South Korea’s A TAXI DRIVER coming to Blu-ray on April 17th

Well Go USA

Entertainment

presents

 A Taxi Driver / Taeksi Woonjunsa

Directed by Jang Hoon

Starring Song Kang-Ho & Thomas Kretschmann

South Korea, 2017, 137 minutes

Based on a true story, A TAXI DRIVER, which represented South Korea as its official entry in the 2018 Academy Awards® best foreign-language film category, debuts on Blu-ray April 17 from Well Go USA Entertainment.

Described by Rob Hunter of Film School Rejects as a “powerful film set in the relatively recent past, but with messages and themes that remain every bit as relevant in today’s world,” the film follows A TAXI DRIVER from Seoul, who accidentally gets involved in a German journalist’s reporting of the events of the Gwangju Uprising in 1980.

Directed by Jang Hoon (The Front Line), the fifth-highest-grossing domestic film of all time in South Korea stars Song Kang-Ho (Snowpiercer), Thomas Kretschmann (King Kong, Wanted), Yoo Hai-Jin (Veteran, Pirates) and Ryu Jun-Yeol (The King).

Synopsis:
In this powerful true story set in 1980, a down-on-his-luck taxi driver from Seoul is hired by a foreign journalist who wants to go to the town of Gwangju for the day. They arrive to find a city under siege by the military government, with the citizens, led by a determined group of college students, rising up to demand freedom. What began as an easy fare becomes a life-or-death struggle in the midst of the Gwangju Uprising, a critical event in the history of modern South Korea.

Free screening of South Korean thriller THE AGE OF SHADOWS

Korean Cultural Center NY

Presents

Korean Movie Night New York: Premiere Showcase

The Age of Shadows

Directed by Kim Jee-woon

Starring Song Kang-ho, Gong Yoo, Han Ji-min, and Lee Byung-hun
South Korea, 2016, 140 minutes
In Korean and Japanese with English subtitles

When: Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at 7:00 PM

Where: IFC Center 

323 Ave of the Americas, New York City

Map

New York Premiere

Korean Cultural Center NY, a branch of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) of the Republic of Korea, is proud to announce its Korean Movie Night: Premiere Showcase presentation of the New York premiere of Kim Jee-woon’s period action thriller The Age of Shadows, following the film’s North American bow at the Toronto International Film Festival.

After debuting in Hollywood with Arnold Schwarzengger’s action vehicle The Last Stand, director Kim (I Saw the Devil, A Bittersweet Life) is back on the home turf, with what has been one of the most anticipated Korean films of 2016.

Set in the 1920s Korea, during the Japanese colonial rule, the Age of Shadows follows Korean independence movement activists in their attempt to smuggle explosives from Shanghai, so they can destroy Japanese forces' facilities in Seoul. Featuring the acting talents of Song Kang-ho (Snowpiercer), Han Ji-min (TV series Rooftop Prince), Gong Yoo (Train To Busan), and an extended cameo by Lee Byung-hun (Terminator Genisys,The Magnificent Seven), The Age of Shadows had its world premiere out of competition at this year’s Venice Film Festival, and was recently announced as South Korea’s candidate for the foreign-language Oscar.

Director Kim Jee-woon and actress Han Ji-min will attend the screening.

Free admission, first come, first served.

For information, call 212-924-7771

The Age of Shadows will be released theatrically in the U.S. and Canada on September 23rd by CJ Entertainment America.

SNOWPIERCER and BOON Joon-ho

John Hurt, with glasses, Chris Evans, center, and Jamie Bell, right, at the tail of the train

Last night, Thursday, June 26th, I had a wonderful evening at the Walter Reade Theater of the Film Society of Lincoln Center. BOON Joon-ho's fabulous science fiction thriller Snowpiercer was shown in all it 125 minute uncut glory and afterwards Director Boon (The Host, Mother) took part in an interview and Q&A with Subway Cinema Co-Founder and Executive Director Goran Topalovic.

Tilda Swinton as Mason, Wilford's chief spokesperson

When the Weinstein Company logo came up during the opening credit, I let out a long, not particularly loud but clear "hiss." This elicited considerable laughter from the audience, many of whom clearly were well aware of the hostility Harvey Weinstein generated amongst Asian film fans with his desire to have Snowpiercer's running time shortened for American audiences, as he had Wong Kar Wai do with The Grandmaster.

SONG Kang-ho as Namgoong Minsoo

As far as the movie itself goes, it's set in the not too distant future. An attempt to fix global warning has succeeded too well and has brought on a world-wide ice age. Only a thousand or so human beings are still alive, and they live on a train that continuously travels around the world. Their is a definite hierarchy amongst the passengers. At the very head of the train, in charge of its perpetual motion engine is Wilford (Ed Harris), an entrepreneur who had been a train enthusiast since his childhood and had created the train and in its route. At the tail of the train are the lowest of the low, the "unwashed masses" who subsist on "protein bars" made out of you-don't-want-to-know-what. In between are the well off and the security forces that keep them safe. One of Wilford's spokesperson functionaries is Mason, played by an almost unrecognizable Tilda Swinton. She reminds those in the tail that there's a place for everyone on the train and that everyone should remain in their place. Her speeches are punctuated by the refrain "and so it is."

In the school car of the train

Chris Evans -- looking nothing like his Captain America character -- plays Curtis, the reluctant leader of a revolt of the "tail people." To make it to the front of the train and gain control of the engine, he obtains the assistance of Namgoong Minsoo (SONG Kang-ho) to open the security gates between the cars by bribing hims with Kronole, an addictive substance which is inhaled. Both Namggong, who designed the security system, and his daughter, Yona (KO Ahsung) are addicted to Kronole.

Along the way there are several violent confrontations with the security forces, startling revelations of how the "one-percenters" live, all of which culminates in a startling face-off between Curtis and the finally-revealed Wilford.

Goran Topalovic (left), BOON Joon-ho (center) and the translator (right)

In the interview/Q&A afterwards, the charming BOON, who spoke mainly in Korean but often briefly punctuated his remarks in English, provided numerous insights into the film. Although the story is based on Le Transperceneige, a graphic novel by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand, and Jean-Marc Rochette, the film differs from it in major ways. The whole idea of revolution, for example, came from the director; it is not in the original source material. BOON also said that it was not that difficult working primarily with English-speaking actors and dialogue, mainly because the process of making a film is much the same everywhere in the world.

One way in which it did differ, and presented him with somewhat of a problem, was the need to deal with unions, something he doesn't face when making films in South Korea. Also challenging was the need to comply with rules for child actors. He was concerned because one fairly lengthy scene involved about fifty children. He explained that he was able to move shooting along at a good pace for that scene by dividing the children into two groups and filming one group in the morning, the other in the afternoon.

I happened to become aware of one interesting piece of information in the lobby afterwards. I overheard someone talking about KO Ahsung, who plays Yona, the daughter of SONG Kang-ho's character. Currently just shy of her 22nd birthday, she had played  Hyun-seo, the little girl that was taken by the monster in BOON's The Host (2006), when she was thirteen year old. I found this to be an interesting little factoid that I hadn't seen in any writings about Snowpiercer.

As I said, it was a great evening all-around.

AsianCineFest Rating for Snowpiercer: 4 out of 4 stars; highest recommendation. One of the best thrillers I've seen in a long time.

Starting today, Friday, June 27th, Snowpiercer will begin a one week run at the Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center as part of the New Releases at the Film Society film series. Director BOON Joon-ho will participate in Q&As at the 6:15om screenings on Friday and Saturday.

THE ATTORNEY is available today

Well Go USA Entertainment

Presents

The Attorney / Byeon-ho-in

Directed by YANG Woo-seok

Starring SONG Kang-ho, LIM (a.k.a. YIM) Si-wan,

OH Dal-su, and KIM Yeong-ae

South Korea, 2013, 127 minutes

The Attorney was a major box-office hit in South Korea and today this fantastic drama becomes available on DVD and digital (video-on-demand, electronic sell-through, and streaming) in North America. The film begins in 1978 and ends in 1987, with one flashback to 1971.

SONG Woo-seok (the always great SONG Kang-ho) is an attorney with a wife and two children, a son and a daughter. He is at several disadvantages professionally: he has no college degree, hence no real connections, and very few clients. But he is smart and ambitious.

In 1978, after resigning a meaningless judgeship in Daejeon, he returns to Busan where he takes advantage of a change in the law and becomes hugely successful handling real estate registration. When that source of income dries up, he moves on to another area. Neither of these endeavors endears him to his fellow attorneys, who are scornful of him. He is described by Busan's lawyers as "A money-hungry idiot with no education."

SONG Woo-seok, Jin-woo, and Mrs. Park

In a flashback to 1971, before he earned his license to practice law, we learn of an indiscretion he committed at a small restaurant specializing in pork stew that is run by Mrs. Park (Kim Yeong-ae), a single mother. After becoming successful, SONG religiously patronizes the establishment, throwing as much business its way as he can.

The 1980s were a turbulent period in South Korean history. A military coup had led to a harsh dictatorship that justified it's repressive measures on threats posed by communists, both real and, all too often, imagined. PARK Jin-woo (newcomer LIM, a.k.a. YIM, Si-Wan), the restaurant proprietress's son, participates in a college reading group. Although in no way a communist or anti-government group, it is nonetheless targeted by the powers that be. Jin-woo and several other young men are snatched up by government agents and held incommunicado for many weeks.

When SONG help Mrs. PARK find Jin-woo, he is appalled to discover that the young man has obviously been beaten and tortured. Previously apolitical and unsympathetic to the county's protesting youth, SONG decides to defend Jin-woo against charges of reading subversive literature with seditious content and with praising anti-government groups. The trial, however, is intended to be a mere formality, a negotiation over sentencing, not the determination guilt or innocence.

SONG (right) with Mr. Park (OH Dal-su), his office manager

But SONG fervently seeks to have Jin-woo and his co-defendants completely exonerated of all charges and to expose those officials and their agents who are truly responsible of committing criminal acts against the young defendants. He does so at peril not only to himself but to his family as well. But a sense of righteous indignation had been ignited within him and he refuses to back down.

The film is based on true events, a fictionalized account of the attorney days of the late ROH Moo-hyun (1946-2009), who came to serve as South Korea's president from 2003-2008. Called the Book Club Case in the film, the actual conspiracy case was known as "Burim." Hounded by conservatives after leaving office, ROH ultimately committed suicide. He remains a hero to many South Koreas.

SONG Kang-ho initial turned down the role. He changed his mind primarily because of his wife's recommendation,  but also due to encouragement of directors PARK Chan-wook and BONG Joon-ho; SONG has previously worked with both of them, and they are also friends of the actor.

SONG Woo-seok in court

And we can extremely happy that he did take on the role, as it's a fantastic performance, one of three SONG graced us with in 2013. (The others are in Snowpiercer and The Face Reader.) Of course director YANG Woo-seok, who also co-wrote the script with YOON Hyeon-ho, must be commended for his taut direction, particularly in the courtroom scenes at the end of the film. Such scenes can easily drag, harmfully slowing the movie down. But those in The Attorney are edge-of-your seat gripping and exciting. To say that this film is an auspicious feature film directorial debut would be quite an understatement.

As far as the disc goes, audio options on the DVD are Korean 5.1 or 2.0, with optional English subtitles. There are no extras.

The Attorney won three awards at the 50th Baeksang Arts Awards:
- Daesang: Song Kang-ho
- Best Picture
- New Director: Yang Woo-seok

The Attorney is one of the finest dramas I've watched in some time. Don't let the lack of availability of a Blu-ray version (the DVD looks great when up-converted on a Blu-ray player, which is how I watched it) or extras dissuade you. This is a film that deserves a place in the collection of anyone who appreciates Korean films, SONG Kang-ho, or courtroom dramas.

AsianCineFest rating: 4 out of 4 stars; highest recommendation.

Happy Birthday, SONG Kang-ho

SONG Kang-ho, right, in Thirst

SONG Kang-ho  was born on January 17, 1967 in KyungNam, South Korea. He is almost certainly the South Korean actor best known in the West. He has had notable roles in such great films as Shiri (1999),  J.S.A.: Joint Security Area (2000), Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002),

SONG, second from right, with the cast of The Host

The Host (2006), Secret Sunshine (2007), Thirst (2009), Snowpiercer (2013), and The Face Reader (also 2013).

SONG, right, in Hindsight

He can make even mediocre films more watchable; take Hindsight (2007) for example.

So Happy Birthday, Mr. SONG, and Best ACF Wishes for many, many more.

ACF 1573: HINDSIGHT and NO MERCY out on DVD Today

CJ Entertainment is releasing two fine South Korean movies on DVD today.

Hindsight / Poo-reun so-geum

Written and directed by LEE Hyeon-seung

Starring SONG Kang-ho and SHIN Sae-kyung

South Korea, 2011, 122 minutes

During the pre-credits sequence of Hindsight, a man is confronted by a young woman aiming a pistol at him. Another man, who has a rifle with a scope mounted on it, observes from a distance. A shot is fired and the first man falls. But just who shot him is unclear. When the movie proper begins, we learn that the man who was shot is YOON Doo-heon (SONG Kang-ho, The Host, Secret Sunshine, Thirst) He’s a retired gangster who has moved to Busan and wants to open a restaurant because the boss always owns one “in foreign gangster movies.” movies. To that end he is taking cooking classes, where his culinary aspirations far exceed his abilities.

Partnered with him at one of the cooking stations Se-bin (SHIN Se-kyung, My Little Bride, Cinderella), the woman who had the pistol in the opening scene. She’s far better at preparing food than he is. She is single, has a  boyish haircut and rides a motorcycle. The pair are like “odd balls out” from the other students, all of whom are all housewives. Se-bin also has an ulterior motvie: she’s been tasked by a rival gang, to whom she owes money, to keep and eye on YOON and submit weekly reports about his activities. When the boss of YOON’s old gang dies, a question of whether or not he will return to lead it once again. Meanwhile, Se-bin, a crack shot, has been tasked with killing him. Will she kill him and will Yoon’s struggle in cooking class all come to naught, both of which seem to have been the case in the movie’s opening?

Hindsight is a multi-genre film: a stylish thriller that is also part gangster movie, part romance, and part comedy. It works as well as it does largely because of the dynamism of the interaction between its two leads. SONG Kang-ho, one of Korea’s best and most popular actors, is charming and effective, a joy to watch, as always. SHIN Se-kyung pulls off a roll that is different from the good girls she’s known for playing. Here, she’s one tough cookie who can shot a gun, ride a bike, and hold her own in the verbal jousting that takes place between her character and SONG’s.

The DVD also has some fine special features. There’s a Making Of that really conveys what a joy it must be to have SONG on a set. He’s funny and generous, yet a total professional. Other features focus on SONG’s preparation for his action scenes and SHIN’s transformation into her character. 

ACF Rating: 3 out of 4 stars for the film (a solid recommendation) and 3.5 for the DVD extras (superior)

No Mercy / Yongseoneun Eupda

Written and directed by KIM Hyoung-Jun

Starring SEOL Kyeong-gu, RYOO Seung-beom and Han Hye-jin

South Korea, 2010, 125 minutes

KANG Min-ho (SOL Kyung-gu) is South Korea’s top medical examiner. He’s on the verge of retiring so that he can spend more time with his grown daughter who’s returning from the United States, where she’s been living for several years. However, when the dismembered body of a young woman is found with all her body parts neatly arranged – except for a missing arm – KANG finds himself embroiled in a bizarre murder case.

The other two main characters are MIN Seo-young (HAN Hye-jin), a young female detective on probation (a “probie”) who displays keen insight into the case, and LEE Seong-ho (RYU Seung-beom), a victim of polio in his youth and currently the leader of the I Love Venus environmental group. When LEE confesses to the crime, it seems like the case is open and shut; instead it expands beyond the single corpse and becomes increasingly complex, convoluted, and dark. The initial murder becomes linked to another crime in the present, the threat of a more serious one in the future. All of these, it turns out, are related to events buried deep in the past.

In No Mercy director KIM Hyoung-jun has fashioned one of the finest police procedurals I’ve ever seen. The narrative is taut, compelling and totally gripping. The pacing is dynamic and the performances of both the three leads and the supporting cast are spot on.

This DVD also has some fine extras, including interviews with SOL Kyung-gu, RYU Seung-beom, and HAN Hye-jin, a music video, and trailers. However, the most interesting special feature to me was the one on forensics, which centered primarily on Dr. HAN Gil-roh, an advisor on the film. He points out that while the director changed some aspects of autopsies for dramatic purposes, overall the procedures shown were considerably more realistic than in all previous films depicting the subject.

ACF Rating: 4 out of 4 stars for the film (outstanding); 3.5 out of 4 for the special features (superior)

ACF 1500: Koran action/romance HINDSIGHT coming on DVD July 31st

The closer they get, the more dangerous they become!

Love is a treacherous affair in Hindsight, coming out on DVD from CJ Entertainment America on July 31, 2012.

Once a legendary and brutal figure in organized crime, Doo-heon (the always a joy to watch SONG Kang-ho) just wants the chance to lead a normal life and dreams of becoming a chef with his own restaurant. When a young woman, Se-bin (SHIN Se-kyung), comes into his life, a shared passion for cooking soon becomes a romantic attraction, taking them both by surprise.

But when deadly cartel politics erupt – drawing a reluctant Doo-heon back into the violent shadows of the underworld as heir apparent – he becomes the assassination target of former colleagues and discovers the lovely Se-bin isn’t who she appears … harboring dark and treacherous secrets of her own. Can they trust one another?  Will his love overcome her betrayal?

A heart-pounding, action-packed film, featuring original music by 3rd Coast. 

Hindsight will be presented in widescreen (16x9) with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and 5.1 Dolby Digital. Filmed in Korean with English subtitles, special features are to include a “Behind-the-Scenes” featurette; a “Making of” featurette; Song Kang-ho’s four action scenes; Shin Se-kyung’s acting style makeover; and MNET trailer.

ACF 1346: Free screening of SECRET REUNION on February 15th, 2012

Korean Cultural Service

presents

Korean Movie Night 

Series 1: Jang Hun Plus One!

Secret Reunion / Ui-hyeong-je

Directed by JANG Hun

South Korea, 2010, 116 minutes

When: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 @ 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

Admission: FREE!!!

All seating is first-come, first served

Two of Korea's best actors face off in this blockbuster action flick that manages to be sly, subversive and really funny while delivering white knuckle thrills. Song Kang-Ho (The Host) is a South Korean secret agent who fumbles a sting operation on a North Korean spy. Pop star Gang Dong-Won (Haunters) is the North Korean assassin who has been embedded in the South.

After the botched operation, both men are cut loose by their respective agencies and Song becomes a private eye, while Gang sinks into deep cover, trying to survive long enough to go home. Years later, they cross paths and what audiences are treated to is a buddy movie to end all buddy movies.

Note that Secret Reunion is being shown not on Tuesday, when Korean Movie Night screenings normally take place, but on Wednesday night.

ACF 602: Secret Reunion at NYAFF

Secret Reunion / Ui-hyeong-je
Directed by Hun Jang
South Korea, 2010, 116 minutes
Starring Song Kang-Ho and Gang Dong-Won
In Korean with English Subtitles

At the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater:
- Friday, July 2nd, 2010 at 7:30 PM
- Saturday, July 3rd, 2010 at 2:10 PM

Song Kang Ho (Thirst, The Host, Secret Sunshine, J.S.A.: Joint Security Area) is probably the Korean actor most familiar to American audiences. Here he plays Lee Han-kyu, a South Korean National Intelligence Service agent. Gang Dong-Won portrays Song Ji-won, a North Korean agent who's part of a three-man assassination team.

Lee decides not to call in back-up when an opportunity arises to bust the spy ring, and things go all to hell. The leader and Song get away and only the third member of the team is captured. Lee is forced into ignominious retirement, and Song is left all on his own.

The film flashes forward a few years to find Lee leading a motley crew that locates young women from other Asian countries who have fled the Korean husbands they were made to marry. Song is happily working construction, hoping to one day reunite with his wife and child in the North. They recognize one another, but neither one gives the other the slightest hint of this. Lee, hoping to finally bust the spy ring and redeem himself, gets Song to become his partner, replacing two incompetent employees Lee has let go.

Song Kang Ho is always a delight to watch. He strikes me as a contemporary Korean version of the kind of everyman character associated with many roles played by Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart, and Tom Hanks. Here, once again, he raises the level of the material just by virtue of his likeability.

Not that the material in any way is shabby, quite the contrary. Secret Reunion is a captivating tale with many humorous elements. It's enjoyable throughout and concludes with a sweet and satisfying ending.

ACF Rating: 3 out of 4 stars, highly recommended.

ACF 501: Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance - free screening in New York on March 23rd

Song Kang-Ho gets wet in Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance
Directed by Park Chan-Wook
South Korea, 2002, 129 min

Sympathy For Mr Vengeance was the first film in Director Park's "Vengeance Trilogy." It was followed by Oldboy (2003) and then Lady Vengeance (2005). It's a kick-ass movie with a fantastic cast, a definite must-see.

It's the next film to be shown in Korean Cultural Service's Korean Movie Night Series 2: The Remakes, which focuses on recent Korean films set to be -- surprise! -- remade by Hollywood.

And it'll be shown next Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 at Tribeca Cinema, 54 Varick Street on Canal, New York, NY. Admission is free and on a first-come, first-serve policy. Theater doors will open at 6:30 PM and showtimes will be at 7:00.

Remake rights were purchased by Warner Bros in January, 2010. The Hollywood version is being produced by the people who brought audiences GI Joe, Transformers, and Doom. Based on that info, the remake does not seem even remotely promising. But the original is not to be missed. So don't!

ACF 355: THIRST opens today in three cities

Kim Ok-vin left and behind Song Kang-ho

Just a quick reminder that THIRST opens today, Friday, July 31st, 2009 in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. See the link below for the subsequent theater times and locations in other cities.

THIRST is another fantastic film from Korean director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy) and should not be missed. It just may be the best vampire film ever made, at least that's what I've been thinking ever since I saw it at a pre-release screening. (For my earlier full review, click here.)

THIRST OPENING DAY SCHEDULE:
New York
Landmark’s Sunshine Cinema (143 East Houston Street, near 2nd Avenue)

Los Angeles
Laemmle’s Sunset 5 (8000 Sunset Boulevard, at Crescent Heights)

San Francisco
Landmark’s Bridge Theatre (3010 Geary Boulevard, near Blake Street)

Additional theater times and locations for THIRST.

New THIRST clip: Shoes.

The THIRST official site is www.thirstmovie.com.

For a podcast interview of Director Park by The Korea Society, click here.

THIRST is a Focus Features release.

ACF 351: THIRST to open in NY, LA & SF on August 31, 2009 with more cities to follow

Plan to do three things with regard to Park Chan-wook's THIRST:

1. See it
2. Savor it
3. Spread the word

I got to see it a few nights ago at a pre-release screening in New York, and really cannot say enough good things about the film. It's the story of Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho) a priest who volunteers for a medical experiment seeking a cure for a virus. The only survivor out of 500 volunteers, his efforts do not lead to a cure, but instead turn him into a vampire. He finds himself irresistibly drawn to sensual pleasures, particularly those offered by the delectable flesh of Tae-ju (Kim Ok-vin) the wife of one of his childhood friends. And, of course, he has a powerful thirst for human blood.

Entertaining, with wonderful comic moments, it's not at all pandering or low-brow. Thoughtful and intelligent, neither is it pretentious. Thirst is quite simply a perfect synthesis, simultaneously both a genre and an art-house film, but one that transcends the faults that often mar both.

There are no traditional vampire teeth and no transformations into bats to be found here. On the other hand there are, in addition to the great comic relief moments I've already alluded to, scenes of magnificent sensuality as well as others that are truly terrifying. And the special effects are perfect, somewhat low-key so they're really effective.

Kim Ok-vin (left) & Shin Ha-kyun (right)

Both leads actors are outstanding, but Ms. Kim is particularly impressive, probably because her role calls for greater range and transformation than . The supporting cast also is stellar. Kim Hae-sook plays Madame Ra, Tae-ju's mother-in law, who has a tendency to overindulge in alcohol. Shin Ha-kyun is Kang-woo, her son and Tae-ju's poor excuse for a husband. Oh Dai-soo (who starred in Park's Oldboy) is a member of the mahjong group that includes the other characters.

Director Park Chan-wook

Park Chan-wook has done it again: Thirst is nothing less than a transcendant masterwork. I predict that this film will be very successful in the U.S. and that it'll find a broader audience than one might normally expect. It most definitely deserves both. (It wasn't for nothing that the film won the Jury Prize award at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival.)

After opening in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, it will go into wider release in many other cities. Check your local listings, or use the link to the film's official website provided below to find out when and where it'll be playing near you.

DO NOT MISS THIS FILM!!!!!

OPENING DAY SCHEDULE: Friday, July 31st, 2009

New York

Landmark’s Sunshine Cinema (143 East Houston Street, near 2^nd Avenue)

Los Angeles

Laemmle’s Sunset 5 (8000 Sunset Boulevard, at Crescent Heights)

San Francisco

Landmark’s Bridge Theatre (3010 Geary Boulevard, near Blake Street)

THIRST Official Site

THIRST Clip: “VAMPIRES ARE CUTER THAN I THOUGHT”

THIRST Clip: “I’M NOT CATHOLIC”

THIRST Stills

THIRST Production Notes

THIRST Facebook Page

Thirst is A Focus Features Release

ACF332: Focus Features Announces Opening Day Schedule for "Thirst"

More news about the upcoming theatrical release of Thirst / Bakjwi:

Focus Features has officially announced the opening day schedule for the highly anticipated vampire thriller, Thirst, directed by award-winning auteur, Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance). Thirst will open in NY, LA, and San Francisco on July 31st. See below for further theater details.

OPENING DAY SCHEDULE: Friday, July 31st, 2009
New York

Landmark’s Sunshine Cinema (143 East Houston Street, near 2nd Avenue)

Los Angeles
Laemmle’s Sunset 5 (8000 Sunset Boulevard, at Crescent Heights)

San Francisco
Landmark’s Bridge Theatre (3010 Geary Boulevard, near Blake Street)

Synopsis:
A priest becomes a vampire…another man’s wife is coveted…a deadly seduction triggers murder. Already a boxoffice smash in Korea, Thirst was honored with the Prix du Jury [Jury Prize] at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival.

Continuing his explorations of human existence in extreme circumstances, director Park spins a tale that he conceived and then developed over several years with co-screenwriter Chung Seo-kyung.

Sang-hyun (played by top Korean star Song Kang-ho, of The Host) is a priest who cherishes life; so much so, that he selflessly volunteers for a secret vaccine development project meant to eradicate a deadly virus. But the virus takes the priest, and a blood transfusion is urgently ordered up for him. The blood he receives is infected, so Sang-hyun lives – but now exists as a vampire.

Struggling with his newfound carnal desire for blood, Sang-hyun’s faith is further strained when a childhood friend’s wife, Tae-ju (Kim Ok-vin), comes to him asking for his help in escaping her life. Sang-hyun soon plunges into a world of sensual pleasures, finding himself on intimate terms with the Seven Deadly Sins.

The THIRST official site is http://www.thirstmovie.com/.

THIRST Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thirst/116919515201?ref=ts

Focus Twitter Page:
http://twitter.com/focusmovies

RED BAND TRAILER:
http://movies.ign.com/dor/objects/14349986/thirst/videos/thirst_trl_1_051709.html

ACF 109: Lee Chang-dong Retrospective - Secret Sunshine

Jeon Do-yeon (left) and Song Kang-ho (right)

The Asia Society's Lee Chang-dong retrospective continues tomorrow night with a screening of Secret Sunshine, his fourth and most recent film, made after he served as Korean Minister of Culture and Tourism from 2002 until 2004.

Lee Shin-ae ( actress Jeon Do-yeon) and her young son move to Miryang, the rural Korean city which her deceased husband was from and which gives the film its name. There she hopes to start a new life giving piano lessons. When their car breaks down, Kim Jong-chan (Song Kang-ho), who owns a garage, brings them and their car into town.

It's immediately obvious that he's attracted to her and that she is indifferent to his interest. Perhaps because I'm so accustomed to what Hollywood would do with such a situation, the film seemed to be starting out as a romantic comedy. You know, the guy keeps after the woman until she finally realizes that he's her "Mister Right."

Then a crime takes place. My initial reaction was that perhaps this was an incident that was gong to play into the thwarted romance. But it soon turned out to be for real, and to have dire consequences for Lee Shin-ae. The remainder of the film is an incredibly powerful exploration of human suffering, as Shin-ae searches for spiritual peace in the face of one of the worst tragedies that can befall a person. Throughout it all, Jong-chan continues to be there for her.


Like all of Lee Chang-dong's films, Secret Sunshine has won numerous festival awards. Last year at Cannes, Jeon Do-yeon received the award for best actress. Her performance, like Moon So-ri's in Oasis, is one of those rare, magnificent thespian tour-de-forces that I can only term "beyond incredible."

At the inaugural Asian Film Awards earlier this year, the movie won for best film, best director, and best actress. And Song Kang-ho has not come away empty handed. He won the prize for best actor at the 2008 Palm Springs International Film Festival. Complete info about the film's wins and nominations can be found at this link to imdb.com.


Secret Sunshine further solidifies Lee Chang-dong's place in my list of great film directors. Though an emotionally demanding film to watch, it deserves to be seen by anyone who appreciates magnificent film making and story telling.

Screenings for it and the two other remaining films in this retrospective are at Asia Society, 725 Park Ave (at 70th Street), Manhattan. The schedule for the three remaining films, each of which will be shown at 7:00 pm, is:

Secret Sunshine
2007, 142 min
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
- This screening is co-sponsored by The School of Visual Arts
- Director Lee is scheduled to be present

Peppermint Candy
2000, 127 min
Thursday, May 8, 2008

Green Fish
1997, 111 min
Monday, May 12, 2008

For more information or to order tickets, click here.