ACF 2085: Free screening of B.E.D.

Korean Cultural Service New York

presents

Korean Movie Night 2013

Series Five:

Remembering Park Cheol Soo: A Korean Filmmaking Legend

 B.E.D.

South Korea, 2012, 90 minutes

When: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 @ 7:00 PM

Doors open: 6:30 PM

Where: Tribeca Cinemas

54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal Street, NYC

Near the A, C, E @ #1 Canal Street subway stops

Map

Admission: FREE!!!
North American Premiere

In the last film he lived to see released, director Park Cheol Soo explores human obsessive desire for sex. Based on a short novel of the same name, B.E.D. is told through the eyes of the three main characters, whose joy, passion, despair and death overflow into one bed. The man B. has an affair with a bored married woman E., who eventually dumps him. In order to get over E., B. marries D., a divorcee with a small daughter, but still keeps the bed in which he made love with E. His obsession with E. never goes away, as he attempts to get her back.

ACF 2074: Free screening of Park Cheol Soo's GREEN CHAIR

Korean Cultural Service New York

presents

Korean Movie Night 2013

Series Five:

Remembering Park Cheol Soo: A Korean Filmmaking Legend

 Green Chair

South Korea, 2003, 98 minutes

When: Tuesday, October 15, 2013 @ 7:00 PM

Doors open: 6:30 PM

Where: Tribeca Cinemas

54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal Street, NYC

Near the A, C, E @ #1 Canal Street subway stops

Map

Admission: FREE!!!

Ordered to 100 hours of social service for taking a younger lover, Mun-hui meets up with Hyeon, the object of her desire, and becomes engrossed with him yet again. After five passionate days, Mun-hui leaves Hyeon, telling him to remember her as an “odd woman that he met briefly.” Suffering a deep sense of loss, Hyeon eventually receives a call from his lost love – but soon finds himself sharing her with another person. A charming, expertly crafted morality tale, this Sundance Film Festival selection is a powerfully charged erotic masterpiece.

ACF 2055: 301/302 reviewed; free screening tomorrow evening in NY

Korean Cultural Service New York

presents

Korean Movie Night 2013

Series Five:

Remembering Park Cheol Soo: A Korean Filmmaking Legend

301/302

South Korea, 1995, 97 minutes

When: Tuesday, October 1st, 2013 @ 7:00 PM

Doors open: 6:30 PM

Where: Tribeca Cinemas

54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal Street, NYC

Near the A, C, E @ #1 Canal Street subway stops

Map

Admission: FREE!!!

Songhui (actress Pang Eun-jin) is a young woman who lives in unit 301 of the Apartment New Hope Bio. One day a man (apparently a police detective, although he's never specifically identified) comes inquiring about her neighbor Yunhui (Hwang Sin-hye) who lives across the hall in 302. It seems that Yunhui has disappeared, and may have last been seen by Songhui. Offered food by Songhui, the man comments that her apartment, with its extensive cooking facilities, is like a restaurant. Yunhui's, on the other hand, is filled with books. (In a scene later in the film, Songhui will tell Yunhui that her place is "like a school library.")

Songhui (left) and Yunhui

The film is the story, told in flashbacks, of the relationship that had developed between these women who are roughly the same age but of vastly different dispositions. Songhui loves sex, cooking and eating. In fact, she has a history of binge-eating. Yunhui, who wears glasses and writes for women's magazines, has no interest whatsoever in sex, an attitude related to her being anorexic.The two also have distinct personal histories that have compelled them to engage in these self-destructive behaviors. These formative back-stories are depicted in flashbacks within the overall flashback narrative.

Screen-capture of a close-up of Yunhui's eyes and glasses

A screen-capture close-up of Songhui's mouth

Director Park frequently employs closeups and extreme closeups of Yunhui's eyes and glasses and of Songhui's mouth. These compel the viewer to become intimately engaged with the two characters.

Food before ...

... and after preparation

Given the thematic focus of eating disorders from opposite ends of the spectrum, it's not surprising that Park also uses numerous shots of food, both before and after it has been prepared.

301/302 was very successful when released in South Korea, and it was one of the first films shown theatrically in North America. I believe this is the first film directed by Park Cheol Soo that I've seen, and I was immensely impressed. Indeed, the film brings to mind Ingmar Bergman's Persona (1966), another powerful film that focuses on the relationship of two women who are in a circumstance in which they become intimately involved with one another.

301/302 is clearly for mature audiences. There is some nudity and simulated intercourse. In addition to binge-eating and anorexia, there are other subjects depicted that are definitely for adults only.

ACF rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; very highly recommended. Tomorrow night's free screening is definitely another example of why Korean Cultural Service's Korean Movie Night is one of the best things going in NYC.

ACF 2053: Free screening of 301/302 in NY on Tuesday, October 1st, 2013

Korean Cultural Service New York

presents

Korean Movie Night 2013
Series Five:
Remembering Park Cheol Soo: A Korean Filmmaking Legend

301/302
South Korea, 1995, 97 minutes
When: Tuesday, October 1st, 2013 @ 7:00 PM
Doors open: 6:30 PM
Where: Tribeca Cinemas
54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal Street, NYC
Near the A, C, E @ #1 Canal Street subway stops
Map
Admission: FREE!!!

The powerful, boundary-pushing drama that put director Park Cheol Soo on the map, 301/302 explores the stories of two neighboring women, one who suffers from binge-eating, and the other from anorexia. First at odds with each other, the two women realize that their struggles and dark pasts are not that different – and that their disorders may ultimately bring them together in a very unexpected way. Breaking free from traditional Korean storytelling, the film achieved massive success and became one of the first Korean movies released in North American cinemas.

ACF 2050: Free series of three films by Park Cheol Soo coming in October

Korean Cultural Service New York

presents

Korean Movie Night 2013

Series Five:
 Remembering Park Cheol Soo:
A Korean Filmmaking Legend

Park Cheol Soo

When: Tuesday, October 1, 15 and 29, 2013 @ 7:00 PM
Doors open: 6:30 PM
Where: Tribeca Cinemas
54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal Street, NYC
Near the A, C, E @ #1 Canal Street subway stops
Map
Admission: FREE!!!

When prolific Korean director Park Cheol Soo died earlier this year after being hit by a drunk driver, film fans around the world took solace in the fact that while he was gone, his amazing, truly independent masterpieces would live on forever. As huge fans of his work, the Korean Cultural Service pays tribute to this amazing man by offering up three of his most acclaimed films.

Starting on Tuesday, October 1st, Korean Movie Night celebrates the life of Park Cheol Soo – guaranteed to move you like never before. 301, 302 (1995) will be shown on October 1st, Green Chair (2003) on October 15th, and B.E.D. (2012) on October 29th. Look for information here at AsianCineFest about each film in advance of its screening.

As Autumn tugs the leaves from Manhattan’s trees and the days become short, warm yourself with the memory of Park Cheol Soo and his cinematic masterpieces – brought to you for free, as always, by your friends at The Korean Cultural Service.