While LGBTQIA+ cinema is still not seen in a favourable light in South Korea, many filmmakers dare to venture into that territory, and rightfully so, whether they are part of the community or not. Although not all of these films can be screened in the country itself, international festivals, including BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film…
Category: Korean Cinema
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – “Nobody Knows” Review
Despite significant progress in recent years, the LGBTQIA+ community continues to face discrimination and marginalisation in Asia and around the world. While some countries have made strides towards equality, many from the community still live in fear of persecution, violence, and rejection by society due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. In Asia, cultural…
Daejeon’s Batman & Robin: “A Killer Paradox” Review
Warning: Spoilers ahead. Parasite star Choi Woo-shik is a righteous serial killer in Netflix’s latest whack at prompting viewers into questioning the meaning of true justice. A Killer Paradox, directed by Lee Chang-hee and based on the webcomic by Ggomabi, is grittier than the average Korean drama, gentler than American thrillers, and honest with its…
Sung Hoon Dives into His Role of Seo Do-guk in Viki’s “Perfect Marriage Revenge” – Exclusive Interview
Meeting a Korean actor whose career has graced screens for over a decade is a rare and thrilling experience. Recently, I had the chance to sit down with the super lovely Sung Hoon in Seoul, where we explored his latest role in Viki’s Perfect Marriage Revenge. As we settled, Sung Hoon provided insights into the…
18th London Korean Film Festival: “Hail to Hell” Review
In recent years, South Korean independent cinema has been taking the world by storm. Just look at Past Lives – a hidden gem of the country’s cinema. Another interesting film that is worth one’s attention is Lim Oh-jeong‘s Hail to Hell. Screened at this year’s London Korean Film Festival, the compelling film takes us on…
18th London Korean Film Festival: In Conversation with Lim Oh-jeong, Director of “Hail to Hell”
In modern cinema, where certain themes are revisited time and again, director Lim Oh-jeong manages to breathe new life into the well-worn subject of bullying with her debut feature film, Hail to Hell. In our exclusive interview with View of the Arts, Lim shares insights into the film’s narrative choices, character development, and cinematographic approach. …
8th London East Asia Film Festival: “Concrete Utopia” Review (Closing Night Film)
The essence of what makes us human is a complex and multi-layered pyramid of emotions, experiences, and moral choices. Human nature contains elements of both light and darkness and is often revealed during times of crisis, when the balance between empathy and selfishness can sway. The pressures of a crisis can bring out our instinct…
8th London East Asia Film Festival: “The Boys” Review (Opening Night Film)
The Boys is the final film in Chung Ji-young’s “true story trilogy” which began in 2012 with Broken Arrow (also known as Unbowed) later followed by Black Money in 2019. The three films deal with social issues and in particular focus on prosecutorial and police misconduct within the South Korean justice system and the ordinary…
8th London East Asia Film Festival: “Life and Death of the Hollywood Kid” Review
Chung Ji-young has carved out a distinguished place for himself in Korean cinema with a unique and versatile filmmaking style that is marked by its dynamism, social commentary, and a keen sense of narrative craftsmanship. The director’s films are often lauded for their social and political relevance, in which he fearlessly addresses pertinent issues and societal…
“Cobweb” Review
The 1970s were a particularly dark period for the Korean film industry. Shortly after South Korean filmmakers began to gain international recognition in the decade prior, a period of intense censorship followed, which hit an authoritarian peak in the seventies – at the time, many speculated there was no country in the world whose government…
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