Fault Lines: Class, Control, and Collapse in ‘Concrete Utopia’
After a catastrophe, one apartment complex becomes a shelter—and a battleground. Director Um Tae-hwa examines how fear, control, and belonging take shape in close quarters.
South Korea
11 Posts
Peeling Back the Layers of ‘Peppermint Candy’ in 4K Restoration
The 4K restoration peels away Lee Chang-dong's anti-hero, revealing illuminating layers of a man overwhelmed by his past and crushed under the weight of autocratic history.
Don Lee and the True Stories Behind ‘The Roundup: Punishment’
Daniel Eagan, an eminent film journalist, sat down with Don Lee (“The Outlaws,” “The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil,” “Train to Busan” ) in Berlin to chat about his latest film, “The Roundup: Punishment,” his passion for boxing, and why South Korean kids think of him as the Hulk.
Reality Bites in ‘Take Care of My Cat’
Set against the backdrop of Incheon, "Take Care of My Cat" delves into the lives of five young women navigating the transition from high school to adult life. It portrays the complexities of maintaining friendships, facing new realities – and hard realizations.
‘Exhuma’ Unearths a Terrifying Force of Ancestral Curses
Director Jang Jae-hyun’s box office hit, “Exhuma,” is a haunting blend of Korean folk horror and suspense. On a ritualistic journey to a mountain top straddling the border between South and North Korea, the film unravels layers of family secrets and supernatural elements on a secret burial ground.
Zhang Lu on 'The Shadowless Tower'
Zhang Lu, renowned for his arthouse Korean films that often portray the lives of outsiders, discusses his latest film, "The Shadowless Tower," and what inspired him to highlight stories of Beijing locals as well as his childhood memories of the city.
Lee Won-suk and Lee Sun-kyun on 'Killing Romance'
Join acclaimed Korean director Lee Won-suk and late actor Lee Sun-kyun for a lively discussion about their gonzo-comedy "Killing Romance," a unique blend of romance, humor, and suspense that takes viewers on an unpredictable cinematic adventure.
Lee Hanee on 'Phantom'
The second episode features the Q&A session for the South Korean spy action film, "Phantom." Festival director Sam Jamier and lead actress Lee Hanee discuss how the film’s characters thrive amidst a perilous, male-dominated environment and take center stage within the narrative.
It’s ordinary, it’s extraordinary, it’s Perhaps Love
In his latest role, Korean actor Ryu Seung-ryong graces the big screen in the family-and-friends dramedy of errors, Perhaps Love. Ryu, who starred in such blockbusters as Extreme Job (2019) and Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013) appears loveable and relatable in his performance as Kim Hyun, a novelist juggling
Who’s really “Next Door?” Yeom Ji-ho’s debut feature
Written by: Alexandra Bentzien Perhaps South Korean director Yeom Ji-ho’s Next Door can be best described as a Hangover-inspired murder mystery unfolding Memento-style through the eyes of a protagonist with an inclination to freestyle. Oh Dong-min stars as Chan-woo, a young man who’s been trying – and failing – to
Interview with Kwon Soo-kyoung
With wheels whizzing, fists flying, suits swirling and lights blinking to a bass beat and screamed spurts – of comic fear, or determination – Korean director Kwon Soo-kyung demonstrates a virtuosic ability for choreographing a seamless action sequence in his latest film, Stellar: A Magical Ride. It’s a story whose structure