Pottery is as much a philosophy as it is an art form. In Mashiko and Kasama, two regions of Japan which is the home to some of the best potters in the world, this is especially the case. Those that work in these areas spend decades perfecting their craft, refining their skills until they are…
Category: Film
Pablo Larrain’s The Club
Many estimated directors have (had) a muse that inspired and encouraged their creations, and Pablo Larrain seems to be no different. It started with Larrain’s second feature and the depiction of human darkness that comes from the obsession with the limelight in Tony Manero (Larrain, 2008), continued with politically-ridden hysteria and violence, imbued with emotion…
In Conversation with Rosalina Leigh
Rosalina Leigh is an ambitious young actress who gained recognition among the indie film goers with her role in Benson Lee’s Seoul Searching. Since this was her first acting role, this must have been a nerve-wrecking experience for Rosalina. Prior to filming, she recorded a casting YouTube video – it was seen by Benson Lee, who later…
In Conversation with Baek Jae-ho
Before embarking on a career as a director, Baek Jae-ho performed as an actor in 17 films. In addition to acting and directing, he now works as a producer, cinematographer and screenwriter; in this respect, Baek Jae-ho is like Bob the Builder of Korean cinema. His recent project and directorial debut, We Will Be Ok, was…
In Conversation with Benson Lee, director of ‘Seoul Searching’
Benson K. Lee is an award-wining filmmaker whose directorial debut, Miss Monday, was invited to be a part of the Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival in 1998. The film went on to win a Special Grand Jury Prize for Best Actor: Andrea Hart. A decade later, Lee made his first documentary, Planet B- Boy,…
Benson Lee’s Seoul Searching
“It took me sixteen years to make Seoul Searching and bring it onto the big screen,” Benson Lee admits in the interview for View of the Arts. Seoul Searching, based on the filmmaker’s personal experiences, is an endearing youth comedy which depicts foreign-born teenagers of Korean ancestry learning what it means to be Korean, and…
In Conversation with Teo Yoo
Teo Yoo, born and raised in Germany, left for New York City at the age of 20, to study acting at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, a school known for its notable alumni such as Christoph Waltz, Bridget Fonda and Uma Thurman. After New York, he travelled to London where he took on an intensive course…
Min Kyu Dong’s The Treacherous
I have honestly lost count of how many period films, set in the Joseon Dynasty, have been made in Korea. It seems like this particular kingdom, which was founded by Yi Seong-gye in 1392, has left a significant legacy for modern Korea; not only when it comes to societal norms, attitudes and language, but it…
The Wolfpack Review
What happens if a group of people is raised in a hermetic space, essentially locked away from the rest of the world but not from the world of film? The intense and fascinating documentary The Wolfpack (2015, Crystal Moselle) provides the answer to that very question by opening a window into a mid-sized apartment on…
The 59th London Film Festival: The Wave
Recent years have been relatively successful for Scandinavian Cinema and its filmmakers, who constantly show that they are able to deliver good quality films. For instance: ZoZo (Sweden, 2005) by Josef Fares, Let the Right One In (Sweden, 2008) directed by Tomas Alfredson, Dancer in the Dark by Lars Von Tier (Denmark, 2001), The Hunt (Denmark,…
Memories of the Sword Review
It has been two years since Lee Byung- hun showed his acting talents off in a Korean production. He was recently seen in American films such as Terminator Genisys, RED 2 and G.I. Joe Retaliation, and has two English speaking movies in the pipeline: Misconduct, alongside Al Pacino and Anthony Hopkins, and Magnificent Seven, a remake of…
Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth: A Simple Song
In the beautiful setting of an Alpine resort, time stops. Skips a beat. Rewinds. Fast forwards. It is a luxurious hotel, but it almost feels like a high-end retirement home. The guests, most of whom appear to be in their autumn years, move from having their daily spa time to their doctor’s appointments to their…
Lift-Off Film Festival Awards Show
Try to picture it: Pinewood Studios on a brisk Friday night, the champagne is flowing, and filmmakers, actors, and guests of honour are dressed in their finest. Guessed what the event is yet? No? It’s the Lift-Off Film Festival Awards Show. It’s not quite the Oscars, but it’s the largest independent film festival in the…
23rd Raindance Film Festival: 1 World 100 Lonely Review
Is online dating the last resort of meeting ‘the one’? Or is it just a place to meet people from around the world and make new friends in no time? 1 World 100 Lonely is the new feature film by Brian McGuire, an American filmmaker, whose work evolves around the aforementioned subject as well as four…
VIEW OF THE ARTS 