Adapted from the wildly popular novel serialised in the Seoul Newspaper in 1954, Madame Freedom is set in 1956, a period of upheaval and transformation in postwar Korea. The film tells the story of Madame Oh Sun-young, a woman who appears to have an enviable life: married to a successful professor, mother to a young … [Read More]
Tag: Classic Korean Film
Film Screening: The Wedding Day (시집가는 날)
Lee Byeong-il’s The Wedding Day marked a breakthrough for Korean cinema. It was not only a domestic success, earning critical acclaim for its comedy and strong moral tone, but also won the award for Best Comedy at the Fourth Asian Film Festival, signalling the beginning of Korean cinema’s emergence on the international stage. Master Maeng … [Read More]
Film Screening: Piagol (피아골)
A band of ‘red’ partisans run up a mountain gorge under fire. We the spectators enter with them into Piagol – Pia Valley – at full speed, deep into the Jiri mountains. Their numbers will soon be reduced to a handful: captain Agari (‘big mouth’), his second-in-command Cheol-su, a few male adults, two women and … [Read More]
Film Screening: The Money (돈)
The KCCUK is pleased to present the programme “50/50: Celebrating 50 Years of Korean Film Preservation,” co-organised with the Korean Film Archive, marking its 50th anniversary in 2024. This special series showcases four restored films from the 1950s. Each work has been digitally restored, and all of the selected titles hold an important place in … [Read More]
The Korean Film Archive Youtube Channel
Continuing some suggestions of what to do when you’re stuck at home… Many of you will already be aware that the Korean Film Archive has a wonderful YouTube Channel with loads of classic Korean movies, with English subtitles, available for free. Thing is, I’ve never found an index of the channel. So, over the years … [Read More]
Screening: Shin Sang-ok’s To The Last Day CANCELLED
This screening is now cancelled as the KCC has closed, in common with many cultural venues, as a result of the health situation. The second screening in the KCC’s On the Front Line season: To The Last Day (이 생명 다하도록) Dir Shing Sang-ok (1960, 109 mins) Cast: Choi Eun-hee, Kim Jin-kyu, Nam Koong Won, … [Read More]
Screening: The Marines Who Never Returned CANCELLED
This screening is now cancelled as the KCC has closed, in common with many cultural venues, as a result of the health situation. The KCC’s first season of in-house screenings this year commemorates the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War. The Marines Who Never Returned Director: Lee Man-hee (1963, 110 mins) Cast: … [Read More]
The Hand of Fate screens at the Barbican
Can’t get enough classic Korean film now the festival has ended? Try this at the Barbican: The Hand of Fate + Introduction by Hyun Jin Cho Dir: Han Hyeong-mo (1954, 85 min) Tuesday 19 Nov 2019, 6:30pm Barbican Cinema 3 | Beech Street | London EC2Y 8DS | Book tickets Made one year after the … [Read More]
Screening: Under the Sky of Seoul
The fourth screening in LEAFF’s K-Cinema 100 series: Under the Sky of Seoul (서울의 지붕밑) Dir. Lee Hyeong-pyo (1961, 115 mins) Tuesday 7 May 2019 The Cinema Museum | The Master’s House | 2 Dugard Way (off Renfrew Road) | London SE11 4TH | www.cinemamuseum.org.uk Doors from 6pm, screening at 7pm | Book tickets SYNOPSIS : This … [Read More]
Screening: Holiday in Seoul
LEAFF’s third screening in the K-Cinema 100 series: Holiday in Seoul (서울의 휴일) Dir. Lee Yong-min (1956, 90min) Wednesday 1st May 2019 The Cinema Museum | The Master’s House | 2 Dugard Way (off Renfrew Road) | London SE11 4TH | www.cinemamuseum.org.uk Doors from 6pm, screening at 7pm | Book tickets SYNOPSIS: A couple decide to spend … [Read More]
Screening: Hyperbolae of Youth
LEAFF’s #KCinema100 series, a celebration of the centenary of Korean cinema, starts on Friday with Director Han Hyeong-Mo’s HYPERBOLAE OF YOUTH (1956), one of Korea’s earliest comedies. The screening is at London’s historic Cinema Museum, once home to the great Charlie Chaplin. The screening will be followed by a reception with Korean food and soju … [Read More]
Early Korean Cinema season at the BFI and KCC
Tickets for the Early Korean Cinema season at the BFI, which was announced as last year’s London korean Film festival came to an end, go on sale on 15 January. The organisers particularly direct our attention to two screenings: THU 7 FEB, 18:00 – OPENING SCREENING WITH LIVE PERFORMANCE + INTRO: Crossroads of Youth 청춘의 … [Read More]
BFI, KOFA and KCCUK announce archive exchange
Something to look forward to in February 2019: BFI, KOFA and KCCUK announce archive exchange to mark the centenary of the birth of Korean cinema More than ten of Korea’s oldest surviving films to screen to UK audiences for the first time in February 2019 at BFI Southbank and the KCCUK BFI restorations to show … [Read More]
KCC Screening: Barefooted Young
The fourth screening in the Rebels with a Cause season: Barefooted Young (맨발의 청춘) With introduction by Emily Steele Director: Kim Ki-duk (1964, 115 mins) Cast: Shin Seong-il, Um Aeng-ran, Yoon Il-bong, Lee Yea-chun Thursday 9 August 2018 7:00 pm @KCCUK | Book tickets Adolescent films first gained widespread popularity in Korea during the 1960s; … [Read More]
A new year gift from the Korean Film Archive
Those nice people at the Korean Film Archive have given us a new year gift, in the form of twenty-one English subtitled classic movies newly uploaded to their YouTube channel. At least two of these have been available on subtitled DVD before (Come, Come, Come Upward and Gingko Bed) but I’m assuming these are new, … [Read More]
Festival Film Review: Chung Chang-wha focus
Each year the LKFF includes a few golden oldies among its line-up of the latest commercial and art house offerings. This year the festival gave us the opportunity to get to know three films by veteran director Chung Chang-wha, made before he was scouted by Shaw Brothers in 1969. The earliest film to be screened … [Read More]