Korean Film Festival DC 2009, Part 2

Date: Sat, May 16th 2009 - Wed, June 10th 2009
Event Tags: The Movies
Location: AFI Silver Theatre & Cultural Center

Korean Film Festival DC 2009, Part 2
May 16 - June 10

Once again, AFI Silver joins with the Smithsonian's Freer and Sackler Galleries to celebrate the cinema of South Korea, year in and year out one of the most exciting places on the planet for moviemaking. The festival was organized by Tom Vick, film programmer for the Freer and Sackler Galleries of the Smithsonian Institution, and Hyunjun Min of the University of Maryland. The festival is made possible by the Korean Film Council and Korea Foundation.

All films are 35mm prints and in Korean with English subtitles unless otherwise noted.

AFI Member passes will be accepted at all films in the Korean Film Festival DC 2009 at AFI Silver.

THE CHASER

In this utterly riveting, twisting, no-holds-barred thriller, an ex-cop turned pimp races against time to locate one of his girls after she's kidnapped by a serial killer who's been terrorizing the streets of Seoul. Director Na Hong-jin embeds the film's harrowing sus- pense and relentless brutality in a furious denunciation of police ineptitude and corruption. As the morally compromised hero, Kim Yoon-suk gives a knockout performance in more ways than one. One of Korean cinema's biggest hits last year and winner of Best Picture, Director, Actor, and Screenplay at the 2008 Korean Film Awards. (Note courtesy of Film Society of Lincoln Center)

DIR/SCR Na Hong-jin; SCR Hong Won-Chan, Shinho Lee; PROD Kim Su-jin, Yon In-beom. South Korea, 2008, color, 125 min. NOT RATED

Saturday, May 16, 7:30; Wednesday, May 20, 7:00

 

CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST

Photo shop proprietor Jung-won (Han Sukkyu of SHIRI) is terminally ill, a fact he has only shared with his father and sister. Preferring to spend his remaining days in his store, his life (or what is left of it) takes an unexpected turn when Da-rim (Shim Eun-ha), a comely meter maid, becomes a regular customer. Da-rim finds herself attracted to Jung-won, and is gradually able to coax the quiet but kind shopkeeper out of his shell. Though Jung-won finds comfort in her company, he never expresses the amorous feelings he has for her. Perhaps out of a misguided desire to spare her emotions, Jung-won also does not let Da-rim know about his condition nor what little time he has left. The film landed Best Film, Director, Actress, and Cinematography at the Korean Film Awards in 1998. (Note courtesy of ANU Centre for Korean Studies)

DIR/SCR Hur Jin-ho; SCR Oh Seung-ook, Shin Dong-hwan; PROD Cha Seung-Jae. South Korea, 1998, color, 97 min. NOT RATED

Sunday, May 24, 5:00; Wednesday, May 27, 7:00

 

 

BREATHLESS

A relentless barrage of slapping, punching, kicking, spitting and cursing at anyone in sight (this is definitely the film that will teach you to swear in Korean) is Sang-hoon's primary mode of communication; all skills he puts to use as the chief thug in a private heavy mob paid to cause violence and mayhem. His grudging attempts at communication with his young nephew and a rebellious schoolgirl might offer up some hope of redemption, but when the schoolgirl's brother tries to follow in the footsteps of Sang-hoon, the cycle of violence proves hard to break. Shot digitally, much of it hand-held, with a furious intensity that matches the agony of the characters. (Note courtesy of Singapore International Film Festival)

DIR/SCR/PROD Yang Ik-june. South Korea, 2008, color, 130 min. NOT RATED

Saturday, June 6, 12:30; Monday, June 8, 7:00

 

 

EPITAPH

This sensational debut feature in three acts by South Korea's Jung brothers is a powerful addition to the K-horror genre. The impending demolition of a hospital conjures up memories of inexplicable events for one doctor. In the first episode, the doctor, then a young intern assigned to the morgue, feels that a beautiful corpse is beckoning him to join her in the beyond. In the second, the sole survivor of a car crash can't shake the presence of those who perished. In the final episode, a man feels his overworked doctor wife is drifting away--but he's shocked to discover how far. Visually inventive and full of narrative twists and turns, the film has more than enough chills for fans of the genre while offering a provocative meditation on the idea of haunting in recent Korean cinema. (Note courtesy Film Society of Lincoln Center)

DIR/SCR Jung Sik, Jung Beom-sik; PROD Jang So-Jung. South Korea, 2007, color, 98 min. NOT RATED

Tuesday, June 9, 9:15; Wednesday, June 10, 9:30