[Movie 2018] Little Forest, 리틀 포레스트

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December 12, 2018

Winners Of 5th Korean Film Producers Association Awards

Source: Soompi by J. K

 

The 5th Korean Film Producers Association Awards has announced its winners ahead of the upcoming ceremony.

 

The award show is hosted by the Korean Film Producers Association and supported by KTH and the Korean Film Council. On December 11, this year’s winners were shared, with Joo Ji Hoon and Han Ji Min receiving the top prizes among actors. The film “1987: When the Day Comes” received two awards, for both Best Film and Best Screenplay.

 

Check out the list below!

 

Best Film: “1987: When the Day Comes”
Best Screenplay: “1987: When the Day Comes”
Best Director: Yim Soon Rye (“Little Forest”)
Best Actor: Joo Ji Hoon (“Dark Figure of Crime”)
Best Actress: Han Ji Min (“Miss Baek”)
Best Supporting Actor: Bae Sung Woo (“The Great Battle’)
Best Supporting Actress: Jin Seo Yeon (“Believer”)
Best Cinematography: Choi Chan Min (“The Spy Gone North”)
Best Lighting: Yoo Seok Moon (“The Spy Gone North”)
Best Art Direction: Park Il Hyun (“The Spy Gone North”)
Best Editing: Yang Jin Mo (“Believer”)
Best Soundtrack: Dalparan (“Believer”)
Best Sound: Park Yong Gi and Park Joo Gang (“GONJIAM: Haunted Asylum”)
Technical Award: Jin Jong Hyun (“Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds,” “Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days”)

 

The 5th Korean Film Producers Association Awards will be held on December 18 at 7 p.m. KST at the Korea Press Center in Seoul.

 

Congratulations to all the winners!

 

Source (1)

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December 12, 2018

The 18th Director's Cut Awards Announces Winners For Actor Categories
 

Source: Soompi by K. Lew

 

 

This year’s Director’s Cut Awards has announced the winners of the actor award categories as well as some of the nominees for the director awards.

 

The awards ceremony began in 1998, with this year marking the 18th Director’s Cut Awards. The Korean Film Directors Association hosts and chooses the awardees for the ceremony. This year, the directors in the association personally voted for the awardees whose works premiered from October 1, 2017 until September 30, 2018.

 

There are four award categories for directors — Director of the Year, Rookie Director of the Year, Vision of the Year, and Screenplay of the Year. There are four award categories for actors — Male Actor of the Year, Female Actor of the Year, Rookie Male Actor of the Year, and Rookie Female Actor of the Year.

 

This year, Lee Sung Min won Male Actor of the Year for “The Spy Gone North,” while Kim Tae Ri won Female Actor of the Year for “Little Forest.” The Rookie Male and Female Actor of the Year awards went to EXO’s D.O. for “Along With the Gods” and Kim Da Mi for “The Witch” respectively.

 

The nominees for Director of the Year are Hwang Dong Hyuk for “The Fortress,” Jang Joon Hwan for “1987,” Im Soon Rae for “Little Forest,” Lee Chang Dong for “Burning,” Min Kyu Dong for “Her Story,” and Yoon Jong Bin for “The Spy Gone North.”

 

For the Rookie Director of the Year award, nominees include Kang Yoon Sung for “The Outlaws,” Kim Dae Hwan for “The First Lap,” Jeon Go Woon for “Microhabitat,” Shin Dong Suk for “Last Child,” and Kim Eui Seok for “After My Death.”

 

The nominees for Vision of the Year are Shin Soo Won for “Glass Garden,” Kim Il Ran and Lee Hyuk Sang for “The Remnants,” Jeon Go Woon for “Microhabitat,” Go Bong Soo for “Loser’s Adventure,” Shin Dong Suk for “Last Child,” and Kim Eui Seok for “After My Death.”

 

For Screenplay of the Year, nominees include Hwang Dong Hyuk for “The Fortress,” Kim Kyung Chan for “1987,” Oh Jung Mi and Lee Chang Dong for “Burning,” Jung Seo Kyung and Lee Hae Young for “Believer,” Seo Hye Rim, Jung Kyuh Woon, and Min Kyu Dong for “Her Story,” and Kwon Sung Hwi and Yoon Jong Bin for “The Spy Gone North.”

 

The ceremony for the 18th Director’s Cut Awards will be held on December 14 at 6:30 p.m. KST, where all of the winners will be revealed.

 

Source (1)

Top Photo Credit: Xportsnews

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December 14, 2018

 

LITTLE FOREST at the 18th Director's Cut Awards

 

Photos: Chungmuro Crumb

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December 18, 2018

Top 10 Korean Movies Of 2018 That You Should Watch Before The Year Ends

BY JESSICA RAPIR / Korea Portal
       
Top 10 Korean movies of 2018 that you should watch before the year ends.

K-pop and K-drama are not the one one that gaining attention right now across the globe. Even Korean movies are breaking the international market as well. Here are some of the top 10 Korean movies 2018 that you have caught the hearts of moviegoers.

 

1. Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days

 

2. Believer

 

3. Intimate Strangers

 

4. Keys to the Heart

 

5. The Accidental Detective 2

 

6. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum

 

7. Be With You

 

8. Detective K: Secret of the Bloodsucking Demon

 

9. Little Forest

 

This movie from Mr. Sunshine actress Kim Tae Ri hit the hearts of moviegoers. Kim played the role of Hye Won who gets tired of her life in the city and moves back to her hometown in the countryside. There, she heals her emotional wounds with the help of her two long-time friends.

 

Many Koreans have dubbed this film as one of the most healing movies of 2018. Released in February, the movie earned $10.7 million in box office.

 

10. Golden Slumber

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Clip: Chungmuro Crumb

 

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Source: EasternKicks

 

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From full article HERE

 

December 4, 2018

 

2018 Korean Film Industry Yearly Report

 

by SONG Soon-jin KOFIC

 

It’s safe to say that the Korean film box office this year has been dominated by low-budget high-concept movies. Most representative among them are JUNG Bum-shik’s mystery horror GONJIAM: Haunted Asylum, released last March, YIM Soon-rye’s feel-good drama Little Forest, released in February, and LEE Jae-kyoo’s Intimate Strangers, released in October.First, GONJIAM: Haunted Asylum is a low-budget mockumentary about seven urban explorers visiting the abandoned Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital, a real location. Produced with a budget of KRW 1.05 billion (USD 940,000), the film was a success in Korea, with 2.67 million total admissions, paving a new way for the stagnating Korean horror cinema. It is also a title that was terribly effective in CGV’s multi-screen format ScreenX, and has become the fifth most successful film in ScreenX, behind TRAIN TO BUSAN, The Himalayas (2015), Black Panther and Operation Chromite (2016). Considering that all the other films are blockbusters emphasizing spectacle, the decent success of GONJIAM: Haunted Asylum is all the more meaningful. This film demonstrated what synergies can be achieved when a high-concept film meets the right technology. 

 

 

Helmed by YIM Soon-rye and starring KIM Tae-ri, Little Forest also became a success with its low budget of KRW 1.5 billion (USD 1.35 million). A Korean adaptation of the Japanese manga of the same name, the film is a feel-good movie following Hye-won (KIM Tae-ri), a young woman tired with city life, as she goes back to her home village and starts farming and cooking her own meals. With a strong support within the female audience and more than 1.5 million admissions, Little Forest elicited a demand from audiences for more films with woman-centered narratives and female protagonists. 

 

Produced with KRW 3.8 billion (USD 3.43 million), Intimate Strangers has now broken past the 5 million admissions threshold and ranks among the most successful Korean films of 2018. Distributed by Lotte Entertainment and produced by Film Monster with the help of Drama House, Intimate Strangers tells the fascinating chaos experienced by six characters – YUM Jung-ah, KIM Ji-soo, LEE Seo-jin, CHO Jin-woong, YOO Hae-jin, SONG Ha-yoon and YOON Kyung-ho – in a confined space over a limited time span. The PR company reported, “Despite the expectations that Intimate Strangers would have an older audience fitting the mid-forties average age of the main cast, it appears that demographics from 10 to 29 make up a large percentage of the spectators and also expressed high appreciation for the film.” The importance of concepts within the Korean film industry is expected to be stressed by these successes.

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December 21, 2018

 

Top 10 Films of 2018: 4 – Little Forest 리틀 포레스트

 

FAUSTO VERNAZZANI easternkicks.com

Taking the 4th spot on our Top 10 Films of 2018 list is LITTLE FOREST★★★★, an intimately charming food porn bonanza

 

I am sure Neil Gaiman would have considered food porn one of the greatest deities in his now seminal fantasy novel American Gods. It surrounds us, so I guess there is no need to bore you with descriptions of how huge a business it is, you are all probably sick of it. Maybe you are even asking yourselves why on Earth you should waste your time watching another movie rooted in the food universe, or how the hell Yim Soon-rye’s Little Forest managed to climb up to the fourth position of our 2018 easternKicks top ten.

 

Little Forest captures the zeitgeist both in respecting the aesthetics of the contemporary visual and popular culture and in the depiction of a troubled generation. It flows like a series of Instagram stories from a sort of auto-imposed confinement in the countryside, away from the hardships of a life in the crowded city, by our very own greatest young South Korean actress, Kim Tae-ri. If you are not yet fallen in love with her, something must have gone wrong, but watch Little Forest and you will join this huge club.

 

 

Back to her old mother’s house in the country, Kim Tae-ri heals her wounds with the biggest connection she has to her past, her “peculiar” mother (a small role interpreted with grandeur by Moon So-ri) and nature: food. With a standard intersection of present time and flashbacks, Yim Soon-rye focuses our attention in the healing power food has on her life by highlighting every positive sensation brought to our five senses and more. Everything falls in place. Little Forest creates an amazing atmosphere of peace.

 

The Instagram-filters cinematography adds nothing to what we see every day on our smartphones, but it actually improves our relationship with Kim Tae-ri’s character, it creates a bond built on common grounds, with one exception, of course, that makes Little Forest stand out of the crowd: warmth. Kim Tae-ri’s body and soul evolve during the whole picture; they grow and absorb our personal emotional crisis. It’s a safe haven made of perfumes, soft and satisfying paradisiacal dishes, made out of natural ingredients.

It leads the viewer inside a womb, metaphorically of course – otherwise it would be a horror directed by Sion Sono – and it never stops exploring the depth of each plate. It fills the eyes, it is a heartwarming experience following her on cultivated soil, smelling flowers (and deep frying them, unforgettable) and thinking about what doing next with whatever the grounds offer her in that time of the year. I cannot think of Little Forest as a movie, it feels more like a cup of hot cocoa, with butter cookies on its side.

A movie like this might not outlive its specific time, maybe time will forget it, but at this very moment, it feels like a sweet pause during a fight with gigantic beasts. Korean cinema keeps on cooking high budget historical movies, violent political thrillers and great auteurs. Little Forest is in the company of wolves and it manages to emerge and engage in a conversation with whoever is watching, despite it being a movie about the ancient conflict of city versus town and the rediscovery of nature. It is worthy of its fourth place.

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December 26, 2018

 

This year’s trends in Korean film:

Women, word-of-mouth define 2018 at the cinema

 

Source: INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily

 

Spoiler

“Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days,” the second in the “Along with the Gods” fantasy blockbuster franchise, was the highest-grossing movie of 2018. [LOTTE ENTERTAINMENT]

 

The growing prevalence of movie streaming giants like Netflix is worrying many cinema chains, but these new filmmaking giants actually had a limited impact on Korean cinema this year.

 

Local cinemas sold more than 200 million tickets this year for the sixth consecutive year since 2013, according to the data provided by the Korean Film Council. 

 

The highest-grossing movie this year was the fantasy blockbuster “Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days,” which sold 12.27 million tickets upon its release in August. This was less than the first in the popular webtoon-based franchise, “Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds” (2017), which sold 14.41 million tickets.

 

“Avengers: Infinity War” was the second-best performing movie this year, selling 11.21 million tickets. It was also the second Marvel title to sell more than 10 million tickets in Korea after 2015’s “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” (10.49 million tickets).

 

Apart from ticket sales, several key characteristics that defined this year’s Korean cinema trend are the growing importance of word-of-mouth, stronger female characters and the success of smaller-budget movies over blockbusters. 

 

One of the biggest beneficiaries of strong word-of-mouth was “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the film about the British rock band Queen and its lead singer Freddie Mercury. The film debuted on Oct. 31 to moderate success. 

 

But it received positive word-of-mouth and reviews. Thanks also to the popularity of sing-along screenings, the film climbed up the box office ladder and managed to stay strong despite the unleash of new releases. In its eighth weekend, its total ticket sales amounted to 8.5 million.

 

“‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was also popular among younger audiences, who did not grow up listening to Queen’s music,” said Hwang Jae-hyun, a spokesman for CGV. He also pointed to “strong word-of-mouth” as the key to the film’s success in attracting younger viewers into theaters.

Relatively low-budget movies like the horror flick “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum,” top, and comedy-drama “Intimate Strangers” succeeded in the box office thanks to positive reviews and strong word-of-mouth from audience members. [SHOWBOX, LOTTE ENTERTAINMENT]

 

Other movies that received an unexpected boost from the public buzz include the horror mystery flick “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum,” comedy drama feature “Intimate Strangers” and the drama “Searching.”

 

“Gonjiam,” which tells the story of a group of seven people going on an adventure to the abandoned Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital and filming their experience along the way, far exceeded break-even ticket sales of 600,000. Despite being made for less than half of the average production cost of Korean movies, “Gonjiam” managed to sell 2.67 million tickets. This is particularly surprising, as the entire cast was made up of rookie actors.

 

“Intimate Strangers,” which cost 5.8 billion won ($5.16 million) to make, sold 5.2 million tickets, a little less than three times its 1.8 million break-even-point. 

 

The movie depicts a group of childhood friends and their spouses playing a game that requires them to reveal all their text and phone calls. It received a positive response from viewers. Despite film journalists’ criticisms of the plot’s simplicity, “Intimate Strangers” received a rating higher than nine stars out of 10 on portal site Naver’s film rating system, far higher than the critics’ rating of 6.13.

 

“Searching,” starring Korean-American actor John Cho, is another movie that succeeded through positive word-of-mouth. The film is about a single father desperately attempting to find his missing teenage daughter, and it was moderately successfully after its Aug. 29 release. But after viewers praised the film for taking an unconventional approach to storytelling - the film takes place entirely on computer screens - the movie topped the box office for a couple of weeks, selling a total of 2.95 million tickets.

 

Another notable trend this year is the growing significance of strong female characters. 

 

Period epic “Herstory,” about the struggles of women who were forced into sexual slavery by the imperial Japanese army during its colonial rule in Korea (1910-45), depicts independent and strong-willed women trying to speak up for women’s rights. 

 

Kim Hee-ae plays the head of a Busan-based tour agency who helps comfort women launch their court case against the Japanese government. 

Though the number still remains fairly low, films featuring strong-willed and independent women were notable this year, including “Miss Baek,” top,” and “Herstory.” [LITTLE BIG PICTURES, NEXT ENTERTAINMENT WORLD]

 

“Miss Baek” is another notable film with a strong female lead. The movie explores child abuse through the eyes of a socially excluded female character. It received a lot of support from audience members welcoming a rare movie that places a female character at the center. Its main star Han Ji-min won a number of awards, including the Blue Dragon Awards, for her role in the film. 

 

Rookie actor Kim Da-mi was also at the center of attention this year for her charismatic role in “The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion.” In the action-packed movie, Kim plays a mysterious high school student with superpowers who struggles to live a normal life.

 

Films like “Illang: The Wolf Brigade,” “Rampant” and “Psychokinesis” proved that high production costs is no longer a prerequisite for a movie to hit the jackpot. 

 

“Illang,” which cost around 16 billion won to make, sold less than a million tickets. This comes especially as a surprise due to its strong star cast, including popular actors Gang Dong-won, Han Hyo-joo and Jung Woo-sung, and the involvement of Kim Jee-woon (“The Age of Shadows”) in the director’s chair. Fantasy period title “Rampant,” starring Hyunbin and Jang Dong-gun, was another highly anticipated big-budget flick. 

 

Spoiler

“Illang: The Wolf Brigade,” top, and “Psychokinesis,” proved that big-budget movies with superstar actors are not guaranteed success. [WARNER BROS. KOREA, NEXT ENTERTAINMENT WORLD]

 

However, it sold only 1.59 million tickets, which was a huge disappointment due its production costs of 17 billion won. Yeon Sang-ho’s new feature “Psychokinesis,” which followed the massive success of zombie thriller “Train to Busan,” also fell short at the box office. Despite costing more than 13 billion won to make, it attracted less than a million moviegoers.

 

In contrast, movies like “Dark Figure of Crime,” “The Witness” and “Little Forest” also proved that films with smaller budgets could be strong enough to become box office hits.

 

“Dark Figure of Crime” cost around 8 billion won to make, but sold nearly twice the tickets (3.78 million) necessary to break even. Despite fierce competition coming from summer blockbusters like the second “Along with the Gods” film, horror title “The Witness” sold 2.5 million tickets and was made for just 4.5 billion won. The low-budget drama “Little Forest” sold an impressive 1.5 million tickets and cost only 1.5 billion won. 

 

“The success of a movie is no longer decided by high production costs or strong star power,” said film critic Kim Heon-sik. “Audience members have started to look for a trendy and unique story that does not repeat what they have seen in the past.” 

 

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]

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December 28, 2018

 

Korean Film Marketers Association Members Select Best Actors Of 2018

Source: Soompi by J. Lim

 

Spoiler

 

Every year, over 100 films make it to the big screen to either wow moviegoers or leave them wanting more. A lot of work goes into making a film stand out, and film advertising marketers’s efforts can’t be overlooked as from the moment a film is planned till after it’s released, marketers present the film in various angles to get people hooked.

 

Sports Donga worked with the Korean Film Marketers Association (KFMA) to speak with 114 advertising marketers from 23 firms to look back on the Korean film industry in 2018. The marketers were asked four questions, “Which actor shined in 2018?” “What was the best film of 2018?” “Which film had the best marketing strategy of 2018?” and “Which 2019 film will be a rising star?”

 

Of the list of actors who shined in 2018, Joo Ji Hoon came out on top with 38 votes. In 2018, the actor appeared in the films “Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days,” “The Spy Gone North,” and “Dark Figure of Crime.” The marketers highlighted the fact that Joo Ji Hoon has appeared in multiple projects this year and showcased a wide spectrum of his acting talents.

 

Another trend that was seen in films in 2018 was the rise of talented actresses. This was best represented by Han Ji Min receiving the second highest number of votes at 21 votes for her role in “Miss Baek.” The marketers applauded the fact that her years of experience shined brightly in the film as she portrayed a character that isn’t easy to find. The marketers highlighted that she is, “An actress who people remember more for her talents than her looks,” and stated that they are interested to see where her career goes as she continues to undergo striking transformations for her roles.

 

Another actress who had a strong showing on the list was Kim Hye Soo, who came in fourth place with seven votes for her appearance in “Default.” She was recognized for creating a captivating character in the film, and for living up to expectations as one of Korea’s most symbolic actresses. As the marketers described her, “As expected of ‘God’ Hye Soo.” Other noteworthy actresses who made the list included Kim Hyang Gi from “Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days,” Kim Da Mi from “The Witch,” Kim Tae Ri from “Little Forest,” and Kim Hee Ae from “Herstory.”

 

In third place with 15 votes was Lee Sung Min, for his roles in “The Spy Gone North,” “The Witness,” and “What a Man Wants.” He was described as an actor who is at the top of his game who can lead a film on his own or co-lead it with someone else. Fifth place went to Jo Woo Jin for “Rampant,” “Default,” and “The Drug King” with five votes, and he was applauded for his powerful roles and perfect acting.

 

Source (1)

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December 30, 2018

Top 10 Korean Films of 2018

 

By Jason Bechervaise The Korea Times

 

With more than 100 titles released each year, it's always a challenging feat to compile a list of the top 10 Korean films of the year. Although 2018 won't go down as one of the most fruitful years for Korean cinema, there have been a number of notable films, not least Lee Chang-dong's stupendous "Burning" that tops this list. 

 

The following top 10 films were released in local cinemas between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2018. 

 

1. Burning 

Few filmmakers can consistently make masterpieces, but Lee Chang-dong has managed it. Topping jury grids following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, "Burning" became the best reviewed film ever to bow on the Croisette. 

Based on Haruki Murakami's short story "Barn Burning," it centers on a love triangle between a mysterious young woman and two men. Starring Yoo Ah-in, Jeon Jong-seo and Steven Yeun, the film's premise is deceptively simple. As Lee Chang-dong pulls his viewers in, the story becomes increasingly layered and perplexing as he puts together an extraordinary narrative depicting the despair among young people. 

Unfortunately, the film failed to strike a chord with audiences in Korea mustering just 528,000 admissions. But it has made history becoming the first Korean film to be shortlisted for the best foreign language academy award, and could well land a nomination. 

 

2. The Spy Gone North 
Yoon Jong-bin's slow-burning spy thriller is an enthralling display of espionage that is more reliant on dialogue than set-pieces ― much in the same way as Kim Jee-woon's "The Age of Shadows" and Tomas Alfredson's "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy."

Hwang Jung-min stars as a South Korean agent who infiltrates the North in the 1990s to obtain intelligence on their nuclear plans. 

Capturing the current geopolitical climate culminating in a rousing climax, it is arguably one of the best films dealing with inter-Korean relations. 

 

3. Swing Kids 

When it comes to cinematic rhythm, Kang Hyeong-cheol ("Sunny") is in a league of his own. Bringing together a dazzling display of visuals and a vibrant soundtrack in his latest feature, it will spur viewers to tap dance all the way home. 

Set in a POW camp during the Korean War, a tap dance group is set up to improve the image of the camp following violence that breaks out between the prisoners. It stars Do Kyung-soo, Park Hye-su, Jared Grimes and Oh Jung-se. 

Suffering somewhat from a weak ending, it is nevertheless a visual triumph. 

 

4. Microhabitat 

Bagging a number of new director awards, Jeon Go-woon is a talent to look out for. Her feature debut is a distinctive and immensely enjoyable exploration of independence and happiness. 

Esom plays a young woman in her 30s who is content just drinking whisky, smoking cigarettes and spending time with her boyfriend. 

Addressing a recurring theme in Korean independent cinema with a focus on Korea's young people, it's a refreshing and richly stylized glimpse at the choices facing this generation. 

 

5. Ode to the Goose 

Enigmatic and yet also entertaining, Zhang Lu's new feature that premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in October again illustrates his talent as both a writer and director. 

Playing around with national identity, his non-linear narrative structure might be a challenge for some audiences. But starring Park Hae-il and Moon So-ri about an aspiring poet who takes a spontaneous trip to Gunsan with a woman he has feelings for, it's a richly rewarding experience, especially for those who can spot the numerous cameos. 

 

6. After My Death 

Cleverly bringing an intensity to his narrative, this is another very impressive feature debut by a young filmmaker, Kim Ui-seok who tackles the subject of suicide. 

Jeon Yeo-bin who has attracted much attention for her role in this film winning a number of awards is superb as a student suspected of playing a part in the disappearance of a high school student thought to have killed herself. 
Refusing to strive for narrative clarity, Kim masterfully utilises the film's ambiguity to add to its potency. 

 

7. Door Lock 

Based on the Spanish film "Sleep Tight" (2011), Lee Kwon's thrilling feature follows a woman (Gong Hyo-jin) living alone while a mysterious man attempts to get into her apartment. With a strong female lead, it deftly deals with the difficulties facing women in Korea. 
Superbly orchestrated on a mid-sized budget, it's evidence of how the industry is shifting its focus to lower budget films. 

 

8. Little Forest 

 

Yim Soon-rye, who directed "Little Forest." Korea Times file

There is certainly a place for socially conscious films, but what's so enchanting about this film is how it whisks viewers away and takes them to idyllic rural Korea in which a young woman (Kim Tae-ri) returns to the countryside following struggles in the city. She does a lot of cooking. 
It might be guilty of romanticizing life as a young person living alone in the middle of nowhere, but Yim Soon-rye's delightful film is sure to bring a smile to those who check it out ― and make them rather peckish. 

 

9. Grass

It's not a top ten list without a Hong Sang-soo film on it somewhere. With at least two films premiering at festivals annually, he's as prolific as ever. 
It stars his muse Kim Min-hee as a Seoul cafe patron who writes as she listens in on conversations taking place in the coffee shop. At a brisk 66 minutes he packs in a wealth of substance that's full of his idiosyncratic character, wit and brilliance. 

 

10. Herstory 

Coming later than other films dealing with comfort women such as "Spirits' Homecoming", it was a box office disappointment despite much critical affection for it. 

Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Kim Hee-ae and Kim Hae-sook the film directed by Min Kyu-dong is based on the so-called Shimonoseki trials during the 1990s. The court drama follows a group of former sex slaves who sought an official apology and compensation from the Japanese government.

Less dependent on emotions in empowering the narrative, the film's strong production values, well-written script and superb performances make this an unforgettable viewing experience. 

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Source: Pierce Conran

 

10. Little Forest (리틀 포레스트)

 

Yim Soon-rye returned with her eighth film this year, an adaption of the Japanese comic (already produced as a two-part Japanese film) Little Forest. Kim Tae-ri leads this youth drama that speaks to a generation of people suffocated by society and in need of a break. Beautifully filmed throughout, this delectable tale is the perfect antidote to urban fatigue.

 

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Credit: Chungmuro Crumb

 

Little Forest DVD will be launched on this January 17th..

Artcrafts informed on their facebook page that there will be commentaries features from director Im Soon Rye, Kim Tae Ri, Ryu Jun Yeol and Jin Ki Joo. We can purchased this on Yes24, Aladdin, Interpark and others site.

 

For BluRay edition, aside from commentaries features, there will be additional features like 60 mins making video, scenario book, content book and photobook. They will inform the exact configuration and release schedule for Blu-ray in near time. Source

 

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January 24, 2019

 

Just out on DVD: Korean Movie "Little Forest"

 

Source: HanCinema.net

Korean movie "Little Forest" is available to order on DVD with English subtitles from YESASIA.

 

"Little Forest" (2017)

Directed by Yim Soon-rye

With Kim Tae-ri, Ryu Jun-yeol, Moon So-ri, Jin Ki-joo, Jeon Gook-hyang, Jang Jae-hee..

Crank-up : 2017/10/24

 

Synopsis

 

Based on an original story by Iragashi Daiske which has been nominated for the Tetsuka Osamu Culture Award, one of top 3 comic awards in Japan. The heroine heads down to her hometown to avoid the weary life of the city and this adaptation is created in director Yim Soon-rye's warm conceptualization of Korea's beautiful nature and various foods. 

 

Release date in Korea : 2018/02/28

 

DVD with English subtitles

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Source: Chungmuro Crumb

 

LITTLE FOREST to be released in Japan on May 17, 2019

 

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Clip: Chungmuro Crumb

 

LITTLE FOREST 1 Year Anniversary 

 

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Source: Soompi

 

 “Little Forest” in particular was meaningful to her because it’s rare to see a female role with such long screen time throughout the movie. 

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Source: Chungmuro Crumb

 

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May 10, 2019

 

MOON So-ri and JANG Joon-hwan to Visit Korean Film Festival DC

LITTLE FOREST, BURNING, THE FORTRESS and More to Screen in US Capital

by Pierce Conran KOFIC

 

The Korean Film Festival DC returns this month for its 2019 edition, which will unfold from May 10 to July 1. This year’s event will feature 11 recent Korean titles as well as a pair of very special guests, acclaimed actress MOON So-ri and director JANG Joon-hwan. Screenings will take place at the Freer Gallery of Art, Meier Auditorium and the Korean Cultural Center in Washington, DC, as well as the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland.

 

Kicking off the program on May 10 will be YIM Soon-rye’s youth drama Little Forest (2018), the remake of the Japanese manga and films of the same name, which stars KIM Tae-ri and RYU Jun-yeol. One of the event’s highlights will be a screening of LEE Chang-dong’s Cannes-selected BURNING on May 18, which, as part of the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, will feature an informal discussion of the film’s literary sources, the ‘Barn Burning’ short stories by William FAULKNER and MURAKAMI Haruki. The selection will then come to a close with the acclaimed period siege drama The Fortress (2017), from director HWANG Dong-hyuk and featuring stars LEE Byung-hun, KIM Yun-seok and PARK Hae-il.

 

A Good Lawyer’s Wife (2003) star MOON So-ri will be in town to present a screening of her directorial debut The Running Actress (2017), which she also stars in, on June 7. Director JANG will accompany the screening of his latest film 1987: When the Day Comes (2017) on June 9.

 

Other films to be featured this year include the Hong Sangsoo films Grass (2018) and Hotel by the River (2018), the indies Hit the Night (2018) by JEONG Ga-young and JEON Go-woon’s Microhabitat (2018), as well as commercial titles such as PARK In-jae’s election drama The Mayor (2017) and PARK Kwang-hyun’s action-thriller Fabricated City (2017).

 

The Korean Film Festival DC is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of the Republic of Korea.

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Behind-the-scene pics ~

 

Photos: Chungmuro Crumb