korea travelpost: 17 th Busan international film festival

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

The Russian Novel - Film Information and Open Talk !

    The Russian Novel

       COUNTRY : Korea, South
     CAST: KIM Insoo 김인수,KANG Shinhyu 강신효,KYEONG Seonghwan 경성환,KIM Jeongseok 김정석,
                        LEE Jaehye 이재혜,LEE Kyongmee 이경미,LEE Yoomee 이유미,LEE Bitna 이빛나,
                       CHEOUNG Hoonhee 정훈희
      MUSIC : KIM Shinill 김신일
      Running Time : 140min

The second installment of Shin Yeonsik’s middle-aged romance trilogy unfolds like a tragic Russian novel, in a visual monochrome with understated audio. A writer, who had lapsed into unconsciousness at the age of 27, miraculously regains consciousness after a 27-year coma and wakes to a world where he is a literary sensation, a prestige writer representing the period. The book, , has earned him legendary status. It just so happens he did not write the book. In a reflective scene near the end of the film a character explains the basics of the Russian novel: long, complicated and so many characters. The same can be said ofthe film. It has a relatively long running time of 2 hours and 20 minutes and a complicated narrative structure, unfolding in order. There are so many characters in the film that it’s impossible to remember them all. Although long, it is never boring; complicated, certainly, but never difficult; and packed characters, yes, but never to the point of distracting.

DIRECTOR : Younshick SHIN

Shin Yeonsik studied Spanish at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies before breaking into the film industry as a director’s assistant in 1997. His filmography includes (2009) and (2005).

** Open Talk !- Haeundae FIFF Villige

Friday, September 28, 2012

Opening Film Information［ Cold War ］- 17 th Busan international film festival

Here is a mole in the police waging a war on crime, tipping off a criminal gang. Then, why the mole communicates secretly with the gang? What is their purpose? Cold War talks about a story different from other typical crime films in the course of uncovering the inner enemy. It is difficult for the audience to predict what is the purpose of the mole and this is how Cold War announces the arrival of a new type of crime film made by young blood.

Five Hong Kong police officers are kidnapped. As the chief of police affairs is on business trip, two deputy chiefs, Sean Lau and M.B. Lee, set out to solve the case. They are in competition for the chief position and distrust each other. Lee first takes charge of the case as the acting chief but comes to a dead end. Lau, who then takes over the case, falls prey to a plot. The two end up being under ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) investigation. Although the case is solved after many twists and turns, war on crime still goes on. This film highlights the rivalry between Lau and Lee in the process of solving the case or how the case about external war is influenced by internal conflict. It is related to overconfidence, thirst for fame, and lust for power. In other words, this film closely looks into the conflict between human innate desire and conscience rather than the rivalry between good and evil. That is why Cold War is a well thought-out crime film and, at the same time, an excellent psychological film.

DIRECTOR * Longman LEUNG

Leung is an award-winning Art Director/Production Designer, whose credits include (2009) and (2010), while Luk is a sought-after First Assistant Director

with over 15 years of experience on films like (2006) and (2008). is their passion project. With internationally renowned producer Bill Kong shepherding the project, Leung and Luk have gathered together an impressive ensemble to collaboratively create the most exciting police action film to come out of Hong Kong in recent years.

DIRECTOR Sunny LUK / Longman LEUNG /COUNTRY Hong Kong, China / Date of Production 2012 / Running Time 102min / Color / Format DCP / Color

*BIFF Theater 10-04 19:00
* Haneulyeon Theater 10-05 19:30
* Megabox Haeundae M 10-08 10:00
* Megabox Haeundae M 10-11 19:00