If you’re a fan of Korean cinema living in New York there’s an exciting event to look forward to this month. Two weeks from now ( Feb 24-26) is the 10th Annual New York Korean Film Fest, which seeks to showcase both some of the highest grossing and most thought-provoking films of this country. It’s scheduled to take place at Bam! cinemas, and they’ve just released the titles they’re showing, along with the program schedule.
Below is a list of the movies and their summaries. For even more info, check the bottom of this page for a link to the festival’s website.
FRIDAY, February 24
” Late Autumn”
Anna is traveling to Seattle to attend her mother’s funeral on a special weekend release from prison. Several years ago she was convicted of murdering her abusive husband, and has been serving time ever since. On the bus, she meets Hoon, a “companion for hire” for lonely, older women. Both begin to develop a bond as she tries to escape her past, and he tries to run from the husbands of the woman he’s been with. Apparently this is a modern remake of an old film form 1961 with the same name. Directed by Kim Tae-yong. With Hyeon Bin and Tang Wei. English, 113 min.
” Hindsight”
Retired mob boss Du-heon meets a quirky, interesting girl, Se-bin, and finds himself drawn to her. Their relationship begins to blossom as his old ties to the mob slowly drag both of them into the dark underbelly of the criminal world. Directed by Lee Hyeon-seun 120 min.
SATURDAY, February 25
“The Servant”
Bang-ja is a personal servant to Lee Mong-ryong, an aristocratic scholar. Unfortunately, both men have fallen in love the same woman, Chun-hyang. As Mong-ryong courts her with the prospects of marriage, his servant beings to have an affair with her- which his boss soon discovers. It’s based on an old folk tale, and brings up issues of class status in matters of love, while piling on some well-deserved laughs. Directed by Kim Dae-woo, 124 min.
“Quick”
This one sounds like a bicycle-centric version of “Speed”. Former motorcycle gang member Gi-su has traded his old life for working as a bike messenger. One day, the building at which Gi-su had delivered a package blows up, and he soon finds out that some of his old buddies aren’t too keen on his absence. He is told that he has only a small window to make his deliveries, before the next bomb goes off. Directed by Jo Beom-goo, 115 min.
SUNDAY, February 26
“Sunny ”
A film about high-school classmates who meet after 25 years, and decide to hunt down the rest of their old gang to resurrect the good times of their younger years. A feel-good film, Sunny was Korea’s biggest box-office hit in Korea 2011. Directed by Kang Hyeong-cheol, 124 min.
“Moss”
When Ryu Hae-guk hears of his father’s death, he heads to an isolated village where his dad spent his last remaining years. Shortly after arriving he realizes that the residents of the village are hiding something about his death, and he begins an investigation in the dark past of the town to figure out what. Directed by Kang Woo-seok, 163 min.
“Glove”
Kim Sang-nam is a hot-tempered former professional baseball player. After losing his cool and assaulting a man, he is is sent to the countryside to coach a team of hearing-impaired players in order to keep media coverage of his crime at bay. Directed by Kang Woo-suk, 144 min.
For more info on the festival, including pricing and full schedule, visit it’s website at http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=4020.