DVD Archive
Released 23/02/2009
A President's Last Bang / 그때 그사람들
Director: Lim Sang-soo (임상수)
Starring: Han Seok-Kyu (한석규), Baek Yoon-sik (백윤식), Song Jae-ho (송재호) & Kim Eung-soo (김응수)
Running Time: 102 min
Korean Release Date: 03/02/2005
UK Release DVD Release Date: 23/02/2009
UK Distributor: Third Window Films
Synopsis
In the 1970s Korea, a strong military goverment is suppressing the people. However, the president is always too busy having parties for no apparent reason and many political parties are looking for a chance to take over. Members of the KCIA(Korean Central Intelligence Agency) are slowly getting fed up with taking care of the president's dalliances. They hatch a scheme to assassinate the president. After two bullets are fired, the country is about to take an unexpected turn
Source: KOFIC
Additional information
This
is argubaly one of the most controverisal contemporary Korean films. On
release, archive footage (3 mins, 50 seconds) of the funeral of Park
Chung-hee used at the beginning and end of the film was cut due to a
court order when Park heirs took MK Pictures to court. They demanded an
out-right ban of
the film, but the courts only agreed on a edited version which saw a
black screen and music put in place of the ommited sceens. However,
the order was reveresed in August 2007 and this is what they said:
As far as I am aware, this is the first time it has been released with English subtitltes, so this really is a momumentous occasion. Congratulations to Adam Torel and Third Window films for releasing the DVD. The DVD also includes an exclusive interview with Im Sang Soo.
A Review will be up later on in the week.
Recent releases & up and coming DVD titles
Here is some information of recent releases and up and coming DVD
releases of Korean films in the UK. So technically an up and
coming page because I don't want you to miss out some of the
recent DVD releases.
23 June 2008
Spider Forest (거미숲)
Director: Song Il-gon (송일곤)
Starring: Kam Woo-seong (감우성), Seo Jeong (서정), Son Byeong-ho (손병호) & Jang Hyeon-seong (장현성)
Running Time: 113 mins
Korean Release Date: 03/09/2004
Number of Korean Admissions: 55,606 (as of 05/09/2004)
UK Distributor: Tartan Films (gone into administration)
Princess Aurora (오로라 공주)
Director: Bang Eun-jin (방은진)
Starring: Uhm Jung-hwa (엄정화), Moon Seong-geun (문성근), Kwon O-joong (권오중) & Choi Jong-won (최종원)
Running Time: 106 min
Korean Release Date: 27/10/2005
Number of Korean Admissions: 764,783 (as of 13/11/2005)
Korean Distributor: Cinema Service
UK Distributor: Tartan Films (gone into administration)
27 August 2008
Gingko Bed (은행나무 침대)
Director: Kang Je-gyu (강제규)
Starring: Han Seok-Kyu (한석규), Shim Hye-jin (심혜진), Jin Hee-kyeong (진희경) & Shin Hyeon-joon (신현준)
Running Time: 88 min
Korean Release Date: 17/02/1996
Korean Distributor: ShinCine (신씨네)
UK Distributor: Elephant Films
13 October 2008
The Guard Post (GP506)
Starring: Cheon Ho-jin (천호진), Jo Hyeon-jae (조현재), Lee Yeong-hoon (이영훈) & Lee Jeong-heon (이정헌)
Running Time: 120 mins
Korean Release Date: 03/04/2008
Number of Korean Admissions: 944,943 (as of 11/05/2008)
Korean Distrbutor: Showbox
UK Distributor: Showbox