Welcome to Koreanfilm.org.uk!
For those of you that are new to this site, this is a set dedicated to Korean Cinema in the UK, so the aim of this site is to bring Korean film news, reviews, festival coverage and more in order to provide readers with some info on Korean Film. Although the site is aimed at a UK audience, I do find that I get hits from all over the world, so I am trying to cater to two kinds of readership, which I trust you all find helpful. But of course, any feedback (positive and negative is very welcome indeed)
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Koreanfilm.org.uk moves to Korea - that's right, my time here in London has come to an end as I am about to embark on a new chapter in my life with my wife, Meeyeon. I am moving to Seoul to begin a PhD in Korean cinema at Hanyang university. I will spend a year learning Korean before commencing the 3-year PhD programme, so I won't be back in London anytime soon, other than to visit. This is not to say this website will no longer available; on the contrary, I will endeavor to keep it updated as frequently as I can. Inevitably, as I get busy, updates are less frequent - sincere apologies for the lack of updates recently as I have been busy preparing the move to Korea - but I will keep the site online and whilst I will be in Korea, I will remain faithful to the website's domain and therefore, keep the site focused on the UK while giving it an international feel as I know many of you readers are outside the UK.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued readership and support! Thank you so much indeed!
Website updates are as follows:
My Busan Film Festival (BIFF) write-up is now up together with 10 short reviews!
(Posted November 8th)
The London Korean Film Festival continues until 17th November, and also goes on tour - if you live in or around Sheffield, Newcastle or Cambridge, then check out their website.
(Posted November 8th)
The Yellow Sea / 황해 is showing at the ICA in London from today (Oct 21st) until Nov 9th. More info and tickets click here.
(Posted October 21st 2011)
Film of the Month
Arrow, The Ultimate Weapon / 최종병기 활
Director: Jang Hoon (장훈)
Starring: Sin Ha-gyoon (신하균), Ko Soo (고수), Ryoo Seung-soo (류승수) & Ko Chang-seok (고창석)
Running Time: 133 min
Korean Release Date: 20/07/2011
Korean Distributor: Showbox
Synopsis
13 years after the King Injo Revolt, the Chosun Dynasty is attacked by the Chung Dynasty of China. A young man named Na-mi leaves his demolished village to find his young sister, Ja-in, and her finance Su-koon, who were to wed on the very day of the attack. While on his mission to rescue her, he is being traced by Jushinta, a fierce Chung Warrior, and his band of malicious men who are out to stop him. Na-mi has but a day to rescue his sister before she is taken away to be a slave. When Na-mi finally finds his sister, Jushinta comes between them and a fierce battle between two of the finest warriors unfolds
Source: KOFIC
Some brief thoughts/mini review.
Since I have seen this film, this info section will be a mini review... The title of this film, Arrow the Ultimate Weapon, doesn't really give the film justice. It's become a bit of a local hit in Korea as audiences flock to see it, largely because of the strong word-of-mouth it has generated. The story is simple, but it's made so well, for the most part, the lack of any real depth is, frankly, irrelevant. As with so many of the more popular films in Korea, nationalism, plays a key part in its success - the film portrays the Chinese as wicked and colonial, while Koreans are depicted as the victims against the Chinese aggressors. I've been told that the film's historical accuracy is problematic, but needless to say, it plays to the local sentiment, and the fact that a skillful archer - archery is very popular amongst Koreans - is the lead character, this plays homage to the film's central appeal. Furthermore, given the film's focus on action as opposed to complex narrative telling, this will make it more appealing to international audiences. Once the film gets going, the film's relentless pace leaves you on the edge of your seat, and this is what will attract international buyers. Make now mistake, however, this is not a film that manages to entertain whilst delivering a complex and compelling critique of the history in which depicts - in this respect, the film is very shallow - but its execution, and utterly superb set-pieces are the film's strengths and selling points.
This is the second time Park Hae-il has worked with director Kim Han-min - he worked with the director on his feature debut Paradise Murdered - and given the relative success of both these films, it's possible that they will continue working together.
The film has generated 3 million admissions thus far, and it's possible that it will become this year's homegrown hit. The Korean box office always tends to have a summer domestic hit - last year it was The Man From Nowhere and the year before, Haeundae was a big year hit, and so, for the time being at least - of course this could change - it's looking like it will become one of this year's summer hits.
Trailer without English Subtitles