Review: INTIMATE ENEMIES Marks Low-Point For Im Sang-soo

By Pierce Conran

In a bid to branch out to a wider audience following the tepid critical and commercial response to 2012's The Taste of Money, director Im Sang-soo returned with the spirited but borderline incoherent action-comedy Intimate Enemies in 2015.

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Coming Attractions: Keep Your Friends Close But Keep Your INTIMATE ENEMIES Closer

By Rex Baylon

It's been awhile since we've heard from Im Sang-Soo. Having made big waves in the early aughts with critically acclaimed films like A Good Lawyer's Wife (2003) and The President's Last Bang (2005), it's been three years since one of his films was released, and sadly a lot of his latter work leaves much to be desired. Intimate Enemies, with a projected release date of June 25th, seems to be yet another meditation on the ways money and power corrupt the human animal. Though instead of the dour oppressive atmosphere that was present in works like The Housemaid (2010) and The Taste of Money (2012), Im has Ryoo Seung-Bum to inject his picture with Ryoo's trademark rakish charm. I love the conman subgenre and from the trailer it looks as if Intimate Enemies has the requisite colorful characters, sex appeal, and elaborate grifts that are the hallmarks of the genre.

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Review: Im Sang-soo's THE OLD GARDEN, A Heady Cocktail of Art, Ambition and History

By Pierce Conran

Ambition, artistry and Korea’s painful recent past combine to fascinating results in The Old Garden (2006), an impressive yet flawed work from director Im Sang-soo which frames the trauma of a nation through a brief, yet passionate romance.

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Korean Cinema News (07/05-07/11, 2012)

Plenty of news this week so dig in! PiFan is just around the corner by the way, get started next Thursday!

PIFAN

Check out the following previews for this year's PiFan, written by myself and James Marsh over on Twitch:

PiFan 2012 Preview Part 3: Vision Express 
PiFan 2012 Preview Part 4: Strange Homage, Forbidden Zone & More

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Korean Cinema News (05/24-05/30, 2012)

Aside from a new trailer, poster and the Box Office recap, all of this week's news in Cannes-related.  The big films were sold to the major markets but left high and dry at the awards ceremony, though a short did pick up a prize for Korea!

The big news with MKC this week is that the site and I are relocating to Seoul this Sunday, a very exciting devlopment!  Below is yesterday's post about the move:

MKC to Touch Down in Seoul in 5 Days


KOREAN CINEMA NEWS

IFC Midnight to Give US Viewers a Taste of Money With Im Sang-soo's Latest
Im Sang-soo's new film The Taste of Money, which competed in Cannes last week, has been picked up by IFC Midnight for US distribution.  Im's previous film The Housemaid (2010), which also vied in competition at Cannes, was also distributed in North America by IFC Midnight and benefited from a decent amount of exposure.  I recall being surprised when I noticed its availability on Time Warner's On Demand service when I lived in LA.  I'm not sure if a theatrical release will follow and it must be said that it has not received glowing reviews from the Mediterranean fest but this is not always a good indicator for the greater public.

The Taste of Money, which stars Kim Kang-woo (A Better Tomorrow, 2009), Yoon Yuh-jung (Actresses, 2009), Baek Yoon-shik (Save the Green Planet, 2003) and Kim Hyo-jin (Woochi, 2009), brings us inside the lives of one of the richest families in Korea and their tale of greed, lust and violence.  (Modern Korean Cinema, May 30, 2012/Twitch, May 29, 2012)

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Korean Cinema News (04/19-04/25, 2012)

I was away at the 14th Udine Far East Film Festival when this update was meant to go out but I don't think I missed very much save the big Cannes lineup announcement which featured two hotly anticipated Korean films in the main competition.

KOREAN CINEMA NEWS

Showbox, Huayi Brothers Join Forces for Mr. Go 3D
Korea’s Showbox/Mediaplex has entered into an investment and distribution partnership with Chinese studio Huayi Brothers for its upcoming sports action drama Mr. Go 3D.  Huayi Brothers has agreed to invest $5m into the film, which is guaranteed a 5,000-screen release across China in summer 2013 and wide releases in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. More than half of China’s 10,000 screens are 3D-equipped.  (Screen Daily, April 19, 2012)

Two Korean Movies Invited to Compete at Cannes
Hong Sang-soo's In Another Country and Im Sang-soo's The Taste of Money have been invited to the 65th Cannes Film Festival next month.  This marks the fourth time that two Korean films have been selected for the official competition of arguably the world's most prestigious film festival in the same year. (The Chosun Ilbo, April 20, 2012)

Jeonju Film Festival Puts Indie Films Before Global Blockbusters
Jeonju, a city best known for its bibimbap (mixed vegetables and rice), will be abuzz for a different reason starting Thursday, with indie film fans, directors and stars visiting for the 13th Jeonju International Film Festival.  Steadily growing in scale and recognition alongside bigger rivals including the Busan International Film Festival, online tickets for more than 70 screenings have already sold out, though some can still be purchased at the event.  (Joong Ang Daily, April 20, 2012)

King of Pigs Animation Invited to Cannes
Yeun Sang-ho's animated feature film The King of Pigs has been invited to Cannes next month to feature at a special screening of the festival's Directors' Fortnight.  Other Korean films previously presented in the section include Peppermint Candy (1999) by Lee Chang-dong, The President's Last Bang (2005) by Im Sang-soo and The Host (2006) by Bong Joon-ho.  (The Chosun Ilbo, April 25, 2012)

Korean Film Council Establishes Animation Export Fund
The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) devotes sizable time to sponsoring the filming and production of movies in South Korea, as well as the promotion of completed films once they hit the international festival circuit.  For the Korean animation business, however, it's a story of equal interest but far lesser success.  (Animation Insider, April 25, 2012)

INTERVIEW

Hyeong-Cheol Kang, Director of Sunny
On the second day of the 14th Udine Far East Film Festival in Italy, CUEAFS member Antoniya Petkova had the distinct pleasure of talking with renowned South Korean director Hyeong-Cheol Kang and producer Han-na Lee, both in town to promote the opening night screening film of their latest effort Sunny (2011). (Cine-Vue, April 24, 2012)

BOX OFFICE

Battleship Stays Afloat With Another First Place Finish
(Modern Korean Cinema, April 23, 2012)

Korean Cinema News is a weekly feature which provides wide-ranging news coverage on Korean cinema, including but not limited to: features; festival news; interviews; industry news; trailers; posters; and box office. It appears every Wednesday morning (GMT+1) on Modern Korean Cinema. For other weekly features, take a look at the Korean Box Office Update and the Weekly Review Round-up. Reviews and features on Korean film also appear regularly on the site. 

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