Originally part of MKC's Revenge Week (July 8-14, 2013), this article is reposted in light of its new B&W print being screened at the 19th Busan International Film Festival. Though the new version is not discussed here, I can say that one of my favorite Korean films is now even better!
Outside of a few clear candidates, pinpointing revenge films isn’t quite as easy as it seems. Case in point is Bong Joon-ho’s Mother (2009). When I first considered it, I hesitated, but after watching it again this past weekend, it became clear that this is a film teeming with revenge, yet not for the reasons that I had at first considered.
Outside of a few clear candidates, pinpointing revenge films isn’t quite as easy as it seems. Case in point is Bong Joon-ho’s Mother (2009). When I first considered it, I hesitated, but after watching it again this past weekend, it became clear that this is a film teeming with revenge, yet not for the reasons that I had at first considered.
This monthly features previews the coming month's attractions in Korean cinema. All of these monthly posts are available in an archive on the Upcoming Releases page.
April 5
Mother
April 11
Doomsday Book
The Scent
April 19
Duet
April 26
Eungyo (A Muse)
Rain and Rain
Red Maria
Spring, Snow
April TBC
The Peach Tree
Mother
Director: Tae Jun-seek
Release date: April 5
A documentary about an elderly woman and her impact on the people with difficult lives. Mother has screened at a number of documentary festivals including the DMZ International Documentary Festival.
Doomsday Book
Director: Yim Pil-seong, Kim Jee-woon
Cast: Kim Kang-woo, Kim Gyoo-Ri, Ryoo Seung-beom, Song Sae-byeok
Synopsis: Three unique stories of human self-destruction in the modern high-tech era. In a hope to restore the humane compassion in the insusceptible modern age, the film displays an alternative form of genuine humanity. And thus you are stepping into the world of future, where a series of unexpected stories awaits you. All these stories originate from the earth. From the very earth you live on.
Release date: April 11
An eagerly anticipated omnibus film which initially went into production in 2006 but halted due to financing problems, recently the project was put back on track. and will sate us as we await Kim Jee-woon's debut American feature in 2013. This will be Yim Pil-seong (Antarctic Journal, 2005; Hansel and Gretel, 2007) first work in 5 years. Han Jae-rim was initially to directed a segment before the production shut down. The final segment was recently completed with Yim Pil-seong directing and Kim Jee-woon in a supporting role. I am not certain about the release date, since no trailer has appeared to date the film may be pushed back.
The Scent
Director: Kim Hyung-jun
Cast: Park Hee-soon, Park Si-yeon, Joo Sang-wook, Cha Soo-yeon
Synopsis: A woman asks a detective, who does some PI work on the side, to investigate her husband whom she suspects is having an affair. When the husband winds up dead it's the detective who becomes a suspect.
Release date: April 11
Kim Hyung-jun's second feature following 2010's No Mercy.
Duet
Director: Lee Sang-bin
Writer: Lee Sang-bin
Cast: Ko Ah-sung, James Page
Synopsis: Nanye is a young musician who takes a 15-day trip to England and meets James who becomes her guide.
Release date: April 19
Eungyo
Director: Jeong Ji-woo
Cast: Lee Paul, Yeom Hyeon-joon, Kim Sae-byeok
Synopsis: Lee Juk-Yo, a respected poet, is an old man who cares fondly for his younger disciple Seo Ji-Woo. When a teenage 17-year-old enters their lives, their lives are turned upside down. Release date: April 26
Jeong Ji-woo, the director of Happy End is back with an adaptation of popular novel Eungyo starring Park Hae-il, hot off his multiple Best Actor wins for War of the Arrows, who will portray a 70-year old man. This vaguely reminds me of 2010's Moss which featured Jeong Jae-yeong under layers of makeup and also starred Park.
Spring, Snow
Director: Kim Tae-gyoon
Cast: Yoon Seok-hwa, Lim Ji-gyoo, Lee Kyeong-yeong, Kim Ha-jin
Synopsis: A drama about a typical mother Soon-ok and her family's process of getting ready to say goodbye.
Release date: April 26
Red Maria
Director: Kyung-soon
Cast: Yoon Seok-hwa, Lim Ji-gyoo, Lee Kyeong-yeong, Kim Ha-jin
Synopsis: A documentary that follows suffering women across Asia who work in the sex trade, as immigrants, are homeless and more.
Release date: April 26
Rain and Rain
Director: Kim Nam-kyung
Cast: Im Chang-jeong, Yu In-young, Lee Kyeong-jin
Synopsis: A romance story between musicians Soo-Hyun and Ji-eun.
Release date: April 26
The Peach Tree
Director: Ku Hye-sun
Cast: Nam Sang-mi, Ryu Deok-hwan, Cho Seung-woo
Synopsis: A complicated love triangle of siamese twins who fall for the same girl.
Release date: April
The Peach Tree bowed at the Busan International Film Festival last October.
