South Korean filmmaker Lee Yujin brings a refreshing and nuanced perspective to the screen with Manok, a film that beautifully combines humour with moving themes of acceptance and belonging. Set in the rural village of Iban-ri, Manok follows its titular character as she returns to her hometown in the wake of her mother’s passing, only…
Category: Korean Cinema
39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival: In Conversation with Kim Si-a – Exclusive Interview
At just 16, Kim Si-a proved she is a truly talented young actress with her superb performance in Summer’s Camera, directed by Divine Sung. She beautifully portrayed the emotions of a teenager experiencing grief and self-discovery through her first love. After the world premiere at the 39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, we sat…
39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival: In Conversation with Divine Sung, Director of “Summer’s Camera” – Exclusive Interview
Divine Sung is a filmmaker based in Seoul with an MFA in Film Directing from the Korea National University of Arts. She has directed short films such as True Story (2018) and My Boyfriend and Our Yesterday (2023). Summer’s Camera is her feature film debut. Summer’s Camera had its world premiere at the 39th BFI…
39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – “Summer’ Camera” Review
Having its world premiere at this year’s BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, Summer’s Camera is the feature directorial debut of Divine Sung, a South Korean filmmaker. The film depicts a wonderful and subtle exploration of youth and love. It also captures the theme of self-discovery while painting a portrait of a high school student,…
39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival: “Manok” Review
Every metal guitar wants a powerful amplifier. Yang Mal-bok is delightfully animated in Lee Yu-jin’s Manok, a film where zest is absolutely mandatory. Shortly after the first frame’s bright rainbow flag passes us by, we meet the titular Manok, a lively and impulsive bar owner who hosts LGBTQIA+ parade parties in Seoul. In a bold…
International Premiere of “The Wedding Banquet” to Open The 39th BFI FLARE: LONDON LGBTQIA+ Film Festival
LGBTQIA+ cinema is more essential than ever, offering visibility, promoting empathy, and challenging societies. It provides a space for storytelling that reflects diverse identities and experiences, creating a sense of belonging for marginalised communities. Festivals like BFI Flare play a crucial role in strengthening these voices, ensuring that queer narratives – whether exploring love, family,…
“By the Stream” Review
There is no easy entry point to the work of Hong Sang-soo. Even though his style remains consistent, his Eric Rohmer-inspired narratives frequently built around off-the-cuff drunken conversations and meandering walks around Seoul, there’s a density to the storytelling not always immediately apparent. His earlier work could often be in conversation with itself, with metatextual…
19th London Korean Film Festival: “The Guest” Review
The slasher genre has long been a cornerstone of horror cinema, terrifying audiences with its iconic villains, suspenseful storytelling, and gruesome kills. From the masked killers of Halloween to the supernatural terrors of A Nightmare on Elm Street, slashers continue to draw viewers into their blood-soaked worlds. At the heart of the slasher genre lies…
19th London Korean Film Festival: “The Truth Beneath” Review
Lee Kyoung-mi’s The Truth Beneath, a superb dark thriller, served as the Opening Night film at the London Korean Film Festival in 2016, and now it has returned to the festival once more. Co-written by Park Chan-wook, The Truth Beneath takes audiences on a harrowing journey through the grimy underbelly of politics and the personal…
19th London Korean Film Festival: In Conversation with Kim Hye-young, Director of “It’s Okay!”
With the 19th London Korean Film Festival on the horizon, audiences will be able to experience many wonderful films, and one of those films is It’s Okay! (Also known as It’s Okay It’s Okay It’s Okay! – 괜찮아 괜찮아 괜찮아!), a tender coming-of-age story that presents Kim Hye-young’s impressive directorial debut. First premiering internationally on…
VIEW OF THE ARTS 