, have been exceptions. Part of … [Read More]
Festival Film Review: All about my wife – a perfect date movie
Part of the K-comedy stream of the 2012 LKFF. Im Soo-jeong plays a shrewish wife driving her husband (Lee Seon-gyoon) crazy, causing him to hire a Casanova (Ryu Seung-ryong) to woo her to give him an excuse for divorce. This is a perfect date movie: entertaining, never too demanding but still making you think about … [Read More]
Helpless (화차, 2012) review: love, lies and disappearance
A deftly layered mystery thriller with depth, Helpless initially appears as the story of one man’s desperate search for his missing fiancée, gradually morphing to detail the myriad of lies his wife-to-be has told, with the “why” being every bit as important as the wherefore. [Read More]
Kim Jeong-hoon’s A Petty Romance: a pleasant way to spend two hours
A Petty Romance (쩨쩨한 로맨스, 2010) is one of those gentle romantic comedies which Korea seems to do so well. Charming, easy-going, and despite the story line – the composition of an adult manga – not particularly risqué. Written and directed by first-timer Kim Jeong-hoon it’s nothing to rave about but it’s a very pleasant … [Read More]
Petty Romance (쩨쩨한 로맨스, 2010) review: a genuinely funny and inventive adult-comic rom-com
A struggling artist and a fraudulent writer collaborate on an adult comic book. Live action and graphic novel imagery combine within this genuinely funny and warmly romantic tale to ensure that Petty Romance both touches the heart and tickles the funny bone throughout, though not necessarily in that order [Read More]
Sakwa (사과, 2008) review: love, deception and the weight of regret
A relationship drama shaped by small lies that grow into emotional rupture; a constantly twisting plot detailing one woman’s shifting romances, and the intricacies of human deceit, betrayal, social pressure, anger and regret. Sakwa is an astounding film, and there’s no deception whatsoever in that statement… [Read More]
Paju (파주, 2009) review: a haunting, non-linear tale of guilt, mystery and urban decay
A melancholy, yet darkly beautiful, film, Paju asks whether ignorance really is bliss, or if it simply brings a different set of heartaches to those brought by knowledge. A film which not only needs to be seen, but deserves to be seen more than once. [Read More]