In the early hours of the morning on April 16th 2014, followed by heart-wrenching days of rescue, the hearts of the South Korean nation broke as one as the ferry MV Sewol sank and claimed the lives of 304 passengers and crew members. The tragedy was made worse as 250 of the victims were juniors…
14th London Korean Film Festival: Extreme Job Review
A fried chicken restaurant and a highly incompetent narcotic squad – what could possibly go wrong? Extreme Job is Lee Byeong-heon’s newest production that has unexpectedly become the second highest grossing film in the history of Korean cinema, with over $120 million box-office profit against a $5.8 million budget – it is no wonder that a Hollywood…
Exhilarating Exhibition On The Life Of Audrey Hepburn
American director Billy Wilder once said: “God kissed Audrey Hepburn on the cheek, and there she was”, Audrey was born to be a star. She never desired to be one, but against all odds, she became one of the most beloved actresses of the 20th century, an icon of elegance, and a great humanitarian. In…
The Rose Brings More Than Magic to Their London Performance
The Rose, a four-piece band, has turned into an unexpected phenomenon. Formed over two years ago in Seoul, South Korea, the group has rapidly gained an incredible number of international supporters. Consisting of Woo-sung (leader, lead vocals), Do-joon (keyboard, main vocals), Ha-joon (drums) and Jae-hyeong (bass), The Rose has become the perfect cure for one’s…
Let There Be Light Review
Father of three Milan (Milan Ondrík) works abroad in Germany as a construction worker – sending money back home to his wife and family in Slovakia. Just before Christmas, he drives back to his small town in Slovakia to spend the holidays with his family. When Milan arrives home, he realises that in his absence…
Vertigo (Enduring) Review
Life can often throw you curveballs, but a person can only endure so much while also trying to reach deeper into oneself to find what gives them a reason to live. Vertigo, written and directed by Jeon Gye-soo, depicts one of these emotional and complex life stories. Seo-young (Chun Woo-hee: The Wailing, Han Gong-ju) struggles with her existence;…
The King Review
Timothée Chalamet was proclaimed a revelation after his stunning performance in Call Me by Your Name (2017) and Beautiful Boy (2018). This year, Timothée’s winning streak is back again with two new films: The King, a Netflix production directed by David Michôd, and the long-awaited Little Women by Greta Gerwig, which is set for a December release. Prior…
4th London East Asia Film Festival: In Conversation with Jung Hae-in of ‘Tune in for Love’
It’s been five years since Jung Hae-in debuted as an actor. He shot to stardom in 2014 after appearing in a TV drama Bride of the Century, followed by The Three Musketeers, a period drama TV series. Within this short time, the young actor has not only been seen on TV, but also in films, with…
4th London East Asia Film Festival: Closing Night Gala – I’m Livin’ It Review
I’m Livin’ It is the directorial debut of Wong Hing Fan. It stars Aaron Kwok as Bowen, an ex–insurance broker, who it seems has been to prison for embezzlement. A frequent customer at a 24-hour fast food restaurant, clearly meant to be McDonald’s, Bowen is the focal point of the narrative, around which a variety…
4th London East Asia Film Festival – In Conversation with Ryu Jun-yeol
Sunny days are rare in the UK during the Autumn, but who needs them when Ryu Jun-yeol is in London and his bright personality and smile brightens up the day? At one of London’s hotels, the actor greets us with a warm handshake. As we sit comfortably on the Victorian looking sofa, he enthusiastically invites…
4th London East Asia Film Festival: Opening Night Gala – Exit Review
Up amongst Seoul’s rollercoaster of a skyline, Yong-nam (Jo Jung-suk) and Eui-Ju (Lim Yoona) are hurdling from building to building desperately trying to outrun and outsmart the toxic fog slowly following them across the city. Opening up this year’s London East Asia Film Festival, Lee Sang-geun’s feature debut Exit is a joyful, lively but somewhat…
In Conversation with Aivan, Singer-Songwriter and Multi-Instrumentalist
“I don’t remember a specific day where I just woke up thinking I’d become an artist” Lee Johan, a.k.a Aivan, explains over an iced tea in one of Seoul’s busy cafes. Aivan only debuted last year, but he has already written a hefty amount of music in that time. It might not have been a…
63rd BFI London Film Festival: Moffie Review
Tucked up in their dorm beds, sandwiched between lumpy mattresses and itchy blankets, South African soldiers are swapping stories. One of them starts to tell the story of two soldiers found kissing in a bathroom stall – ‘Moffies’ they’re derogatorily named. After being caught the pair are dragged out and thrown in front of their…
2019 Zandari Festa in Seoul – Dead Buttons
Like all great adventures, the Dead Buttons gig at Zandari Festa ended too soon. Deep in the belly of Seoul’s Club FF surrounded by layers of graffiti and stickers on neon washed walls, a small stage held Dead Buttons and all their energy, all their sound, all their passion. As the venue filled and the…
