Director Park Chan-Wook 박찬욱 [“Decision to Leave”]

[irilight]

@rubie thank you much for starting this thread !

shots from "Lady"

 

 

cr: CJ Ent.

 

[rubie]

Hi @irilight good to see you here, welcome and thank you for the new captures!  I love JSA, my very first Korean film, we gotta have a thread for the director, right. Similar to Dir. Kim Ji Woon for A Bittersweet Life, another big personal favorite. After 2 movies together, I hope LBH will one day collaborate with PCW again, hopefully in something less graphic, dark and grim. The same for Dir. KJW. LOL.. too much high hopes to have, huh.  Nonetheless, all the best to them, all of Korea's representative auteurs and actor.

 

November 4, 2015

Park Chan-wook's THE HANDMAID Wraps on Halloween, New Still Revealed

by Pierce Conran TWITCH Film

Todd gave us the first still of Park Chan-wook's latest film The Handmaid last week and now we can report that the film wrapped production on Halloween following five months of shooting in Japan and Korea. The film also released the above still with Kim Min-hee (Helpless, 2012), which has definite echoes of the style Park employed on Thirst (2009).

Based on Sarah Walters' novel 'Fingersmith', The Handmaid stars Ha Jung-woo (The Yellow Sea, 2010) as a swindler looking to get his hands on the fortune of a young noble women (Kim Min-hee). To do so he enlists the help of a young pickpocket, played by Kim Tae-ri, a new actress who beat out 1500 other applicants in auditions. The film also features Cho Jin-woong (A Hard Day) as the target's uncle, Moon So-ri (Oasis, 2002) and Kim Hae-sook (The Thieves, 2012). Park also worked with his longtime DP Chung Chung-hoon, whose work on Stoker got him a foot in the door in America, where he recently shot Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.

In addition to the location change, Park's adaptation also brings the action to 1930s Korea, when the country was occupied by Japan. Known as the Colonial Era (1910-45), this time period is quickly becoming the go-to setting for top Korean directors. This year already gave us Choi Dong-hoon's Assassination (also starring Ha), the second biggest film of the year in Korea, and the all-girl high school mystery-thriller The Silenced. Park's contemporary Kim Jee-woon is currently shooting the Colonial Era war film Secret Agent with Song Kang-ho and last month Park Heung-sik wrapped the music drama Hae-eo-hwa (no English title as of yet).

Korean press is reporting that CJ Entertainment will deliver the film in the second half on 2016 but it's a safe bet that the distributor will at the very least submit it to Cannes next May.

 

[irilight]

@rubie absolutely, I agree with you. J.S.A was not my first Korean movie, but my first by Park Chan-Wook and I was immediately hooked. What a Master of cinema and story-telling he is!   So much of it is so vivid in my mind, but I think I do want to watch it again.
 That is why I asked if there will be more copies of the new re-mastered videos, aside from the initial pre-recorded ones.

[rubie]

November 6, 2015

A first look at ‘The Handmaid’ revealed

Source: INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily

A still of Park Chan-wook’s latest project, “The Handmaid,” was officially released on Wednesday, featuring, from left, Ha Jung-woo, Kim Tae-ri, Kim Min-hee and Cho Jin-woong. [CJ ENTERTAINMENT]

New details including the first officially released still photo have been spilled about Park Chan-wook’s latest movie, “The Handmaid.”

According to distributor CJ Entertainment on Wednesday, the much-anticipated mystery thriller finished its four-month filming schedule in October after beginning shooting in Kuwana, Japan, in June. 

Since then, the crew has traveled to diverse locations in Korea, including places in Gangwon, North Chungcheong and South Jeolla, over the past few months.

“As much as it was a long shooting process, I believe I was able to generate that much more rich and diverse images,” said Park through a press release. 

“I cannot wait to participate in the postproduction and complete the film,” he added.

A towering figure in the Korean film scene with numerous hits including “Old Boy” (2003) and “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance” (2005), Park has been on a hiatus since the Hollywood production “Stoker” (2013).

He is aiming for a return with “The Handmaid,” with another ambitious cast including Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo and Cho Jin-woong.

The film is an adaptation of the Sarah Waters novel “Fingersmith,” but will be set in Korea during the Japanese colonial era (1910-45).

It follows the story of a woman (Kim), who inherited an enormous fortune, and a count (Ha) who hires a handmaid (Kim Tae-ri) to help him get his hands on the money.

The film is slated to open next year.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]

[rubie]

November 5, 2015

PARK Chan-wook Wraps Production on THE HANDMAID
Stills Released for 2016 Colonial Era Thriller

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

Surely one of next year’s most anticipated films, PARK Chan-wook’s next title The Handmaid completed production on Halloween last Saturday. Following the start of production on June 15th, the project underwent almost five months of shooting in Japan and Korea. The production has also released its first stills.

Based on the Sarah Waters novel ‘Fingersmith’, The Handmaid takes place in the 1930s, when Korea was occupied by the Japanese Empire. A suave swindler sets his sights on the vast fortune of a young woman of the noble class and engages the help of a young pickpocket he meets to pose as the lady’s handmaid.

Following the smash success of CHOI Dong-hoon’s Assassination, HA Jung-woo plays the conman while KIM Min-hee is on board as the target, following the rapturous response of HONG Sang-soo’s Right Now, Wrong Then. The younger thief is played by new face KIM Tae-ri, who was discovered following extensive auditions which featured some 1,500 applicants. The cast also features familiar faces CHO Jin-woong (A Hard Day, 2014), MOON So-ri (Oasis, 2002) and KIM Hae-sook (The Thieves, 2012).

The famed cineaste behind the ‘Vengeance Trilogy’, which includes Old Boy (2003), PARK’s previous outing saw him tackle the US project Stoker (2013) with Mia Wasikowska and Nicole Kidman. His last feature-length project on Korean soil was 2009’s vampire tale Thirst with SONG Kang-ho.

Produced by Moho Film and distributed by CJ Entertainment, The Handmaid is expected to bow in the latter half of 2016, though an earlier festival slot is not out of the question.

[rubie]

November 12, 2015

"Snowpiercer" to be made into an American drama, joined by Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook

Source: Heraldcorp via Hancinema.net

The movie "Snowpiercer" is coming out as an American drama.

Hollywood Reporter announced on the 11th that, "The American Tomorrow Studios" bought the copyrights to Bong Joon-ho's "Snowpiercer".

The drama making will also be joined by Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook.

The script writing will be in the hands of Josh Friedman who also wrote "Avatar 2" and "War of the Worlds".

Friedman said, "I've always been a fan of Bong Joon-ho. I enjoyed "Snowpiercer" because it was touching, political and thrilling".

[rubie]

November 28, 2015

November 28, 2015

Marrakech Stages PARK Chan-wook Tribute
Joint Security Area / JSA Genre Auteur to Give Masterclass in Morocco

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

Top Korean director PARK Chan-wook will journey to Morocco next week, where the Marrakesh International Film Festival will be a staging a tribute to the genre auteur during its 15th edition which kicks off on December 4th. PARK is one of three globally acclaimed filmmakers who will take part in a masterclass in North Africa, alongside the German director of Turkish origin Fatih Akin and the Iranian master Abbas Kiarostami.

PARK, who recently wrapped the period thriller The Handmaid, based on the novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters and featuring actors HA Jung-woo and KIM Min-hee, is one of the biggest names of contemporary Korean cinema. Reaching prominence and garnering acclaim for his military border drama-thriller Joint Security Area /JSA in 2000, PARK then embarked on his most well-known films, the ‘Vengeance Trilogy’, which comprises Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), Old Boy (2003), recipient of the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004, and Sympathy For Lady Vengeance (2005). In 2013, PARK made his English-language debut, delivering the gothic thriller Stoker, featuring Mia Wasikowska and Nicole Kidman, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

As recently as 2013, the Korean indie HAN Gong-ju, from director LEE Su-jin, was awarded the top prize at Marrakech, from a jury presided over by legendary American cineaste Martin Scorsese. The 15th Marrakech International Film Festival, which has yet to reveal its entire program, will take place over December 4th to 12th.

[rubie]

December 2, 2015

Park Chan-wook tops revenge chart

Source: The Korea Times

From top, scenes from "Sympathy from Mr. Vengeance" (2002), "Oldboy" (2003) and "Lady Vengeance"

Film director Park Chan-wook has topped an American movie-ranking website's chart for the best Korean revenge movies, with his "vengeance trilogy."

Website "Taste of Cinema" posted "The 10 Best South Korean Revenge Movies."

Topping the list was Park's trilogy "Sympathy from Mr. Vengeance" (2002), "Oldboy" (2003) and "Lady Vengeance" (2005).

Park is a frequent guest at prominent global film festivals such as the Cannes Film Festival with "Thirst" in 2009 and the Berlin Film Festival with "Night Fishing" in 2011.

Park's films portray brutal vengeance by a main character.

 
From left, posters for "I Saw the Devil" (2010), "Mother" (2009), "The Man from Nowhere" (2010) and "Pieta"

In "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance," Song Kang-ho played a vengeful protagonist, while Choi Min-sik and Lee Young-ae each played a similar role in "Oldboy" and "Lady Vengeance," respectively.

Calling Park "the master of revenge," the website explains that the characters"are victims of a series of circumstances that soon become their own collection of tragedies."

On a news program on CBS Radio on Wednesday, actress Lee Jung-hyun, who won the Best Actress Award for "Alice in Earnestland" at the Blue Dragon Awards on Nov. 26, said Park had strongly encouraged her to take the role.

Park's trilogy was followed in order by "I Saw the Devil" (2010), "Mother" (2009), "The Man from Nowhere" (2010) and "Pieta" (2012). 

aoshima11@ktimes.com

[rubie]

Thanks to the fan-sharing at LBH DC Gallery

Throwback Thursday: Three Extremes (2004)

[rubie]

     

CINE21 No.1036    2015.12.29~2016.01.05 

[rubie]

Source: 씨네21

[rubie]

January 10, 2016

Most Anticipated Korean Films of 2016

By Jason Bechervaise The Korea Times

Now that 2015 is over, following another strong year for Korean films, which saw admissions surpass 100 million for the fourth consecutive year, focus has shifted on to what the year of 2016 has to offer. 

With new films from two renowned Korean auteurs: Park Chan-wook and Kim Jee-woon along with Na Hong-jin's eagerly anticipated "Gokseong" and Hong Sang-soo's untiled 18th feature, Korean films should generate much interest both locally and internationally this year.

Other established filmmakers such as Kim Seong-hun, Yeon Sang-ho, Lee Yoon-ki and Hur Jin-ho also have their latest features hitting screens this year.

The following films are expected to be released over the next twelve months. Titles are subject to change.

The Handmaid

Following the critical and commercial success of "Old boy" that helped put Korean film on the map, Park Chan-wook has become a major figure in Korean cinema. Adapted from the British novel, "Fingersmith" (2002) by Sarah Waters, "The Handmaid" is his first Korean film in seven years ("Thirst" (2009)).

Starring Ha Jung-woo, Kim Min-hee and unknown actress Kim Tae-ri, Park has moved the book's Victorian setting to Japan and Korea in the 1930s where a swindler hires a young pick pocket to pose as a handmaid to steal the fortune of an affluent woman from a noble class.

 

One of the most eagerly anticipated films this year, Park Chan-wook's "The Handmaid" stars Ha Jung-woo, from left, Kim Tae-ri, Kim Min-hee, and Cho Jin-woong. / Courtesy of CJ Entertainment

Secret Agent

Also one of Korea's most prominent filmmakers, Kim Jee-woon ("A Bittersweet Life," "The Good, The Bad, The Weird") has developed a strong reputation for his use of style. Much like Park Chan-wook's "Stoker," his last film "The Last Stand" was a Hollywood film.

His latest feature is being financed and to be distributed by Warner Bros., its first Korean-language production. Much like Park's "The Handmaid", it's also set in the 1930s and stars Song Kang-ho and Gong Yoo about an anti-Japanese independence organization. Having wrapped up filming in Shanghai, it's now being shot in Korea. 

Gokseong

Initially planned for a release last year, Na Hong-jin's ("The Chaser," "The Yellow Sea") shooting took place over a six-month period, which is longer than most Korean films. Often relentless in his approach to film set-pieces, Na's latest production stars Kwak Do-won as a detective and Hwang Jung-min as a shaman as they investigate a mysterious rumour that continues to spread.

Backed by Fox International Productions (FIP) and distributed by Fox Korea, the studio will be hoping that it fares much better at the box office than the three other films they produced: "Running Man", "Slow Video" and "Intimate Enemies" that all failed to leave a lasting impression. 

Tunnel

Kim Seong-hun encountered significant critical and commercial success in 2014 following the release of "A Hard Day." Amassing over 3.4 million admissions fuelled by strong word-of-mouth, the witty and engrossing thriller was also invited to the Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

Kim's new film features two distinguished names: Ha Jung-woo and Bae Doo-na. Ha plays an unsuccessful car's sales man who gets trapped in a tunnel after it collapses, while Bae takes on the role as his wife. The film also stars prolific character actor Oh Dal-su as a rescue worker. 

Train Via Busan 

Director Yeon Sang-ho solidified his status as one of the leading figures in Korean animation following his acclaimed sophomore feature "The Fake" that secured numerous festival invitations repeating the success of his debut "The King of Pigs."

However, "Train via Busan," marks his first live action film that is a sequel to his third animated feature "Seoul Station" (still to be released). Following on from the events in the animation where an unknown virus spreads at Seoul Station, the sequel starring Gong Yoo, Jung Yoo-mi and Ma Dong-seok takes the story on board a KTX train where people try to escape to Busan. 

Other Films

There are a number of notable features to hit local screens this year. Korean war epic "Operation Chromite" directed by Lee Jae-han ("71: Into the Fire") has generated headlines because it will star Hollywood actor Liam Neeson in a supporting role as U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur. He will act alongside Korean stars Lee Jung-jae and Lee Beom-soo about a covert "X-ray" operation that preceded the Incheon Landing that become a turning point in the war.

The colonial period is expected to feature heavily in films this year. Along with "The Handmaid" and "Secret Agent," Park Heung-sik's "Haeuhhwa" and Hur Jin-ho's "Princess Deokhye" are also set during this period and should hit screens his year.

Films expected to be released early this year include Lee Yoon-ki's "A Man and a Woman" starring Jeon Do-yeon and Gong Yoo while Lee Il-hyeong's prison thriller "A Violent Prosecutor" featuring Hwang Jung-min alongside Gang Dong-won hits screens on February 4 in time for the lunar new year.

This year's releases also include Hong Sang-soo's untiled 18th feature, Park Kwang-hyun's (his first film since "Welcome to Dongmakgol") "Fabricated City," Kim Sung-su's crime thriller "Asura" starring Jung Woo-sung and Hwang Jung-min, Lee Kyung-mi's ("Crush and Blush") "Home Sweet Home" and Kwak Kyung-taek's ("The Classified File") thriller "RV: Resurrected Victims." 

Jason Bechervaise is a film columnist for The Korea Times. He can be reached at jase@koreanfilm.org.uk.

[rubie]

January 11, 2016

Big-name directors flock back to big screen

After a year of crowd-pleasing action films such as “Assassination” and “Veteran,” the Korean box office gears up in 2016 to welcome back star directors who have received international critical acclaim for their artistically crafted films. The big names in Korean cinema are focusing their attention on period pieces, many of them choosing to base films on novels and true stories, and are bringing fail-proof star actors in their casts. 

Director Park Chan-wook, known for “Oldboy,” “Thirst” and “Stoker,” takes on an adaptation of U.K. novelist Sarah Waters’ “Fingersmith” in “The Handmaid,” starring Ha Jung-woo and Kim Min-hee. The original novel told a story of intrigue and crime in the Victorian era. Park’s adaptation put a Korean spin on that story, bringing the plot into the colonial Joseon era to spotlight a wealthy heiress and the man who schemes to steal her inheritance.

Kang Woo-suk of “Silmido,” “Fists of Legend” and “Moss” is bringing his 20th film to the screen with period piece “Gosanja,” starring Cha Seung-won. Cha will play Kim Jeong-ho, a Joseon-era geographer who went by the pseudonym Gosanja, in the film that depicts his journey as he puts together the large-scale map of Korea known as the Daedongyeojido, or Great Map of the East Land.

Romance movie master Hur Jin-ho -- whose hits include “Dangerous Liaisons,” “Christmas in August” and “One Fine Spring Day” -- returns with “Princess Deokhye,” starring Son Ye-jin and Park Hae-il. The film will be based on the novel of the same title written by Kwon Bi-young, which tells the story of the last Joseon princess, who was taken hostage by Japan.

Director Kwak Kyung-taek, who created the 2001 hit film “Friend” and saw success last year with “The Classified File,” brings actor Kim Rae-won and actress Kim Hae-sook together again as mother and son following their last union in “Sunflower.” The film will be based on a novel called “It is Over” by Park Ha-ik, in which the victims of unsolved murders return to haunt the earth and punish their killers.

Kim Jee-woon, known for stylish action and horror flicks like “A Tale of Two Sisters,” “A Bittersweet Life” and “I Saw the Devil,” brings another action film in Warner Bros.’ Korean debut production “Secret Agent,” starring “Snowpiercer” star Song Kang-ho and Gong Yoo.

Na Hong-jin, known for action-packed thrillers like “The Chaser” and “The Yellow Sea,” will also be presenting another thriller in “Goksung,” featuring Hwang Jung-min, Kwak Do-won and Chun Woo-hee. Set in a quiet rural town, the film will explore the rumors and secrets that hang over the village residents.

By Won Ho-jung(hjwon@heraldcorp.com)

[rubie]

January 25, 2016

Films based on fiction expected to flourish in 2016

The Handmaid (CJ Entertainment)

Literature and cinema have always coexisted ever since the invention of films as they share the essence of story-telling. Korean films to be released in 2016 base many of their plots on existing novels. This creates a win-win situation for both the original novel and the movie. Moviegoers can enjoy films with a quality plot while the book’s sales increase along with the film’s popularity. 

Director Park Chan-wook (OSEN)

Film mastermind director Park Chan-wook’s upcoming project, “The Handmaid” is a cinematic reinterpretation of Welsh writer Sarah Waters’ novel, “Fingersmith.” Park is expected to please the critics and viewers again with his intricate and unique taste portrayed artfully through previous works. Actor Ha Jung-woo and actress Kim Min-hee are set to play the main leads, much to the satisfaction of Park’s hard-to-please fans.

Spoiler

(Showbox)

“Tunnel,” marks director Kim Seong-hun’s return to film making since his successful break in 2014, with crime action thriller, “A Hard Day.” The story is about a car salesman, who gets trapped inside a tunnel after it collapses, and the people around him, trying to save him. The story is based on the Korean novel of the same title, written by author So Jae-won, who also wrote the book that became the foundation for controversial film “Beastie Boys.”

Spoiler

 

From left: Actors Kim and Byun(OSEN)

 

French writer, Guillaume Musso’s “Will You Be There?” -- published back in 2006 and became best seller in several countries -- will rise again as a Korean film after a decade. A time-traveling piece laced with human-drama of a man who wants to change his past, the plot is a promising tearjerker. Veteran actor Kim Yoon-seok and star-on-rise Byun Yo-han will be the duo to depict the critically acclaimed story. 

The year 2016 is expected to be fruitful and full of juicy new films based on literary masterpieces. 

By Jung Min-kyung (mkj1105@heraldcorp.com)

[rubie]

Photo credit: three.chairs

#JSA #JointSecurityArea #ProducerShimJaeMyung #DirectorParkChanWook #SongKangHo #LeeByungHun #ShinHaKyun

[rubie]

February 2, 2016

8 Korean Titles to Keep an Eye Out for in 2016
Star Directors Return while Fresh Names Poise Themselves for Breakthroughs

by Pierce Conran / KoBiz

 Fresh from recording one of its biggest years ever, which included two new additions to the ten million viewer club (Assassination, Veteran), Korean cinema is gearing up from another big year in 2016, with some of the country’s star directors returning to the fold after working in Hollywood, a few major blockbusters from rising names, and a number of smaller projects poised to make waves internationally.
 
To usher in 2016, KoBiz takes a look at some of the most exciting projects to expect from Korean cinema in 2016.

 

Secret Agent
 
Following his stint in Hollywood, where he directed Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Last Stand (2013), his first role following two terms as the governor of California, KIM Jee-woon is currently filming the action-thriller Secret Agent. Reuniting with his The Quiet Family (1998), The Foul King (2000) and The Good, The Bad, And The Weird (2008) star SONG Kang-ho, director KIM will return with a story of Korean independence fighters during the country’s occupation by Japan in the early 20th century.
 
Co-starring GONG Yoo, the film focuses on the violent exploits of a branch of Korea’s resistance movement and is being financed by Hollywood major Warner Bros., marking their first venture in local Korean production. The film began shooting in late October in China and has since shifted production to Korea.
 
Tunnel
 
After an eight-year absence, director KIM Seong-hun triumphantly returned with the blackly comic action-thriller A Hard Day, which bowed to rave reviews in the Directors’ Fortnight program of the Cannes Film Festival in 2014. For his third film, KIM is teaming up with stars HA Jung-woo (Assassination), BAE Doo-na (Cloud Atlas, 2012) and OH Dal-su (Veteran) for the disaster drama Tunnel, which will be financed and distributed by Showbox.
 
Based on a novel by SO Jae-won, the film features HA as man trapped inside a poorly constructed tunnel when it caves in. BAE features his wife while OH plays a rescue worker on site. The film reminds us of modern Korean history, which has been plagued with disasters resulting from infrastructure failures that led to major death tolls, such as the collapses of the Sampoong Department Store and the Seongsu Bridge.
 
Goksung
 
NA Hong-jin exploded onto the scene with The Chaser in 2008, a critically-acclaimed thriller that instantly put him on the global map. Two years later, The Yellow Sea confirmed his status as one of the country’s most promising new filmmakers. This year, NA returns with another dark thriller, working with a new cadre of stars (replacing the effective teaming of HA Jung-woo and KIM Yun-seok in his earlier works) on the rural-set Goksung.
 
The film stars KWAK Do-won, SONG Kang-ho’s award-winning co-star in The Attorney (2013), as a police officer investigating a series of mysterious and grisly murders in the countryside following the arrival of a mysterious stranger. Box office heavyweight HWANG Jung-min (Veteran) co-stars along with HAN Gong-ju (2014) lead CHUN Woo-hee. The film is the third fully-financed local production for Fox International Productions, who previously part-financed The Yellow Sea.

Home Sweet Home
 
Another director who hasn’t been seen in some time, LEE Kyoung-mi worked as a writer and assistant director on PARK Chan-wook’s Sympathy For Lady Vengeance (2005) before debuting to acclaim with the off-kilter high school comedy-drama Crush And Blush (2008), co-written and produced by PARK.
 
In 2016, LEE will unveil her sophomore film Home Sweet Home (working title). The dark political thriller features SON Ye-jin (The Pirates, 2014) as the wife of a politician played by KIM Joo-hyuk (The Servant, 2010). During his campaign for the National Assembly, she uncovers a terrible secret after their daughter goes missing just 15 days before election day. Previously co-stars in My Wife Got Married (2008), SON and KIM will surely present a very different kind of chemistry in the CJ Entertainment thriller.
 
Train Via Busan
 
Already known for the gritty indie animated features The King of Pigs (2011) and The Fake (2013), YEON Sang-ho makes his live action debut with the high-speed thriller Train via Busan (working title). GONG Yoo stars as a father who boards the KTX train from Seoul to Busan with his daughter. However, another passenger on the train has brought on a dangerous infection that is quickly infecting fellow riders and driving them crazy.
 
The events of Train via Busan follow the initial outbreak depicted in YEON’s completed but unreleased animation Seoul Station. Co-starring with GONG is JUNG Yu-Mi (Our Sunhi, 2013).
 
The Handmaiden
 
Director PARK Chan-wook returns home with The Handmaiden, his first film in Korea since Thirst (2009), after he made the American gothic tale Stoker (2013). Based on Sarah Waters’ novel Fingersmith, the film stars HA Jung-woo as a con man who teams up with a young pickpocket (newcomer KIM Tae-ri) who he installs as the maid of a wealthy socialite, played by KIM Min-hee (Right Now, Wrong Then, 2015).
 
Switching out the Victorian England setting of the original book with Korea and Japan in the 1930s, when the former was colonized by the latter, PARK’s latest promises the engrossing visuals he has become known for, as it was shot by his frequent collaborator JEONG Jeong-hun, who has been actively working in Hollywood after gaining notice there for his work on Stoker. The Handmaiden also features CHO Jin-woong (A Hard Day, 2014), KIM Hae-sook (The Thieves, 2012) and MOON So-ri(Oasis, 2002).

Our Love Story
 
After their more commercially-oriented titles Socialphobia (2015) and Alice In Earnestland (2015), both of which were hits at the Korean box office, the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA) will debut the low-key drama Our Love Story this year.
 
At a time when gay rights are becoming an increasingly important, and hotly contested, issue in Korean society, Our Love Story presents the burgeoning relationship of a diffident art student and a carefree bartender. LEE Hyun-ju’s debut is one of the rare works to present a lesbian story in Korean cinema. Our Love Story follows the KAFA works Girl on the Edge and The Boys Who Cried Wolf, both of which debuted at the Busan International Film Festival last October.
 
Karaoke Crazies
 
A genre piece taking place almost entirely in a surreal karaoke bar, Karaoke Crazies sees director KIM Sang-chan return nine years after Highway Star. LEE Mun-sik (A Bloody Aria, 2006) stars as the owner of an isolated karaoke bar in the countryside with precious few guests. He hires a strange girl, played by BAE So-eun (Doctor, 2012), as a helper and though unpopular at first, she soon becomes a favorite with customers. The owner hires another woman when business improves, all the while keeping his eye out for a serial killer on the loose.
 
With an intricate set and an interesting mix of genres, Karaoke Crazies calls to mind some of the polymorphic genre hits that Korea became known for around the world.

[irilight]

The Late Project Itoh's GENOCIDAL ORGAN Lands Park Chan-Wook To Direct For Live-Action

 

Fans of Park Chan-Wook may be delighted to learn that he'll be reportedly directing a live-action adaptation of the popular novel-turned-anime slate, Genocidal Organ. The Tracking Board writes that The Sean Daniel Company who is producing the film, is the latest to finally succeed toward a live-action adaptation after efforts from the now-bankrupt Manglobe and currently-running Geno Studio now working on an animated project with Shuko Murase directing for release later this year.

 

Genocidal Organ takes place in post-apocalyptic Sarajevo where the detonation of a homemade device has marked the Bosnian captial ground zero for the remaining world's downward spiral into chaos and looming genocide. At the center of it all, a mysterious American man by the name of John Paul with intelligence agent Clavis Shepherd now tasked with finding him in order to locate the true heart of darkness: a genocidal organ. The novel was the debut work of author and sci-fi novelist Project Itoh who passed away in 2009.

 

The project has plenty of momentum with the acclaim Park has earned himself in the years since his three-part Vengeance trilogy, including his 2003 film Old Boy. Genocidal Organ will be one of several titles Park will be busy with as the months roll on with updates further pending. If you're not too familiar with Genocidal Organ, feel free to check out an earlier trailer below for Shuko's animated release now set for this year, featuring music by J-Pop band, EGOIST. It'll be interesting to see how Park's formula bodes for a more slick, futuristic tale with action here, methinks.

 

What's your take? Comment below!

 

 

source

 

[rubie]

To all friends at the thread celebrating Lunar New Year of the Monkey 恭禧發財

2016: The Year of Monkey

Source: Korean Safari

2016 is the year of Monkey (Fire Monkey) starting from February 8, 2016 (called the Lunar New Year) and lasting to January 27, 2017.

Monkey ranks ninth position in the Chinese Zodiac. They are cheerful and energetic by nature and usually represent flexibility. People under the sign of the Monkey are wise, intelligent, confident, charismatic, loyal, inventive and have leadership.

The weaknesses of the Monkeys are being egotistical, arrogant, crafty, restless and snobbish.

[rubie]

February 24, 2016

Park Chan-wook’s ‘Handmaiden’ presold in 116 countries

Park Chan-wook’s upcoming thriller “The Handmaiden” has sealed overseas distribution deals in 116 countries ahead of its local premiere later this year.

The film’s distributor CJ E&M on Wednesday announced the deals, selling to the U.S., France, Germany, Japan and Australia, among others, at the European Film Market during the latest Berlin International Film Festival. Amazon’s film production division Amazon Studios bought the U.S rights. 

It is the second-largest overseas sales success for CJ E&M, following Bong Joon-ho’s “Snowpiercer,” which in 2013 was sold to 167 countries ahead of its premiere. 

“The expectation for Park Chan-wook’s work is high and the visuals revealed from the highlight clip was satisfactory, which drew record presales,” said Kim Seong-eun, CJ E&M’s film division representative. 

The “Oldboy” director’s new thriller is a screen adaption of the 2002 crime novel “Fingersmith” by British author Sarah Waters, which was previously adapted into a two-part BBC miniseries in 2005. 

Park’s version has changed the time period from 19th century London to early 20th century Korea, when the country was under Japanese colonial rule. 

Actress Kim Min-hee, known for “Helpless” and “Very Ordinary Couple,” will play a young, wealthy heiress, while actor Ha Jung-woo, who was in “Kundo: Age of the Rampant” and “The Chaser,” will play a Japanese aristocrat who hires a female petty thief -- played by rookie Kim Tae-ri -- to go after Kim’s money. Actor Cho Jin-woong, who was in “Kundo: Age of the Rampant” and “A Hard Day,” joins the cast as the heiress’ uncle and guardian, along with seasoned actresses Kim Hae-sook and Moon So-ri. 

It is Park’s return to the local movie market after a seven-year hiatus following “Thirst” (2009). His Hollywood debut “Stoker” (2013), a British-American thriller starring Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode and Mia Wasikowska, received positive reviews from critics, but was not a huge box office hit. 

“The Handmaiden” is coproduced by Park’s own Moho Film and “Oldboy” producer Lim Seung-yong’s Yong Film. It is set to hit screens in the early half of this year. 

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)

 

[rubie]

February 24, 2016

Park Chan-wook's upcoming film sold in 116 countries

SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- Distributing rights for South Korean director Park Chan-wook's upcoming movie "The Handmaiden" have been sold in 116 countries even before its completion, the film's distributor said Wednesday.

It's the second time a South Korean movie has been sold to more than 100 countries prior to release, CJ Entertainment said, adding the first was Bong Joon-ho's "Snowpiercer" in 2013.

The transactions were made through the European Film Market, with Amazon Studios having bought the distributing rights in the U.S.

"Many people were satisfied by the visual aesthetics of the seven-minute highlight," Kim Sung-eun, head of CJ E&M's overseas business department, said.

Set in 1930s Korea and Japan, "The Handmaiden" centers on an heiress (Kim Min-hee) and a count (Ha Jung-woo) who covets her assets. The count hires a maid (Kim Tae-ri) on the heiress's behalf.

The film, currently in post-production, is scheduled to open in the first half of this year.

sojungpark@yna.co.kr