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August 27, 2006

Modern Korean Cinema 101

A Screening List

By Ben

Andrew recently got a job at the videostore "Film is Truth" in Bellingham. As a result, he's putting together some posters to put up in the store and he asked me to select ten or so Korean films from the limited selection they have in stock. Although I'm no Korean film scholar, Rufus for one knows a lot more about it than I do, I did manage to put together some thoughts into a list that I think would be useful to anybody looking to get into Korean cinema.

Shiri
This film had the largest budget of any Korean film ever at the time ($8.5 million) and went on to become a titanic success (pun intended). This was a watershed film in Korean cinema and opened the doors to greater financial investment in the industry so that the following films could be produced. Although it's not a great film by any measure, it is interesting for its portrayal of the differences between North and South Korea.

Note: For more on this, read Rufus' essay about economic divisions in the two Koreas.

Chi-Hwa-Seon
This film traces the life of one of Korea's most famous artists. It's fitting then that it's directed by Im Kwon Taek, one of Korea's most prolific (he's directed over 90 films) and respected filmmakers. This film won the prize for best director at the 2000 Cannes film festival and along with Shiri helped to put Korean filmmaking on the map.

The Isle
The first film by Korean cinema's badboy, Kim Ki Duk, to make a splash (pun intended again...) on the international film circuit. Equal parts beautiful and disgusting, this film is hard to watch but yet another important film in the recent resurgence of Korean cinema.

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring/3-Iron
Two of Kim Ki Duk's least "extreme" films and also his best. Both films are perfectly paced and full of beautiful imagery.

Joint Security Area/Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance/Old Boy
Three films by the most famous filmmaker working in Korea right now, Park Chan Wook. After winning the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes film festival Park shot to fame and was embraced by internet fanboys of "extreme cinema." He's a virtuoso filmmaker who's not as intelligent as he seems to think he is but he's got such mad skillz that he's one to keep your eyes on. His earlier work is much less overproduced albeit no less violent. Joint Security Area was an even bigger hit than Shiri and is essential viewing for anyone interested in the conflict between the two Koreas. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is his most violent and difficult film to watch but possibly the most rewarding as well. The filmmaking is great and his pitch black humor dissects (quite literally) the socio-economic issues in modern day Korea. Old Boy is a visceral thrill ride (sorry for the cliche). An operatic Greek tragedy starring one of Korea's best actors, Choi Min Sik. The film is often overindulgent and maybe even a bit vulgar but you won't be able to take your eyes off it either.

Memories of Murder
Bong Joon Ho seems to be shaping himself up as Korea's most intelligent filmmaker. Memories of Murder is both a dark comedy and highly effective thriller. The film's effortless shifts in tone can be a bit confusing for some but it's part of its genius. All this is set in the countryside amidst the backdrop of a patriarchal society undergoing severe political unrest as the world begins to shrink thanks to technology and the country and the city collide. A gorgeous film that captures a time and place so wonderfully while weaving in ideas and an engaging story to create one of the best films in recent years from anywhere in the world, not just Korea.

Oasis
Lee Chang Dong is one of Korea's best little known filmmakers. Oasis is the story of the relationship between an ex-con and a woman with cerebral palsy. Moon So Ri gives an amazing performance as the woman and transcends the cliche that all performances in which an actor plays a disabled person are great. This performance really is great. The directing is low key and sensitive while not shying away from lower class Korea the way most films tend to. One of my favorite scenes in film is from this movie.

The President's Last Bang
The most overtly political Korean film that I've ever seen. It's a pitch black comedy following former Korean President Park Chun Hee on the eve of his assassination. He was an incredibly harsh and corrupt leader but his cruel ways did help to make Korea the economic power that it now is. This has resulted in some nostalgia for him in Korea's current society, a disturbing trend made all the more disturbing by the fact that he has children still involved in Korean politics. A good companion to Memories of Murder if you're interested in the political turmoil that Korea suffered through in the 70s and 80s, this dark past is sometimes credited with fostering a society in which sappy melodramas and now "extreme" cinema have flourished.

Save the Green Planet
A wacky tribute to just about every famous science fiction film in existence. This film is really weird and really uneven but entertaining nonetheless. The director does try to weave in some social commentary but it's lost amidst everything else that's going on.

Take Care of My Cat
A small film might be a breath of fresh air compared to everything else on this list. The film is directed by a woman and is about five female friends struggling to find their places in the world after finishing high school. Through their relationships, issues of class and sex in Korean society are explored while never distracting from the tender tale of friendship that's at the heart of the film.

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