Brief Introduction of Korean Films at Cannes 2011
Recent works of Korean directors, who were already invited to Cannes once before, are selected to 2011 Cannes's Un Certain Regard. The lists are HONG Sangsoo's new film <The Day He Arrives>, a story based on a famous town, Bukchon, in Seoul; NA Hong-jin's <The Yellow Sea>, a more fiercely heated thriller film than his previous film <The Chaser>; and KIM Ki-duk's a documentary <Arirang>, an introspective film on his life and films.
A number of Korean short films at Cannes are also worth watching. Short films by young Korean talents are being invited to the Short Film Competition, Cin?fondation and International Critics' Week. Director BONG Joon-ho is appointed as Head of the Jury for the Cam?ra d'Or Section and Director LEE Chang-dong takes on the Jury President of International Critics' Week.
HONG Sangsoo's latest work <The Day He Arrives> follows a regional college professor and occasional filmmaker on a trip to Seoul, taking place mostly in the Bukchon district of Seoul, which is known for its traditional Korean-style houses. NA Hong-jin's second feature <The Yellow Sea> seems to complete a trend and flow of thriller genre films in the industry at peak done by NA Hong-jin himself, who started the trend since his previous hit <The Chaser>. KIM Ki-duk returns his first documentary <Arirang>, since his latest feature <Dream>(2008). Despite almost nothing has been known about the documentary except that he looks back on his own life and films, KIM tells that through <Arirang> he can understand human beings, be thankful of nature, and acknowledge his life as it is now.
At this year's Short Competition Section, LEE Jeong-jin (aka Dahci MA)'s <Ghost> talks about slums that are about to be re-developed where a rape murder case occurs, featuring grotesque looks, mixing up foreign factors that refuse to be put together.
In the Cinefondation selection, SOHN Tae-gyum's <Fly by Night> questions the true meaning of sexual identity through the eyes of a young boy experiencing a difficult adolescence.
Meanwhile, Two Korean short films have also been invited to the International Critics' Week. MOON Byung-gon's <Finis Operis> and LEE Tae-ho's <In Front of the House> show the vibrancy and creativity of Korea's young filmmakers.