26th Far East Film Festival: “Exhuma” Review

What do a Feng Shui master, a mortician, and a shaman all have in common? No, this isn’t the setup for a terrible joke; instead, it’s the main plot of the Korean supernatural horror film Exhuma. Although the film starts off slowly, it effectively introduces the main characters and their backgrounds. Additionally, it provides an…

26th Far East Film Festival: In Conversation with Kim Seong-hun, Director of “Ransomed” – Exclusive Interview

Kim Seong-hun’s filmmaking journey began as an assistant director on romantic comedies before directing his first feature, which unfortunately didn’t bring fruitful results. Determined to redeem himself, he took inspiration from Pedro Almodóvar’s work and spent years making his next project, A Hard Day. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, it received widespread acclaim and…

26th Far East Film Festival: “Ransomed” Review

Where film demands dramaticism, realism is forfeited, Ransomed is the latest piece of Korean cinema to take a bit of history and whip up a fun action flick around it. The true story it’s based on of a Korean diplomat’s abduction in Lebanon is like a small meringue, sitting atop a thick lemon tart of…

26th Far East Film Festival: “12.12: The Day” Review

12.12: The Day is the new cinematic offering from Kim Sung-su, a South Korean filmmaker well-known for Musa, Asura: The City of Madness, and Flu. And, just like his previous works, 12.12: The Day is a gripping and powerful narrative filled with sublime performances. In the wake of President Park’s assassination in 1979, the political…

26th Far East Film Festival: “Citizen of a Kind” Review

Perhaps the most remarkable tale is one of a seemingly unremarkable person who defies their dreary destiny and takes control of their life. Nothing is more impressive than when these occur in real life – not just some fantasy stirred up for a good bit of fiction. Citizen of a Kind, directed by Park Young-ju,…

26th Far East Film Festival: “Customs Frontline” to Close the FEFF in Udine

The Closing Night of FEFF 26 will begin with the prestigious awarding of Lifetime Achievement Golden Mulberries to both Zhang Yimou and Chiu Fu-sheng, followed by the screening of the restored version of To Live. The festival’s conclusion will feature the world premiere of Herman Yau’s thrilling new action film, Customs Frontline. Herman Yau, screenwriter…