Forbidden Quest, one of the fine offerings at the inaugural Korean Film Festival
Most North American film fans are well aware of the excellent film industries in Asian markets like Japan and Hong Kong — movies from both regions have been enjoying crossover success in the West for years. But only the most dedicated western movie nerds are into the Korean cinema scene, despite South Korea in particular enjoying a booming domestic film industry. Albertans will get a chance to sample the best of recent Korean cinema in the coming weeks thanks to the efforts of the organizers of the first Korean Film Festival, which will screen films in both Calgary and Edmonton.
The festival is organized by Young Sung, a film enthusiast who wanted to share his love of Korean cinema. After presenting a screening of a single film to an audience comprised mainly of members of Calgary’s large Korean community, Sung began organizing a festival aimed at a more diverse audience. Since Korean films typically don’t have any North American distribution, he turned to the Korean Film Council, which helped to bring the films to Albertan screens.
All eight of the movies being screened at the festival will be presented with English subtitles, which was an important criteria for Sung, since he didn’t want to limit the accessibility of the event in any way. His goal is a festival that appeals to any viewers seeking something outside of the typical Hollywood formula, even if they don’t know anything about Korean culture. As he puts it, “Korean movies are different than Hollywood movies, [and] also different from other Asian movies. There’s a uniqueness to them.”
If this year’s lineup is any indication, Korean films can also be applauded for their diversity. Films range from Like A Virgin, the tale of a transgendered teenage Madonna devotee, to Forbidden Quest, a historical drama about an aristocrat who takes to writing erotic novels. Sung says that he particularly recommends another period piece, The King and the Clown, one of the most popular domestic films in Korean history, as well as Secret Sunshine, a story about a woman who must cope with the loss of her husband and her child.
Sung admits that getting the word out about Korean movies has been a struggle, but if this year’s festival is a success, he hopes viewers will come to appreciate them in the same way they do films from other Asian countries. Korean cinema has only come into its own in the last decade or so, with films like Oldboy and The Host leading the way to international recognition; as more titles get North American distribution, more viewers will become interested. With another Korean flick, Pil-Sung Yim’s Hansel and Gretel, having recently screened at the Calgary Underground Film Festival, Korean movies may become as common in Calgary as other Korean exports like kimchi and Tae-Kwon-Do.
Post the first comment: (Login or Register)