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Yeon Sang-ho first established himself as, potentially, the next big thing in animation with his debut- and sophomore features “The Fake” (2013) and “Seoul Station” (2016). With the latter’s live-action sequel, “Train to Busan” (2016), he nominated himself for the title of the new Korean master of genre filmmaking. However, the trilogy’s ending, “Peninsula” (2020) was underwhelming, to put it mildly, even for the Covid-era standards, while two more two more of his flicks, the superhero action comedy “Psychokinesis” (2018) and the Netflix-produced Sf-action movie “Jung-e” (2023) were mere passable efforts.

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The energetic filmmaker then turned to work on a couple of TV series, but now he is back to the big screens, conditionally, with “Revelations”, an adaptation of his own web comic. Conditionally because “Revelations” is a Netflix piece with no theatre- or festival screening intended, despite the backing from the...

Prolific Korean director Yeon Sang-ho has staged a zombie apocalypse aboard a bullet train (Train to Busan) and a twisted supernatural fantasy across the full expanse of Seoul (Hellbound) but with Revelations, his latest feature for Netflix, he wanted a more intimate, grounded story.

Revelations follows a pastor who comes to believe that murdering the culprit behind a missing-person case is his divine mission and a police detective haunted by visions of her late sister who was driven to suicide after becoming the victim of a heinous crime. The film was shot almost entirely on location with natural light, lending its high-concept story a gritty sense of immediacy.

Revelations was executive produced by multi-Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón, who began following Yeon after his animated Korean feature debut King of Pigs premiered to acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011. After Train to Busan became a global phenomenon in 2016, earning nearly...

Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho has traded zombies for psychological horror in his latest Netflix thriller, digging deeper into the darkness of human nature while keeping his signature moral complexity intact.

In Yeon’s latest Netflix thriller “Revelations,” a pastor believes punishing the culprit behind a missing-person case is his divine mission, while a detective haunted by visions of her dead sister pursues her own truth. The film represents a deliberate shift toward more intimate storytelling for the acclaimed director of “Train to Busan” and “Hellbound.”

“With ‘Revelations,’ I wanted to delve deeper into human nature and emotions,” Yeon explains in an interview with Variety. “To really deep-dive into human fragility, I needed an intimate storyline, not a grand-scaled one.”

The film stars Ryu Jun-yeol as Pastor Sung Min-chan, Shin Hyun-been as Detective Lee Yeon-hui, and Shin Min-jae (“Parasyte: The Grey”) as Kwon Yang-rae. Oscar-winner Alfonso Cuarón serves as executive producer,...

Effectively splitting the difference between the crude human drama of his animated work and the genre spectacle of the blockbuster fare that followed, Korean director Yeon Sang-ho returns with a glossy psychological thriller about a church pastor who’s cucked so hard that he convinces himself it’s an act of God.

And yet, the real problem for Pastor Sung Min-chan (“A Taxi Driver” star Ryu Jun-yeol) is that he’s not alone in mistaking earthly hardship for a kind of divine instruction, as “Revelations” will soon find the good father crossing paths with a serial kidnapper who claims his crimes are committed at the behest of a “one-eyed monster,” as well as a young detective who believes that her dead sister — one of the criminal’s previous victims — is urging her to catch him from the afterlife.

Each of the characters in this unholy trinity is trying to quiet a voice in their head,...

South Korea’s leading entertainment company Cj Enm has appointed former Acemaker Movieworks CEO Jung Hyun-joo as its head of film business.

Jung takes the role with immediate effect and joins directly from Acemaker, a financing, distribution and production company that she founded in 2018. Cj Enm said the executive would “bolster the competitiveness” of its films, in what is an increasingly challenging market.

Previous head of film business Jerry Kyoungboum Ko has been named global project leader and will focus on Cj Enm’s global film projects in his new role.

With more than 20 years in the business, Jung is...

Entertainment powerhouse Cj Enm has recruited seasoned executive Jung Hyun-joo as its head of film business. Jung, who previously served as CEO of Korean film company Acemaker, steps into the role effective immediately.

The appointment brings a heavyweight industry player to Cj Enm’s film operations. Jung’s resume includes her pivotal role behind Bong Joon Ho’s monster hit “The Host” during her tenure at Chungeorahm Film, where she managed production and marketing for what became one of Korea’s highest-grossing films.

Jung brings more than two decades of experience across production, financing and distribution. Her background includes spearheading Korean distribution for international blockbusters like “The Lord of the Rings,” “Shaolin Soccer” and “Kill Bill” while working at Taewon Entertainment, where she helped introduce over 100 international titles to Korean audiences.

During her stint at Showbox in the 2010s, Jung guided investment and production for commercial and critical successes including...

“Hit-and-Run Squad” is a 2019 Action-Crime Korean movie.

Summary: The female detective was assigned to a special operation that failed but she wasn’t fired. Intead her superiors transferred her to the Hit-and-Run Squad.

You Didn’t Get the Evidence? Try Again!

In “Hit-and-Run Squad”, Eun Shi-Yeon was a police lieutenant assigned to a special operation. The mission was to prove that the police commissioner was corrupt. They got so close! But in the end they failed. That meant that the police commissioner was still their boss. She was lucky she didn’t get fired. Her immediate supervisor pulled some strings in Hr, she was demoted and transferred to the Hit-and-Run Squad. Eun Shi-Yeon felt bummed out until her supervisor told her that the evidence they needed to prove the police commissioner’s corruption could be found in that unit of the police department. Eun Shi-Yeon suddenly became very interested in her new job.

Samsung TV Plus is going all in on Korean films and TV series.

The free streaming platform added 4,000 hours worth of award-winning Korean movies and shows, ranging from Lee Chang-dong’s critically acclaimed drama “Burning” to K-romance series such as “Doom at Your Service,” and it encompasses projects from Cj Enm and New ID. The Samsung offering makes it one of the largest providers of Korean scripted and unscripted series and films in the U.S.

Also exclusive to Samsung TV Plus will be U.S. distribution rights for several different Korean shows, including “Voice 4,” “Dark Hole,” and “Doom at Your Service,” and psychological thriller “Beyond Evil” arriving soon.

Other monthly exclusives available through the Samsung partnership from Cj Enm include food entertainment shows “The Genius Paik” and “Three Meals a Day,” along with travel shows “House on Wheels” and “Youn’s Kitchen.”

Film additions range from New ID’s “Burning,...

Song Kang-ho, star of Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” will headline a series adaptation of hit film “Inside Men.”

The project was revealed on Thursday by producer Hive Media Corp. which said that the show is in the early stages of pre-production. Cameras are expected to roll in 2025.

No broadcaster or streamer has yet been attached.

The 2015 film was a political thriller that was adapted from an incomplete webtoon, penned by Yoon Tae-ho called “The Insiders” and which was published 2010-2012 in the Hankyoreh newspaper.

The webtoon featured a political bruiser, played by Lee Byung-hun in the film, who seeks revenge after being ruined by politicians and the media. Directed and written by Woo Min-ho, the film added other elements including a prosecutor (portrayed by Cho Sueng-woo), a presidential candidate Portrayed by Lee Gyeong-young) and a newspaper editor (portrayed by Baek Yoon-sik).

The series, which will be directed by Mo Wan-il (“The World of the Married...

Song Kang-ho is a powerhouse performer in South Korea, starring in acclaimed films with scores over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Korean Wave has brought international attention to actors like Song, known for versatile performances in various genres. Despite his success, Song has yet to make his Hollywood debut, unlike some of his Korean peers who have transitioned successfully.

Song Kang-ho is one of the most recognizable South Korean actors both domestically and abroad, and yet, despite a slew of international successes, the star still hasn't made a Hollywood film. Song is an indelible performer who won Best Actor at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for his role in Hirokazu Kore-eda's Broker, and was listed on The New York Times list of the 25 greatest actors of the 21st century. He is also a close collaborator of Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook, having appeared in four films from both directors, including the starring role in the Oscar-winning film,...

One of the most acclaimed horror movies of the year, A24’s I Saw the TV Glow heads home this week, and it’s joined by three other horror movies as well as an anthology TV series.

Here’s all the new horror released June 10 – June 16, 2024!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

First up, Gravitas Ventures released G.S. Foxwood’s horror film Wild Eyed and Wicked on VOD outlets this past Tuesday, June 11. The film blends elements of horror, familial drama, and fantasy to “create a unique, emotionally powerful, and terrifying experience.”

Molly Kunz (Widows, The Irrational), Michael X. Sommers (Sense8), Stefanie Estes (Soft & Quiet), and Colleen Camp (Clue) star in the indie horror film Wild Eyed and Wicked.

Wild Eyed and Wicked follows Lily Pierce (Kunz) in her attempt to strike back at the medieval creature that’s haunted her family for generations.

This week’s horror releases bring a killer shark onto Netflix and the feature debut of Ishana Night Shyamalan into theaters, and that’s only the beginning of the tidal wave of new horror.

Here’s all the new horror releasing June 3, 2024 – June 9, 2024!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

The breakout Korean blockbuster Exhuma was released in theaters here in the United States back in March, and Well Go USA Entertainment brought it home to VOD this Tuesday.

Exhuma is directed by Jang Jae-Hyun (Svaha: The Sixth Finger) and stars popular Korean actors Choi Min-Sik (Oldboy, I Saw the Devil), Kim Go-Eun (Hero, Little Women), Yoo Hai-Jin (A Taxi Driver), and Lee Do-Hyun (Prison Playbook, Sweet Home).

In the film, “When a renowned shaman (Kim Go-Eun) and her protégé (Lee Do-hyun) are hired by a wealthy, enigmatic family, they begin investigating the cause of...

The 8 Show mixes reality TV with survival, promising a thrilling dark comedy experience on Netflix. The star-studded cast, including Ryu Jun-yeol and Chun Woo-hee, adds depth to this unique K-drama. Each character, like Park Jeong-min's "7" and Lee Joo-young's "2", brings a dynamic twist to the game's dynamics.

The newest addition to Netflix's K-drama collection features an all-star cast that brings The 8 Show to life in spectacular fashion. The 8 Show acts as Squid Game's replacement as it combines the unlikely worlds of reality TV and survival shows together. Contestants in The 8 Show are encouraged to partake in the mysterious, simplistic game, and the longer they can last in the game, the more money they will win. Though, of course, things are never quite that simple.

The 8 Show is a K-drama based on the webtoons Money Game and Pie Game, written by Bae Jin-soo, with director Han Jae-rim's,...

Disney+ tentpole Uncle Samsik will debut on May 15 on the platform globally, and on Hulu. The streamer also announced that Korean crime thriller Nine Puzzles will premiere exclusively on the platform in 2025.

South Korean series Uncle Samsik stars veteran actor Song Kang-ho as Pak Doochill/Uncle Samsik and Byun Yo-han (Mr. Sunshine) as Kim San.

Set in 1960s Korea, it follows Kim San, an ambitious idealist and a recipient of an ‘Albright Scholarship.’ Driven to turn his country’s fortunes around, San crosses paths with Pak Doochill, a shady fixer who adapts quickly to any situation and together, the pair form an uneasy alliance.

The political drama will release five episodes on May 15, followed by two episodes a week until a three-part season finale on June 19.

Nine Puzzles follows two intrepid investigators who have to put aside their differences and work together after a serial killer begins playing games with police.

Horror returns to the big screen in a big way this weekend, with four brand new horror movies now playing only in theaters. And another two are now available to watch right at home.

Here’s all the new horror releasing March 22, 2024!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

The hotly anticipated horror movie Late Night With the Devil has been earning rave reviews from critics and Stephen King alike, and it’s now playing exclusively in theaters.

Want to watch at home? The film is next coming to Shudder on April 19, 2024.

David Dastmalchian (Dune, The Suicide Squad) stars as the host of a late-night talk show that descends into a nightmare in the Ghostwatch and Wnuf Halloween Special-inspired film.

David Dastmalchian stars as Jack Delroy, the charismatic host of “Night Owls,” and the film traces the ill-fated taping of a live Halloween special in 1977 plagued by a demonic presence.

The breakout Korean blockbuster Exhuma is getting a release here in the United States, Bloody Disgusting has learned. We’ve also been provided with the film’s official US release trailer.

From leading international and indie film distributor Well Go USA Entertainment, Exhuma opens in Los Angeles March 15 and expands across U.S. theaters March 22.

The film—which surpassed 6 million admissions during its first 11 days in Korean theaters—is distributed by Showbox in its home territory.

Exhuma is directed by Jang Jae-Hyun (Svaha: The Sixth Finger) and stars popular Korean actors Choi Min-Sik, Kim Go-Eun, Yoo Hai-Jin (A Taxi Driver), and Lee Do-Hyun.

In the film, “When a renowned shaman (Kim Go-Eun) and her protégé (Lee Do-hyun) are hired by a wealthy, enigmatic family, they begin investigating the cause of a disturbing supernatural illness that affects only the first-born children of each generation. With the help of a knowledgeable mortician...

The historial action drama has become the biggest film of 2023 at the local box office.

Historical action drama 12.12: The Day has surpassed 12 million admissions and $90m at the South Korea box office as of today (January 2), according to the Korea Box-office Information System (Kobis).

The Korean film has been revitalising the local box office, where the only stand-out hit of 2023 had been Don Lee’s crime action franchise film The Roundup: No Way Out, with 10.6 million admissions and $79.8m.

12.12: The Day, released by Plus M Entertainment on November 22, ended the year with more than 11.8 million admissions and $88m,...

For the first time in an illustrious career spanning 32 years, South Korean superstar is set to appear in a tv drama with “Uncle Sam-sik”.

Almost all Korean superstars have begun their careers on the small screen or have made periodic appearances in tv series, be it Choi Min-sik, Lee Byung-hun, Ha Jung-woo, Hwang Jung-min or many more. Song Kang-ho, however, was an exception so far, having made the jump from theatre to feature films rather swiftly and effectively early on in his career. That is to change now though, as he is confirmed to appear in the leading role in director Shin Yeon-shik’s “Uncle Sam-shik” (literal title).

“Uncle Sam-sik” will be a 10-episode series and, accordingly to Asia Gyeongje, will follow the bromance between a pair of long-time friends, Sam-shik and Kim-san, who survived South Korea’s turbulent 1960s period together. It must be noted that this...

Song Kang-ho, known for his roles in “Memories of Murder” and “Parasite,” has signed up to make his TV series debut. He will star in indie-produced drama “Uncle Sam Shik.”

“Uncle Sam Shik” is a 1960s-set tale of two men, their pride, greed and bromance, local Korean media reports. Song’s co-lead actor has not been disclosed.

The series is to be directed by Shin Yeon-shick, with whom Song has recently shot feature films “Coweb” and “One Win.” Both films have completed physical production but have not yet been released.

The series is reported to be a ten-episode drama, produced by Slingshot Studio. A broadcast or streaming partner has not yet been announced.

The announcement was made by Slingshot on the eve of the Broadcast WorldWide convention in Seoul, which acts as a major showcase for Korean TV content. The event runs Wednesday to Thursday.

Song has dominated Korean movies...

with coproduction companies, international sales agents and territories sold to date.

Cannes International Film Festival Jury and Award Winners 2022Cannes 2022 Competition Awards

Palme d’Or: Triangle of Sadness, directed by Ruben Ostlund, a coproduction of Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, France, Greece. International Sales Agent (Isa) Coproduction Office sold to North America-Neon; Baltics- Filmstop Ou; Benelux, Surinam, Dutch Antilles-September; France-Bac; Hungary-Vertigo; Italy-Teodora; Poland-Gutek; Romania-Independenta; Serbia-Five Stars, Slovenia & Ex-Yugoslavia-Demiurg-Cvetka Flakus; Sweden-sf; Switzerland-Xenix

‘Triangle of Sadness’

Grand Prix co-winners: Close directed by Lukas Dhont, a copro of Belgium, Netherlands, France. Isa The Match Factory sold over 100 territories including USA, Canada-A24; Australia/ Nz-Madman; Baltics-a-One; Benelux-Lumiere; Czech Republic and Slovakia-Artcam; Ex-Yugo-mcf; France-Diaphana, Germany, Austria-Pandora; Greece-Ama; Israel-Lev; Italy-Lucky Red; Netherlands-Cassestte for theatrical, Vedette for TV; Poland-New Horizons; Romania-Bad Unicorn; Scandinavia-Future; So. Korea-Challan; Spain-Vertigo; Switzerland-Filmcoopi; Taiwan-Filmware; Thailand-Sahamangkolfilm; Turkey, UK, Ireland, Latam, Turkey, India-mubi

The Stars at Noon directed Claire Denis, a copro of United States, France. Isa Wild Bunch sold to No. Am.: A24; Benelux, Surinam, Dutch Antilles-September; Czech and Slovakia-Film Europe; Turkey-Bir.

Best Actor: Song Kang Ho (Parasite, A Taxi Driver) in Broker directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, from So. Korea. Isa Cj Entertainment sold to 171 territories before its premiere, including No. America-Neon; Australia/ Nz-Madman; Benelux, Surinam, Dutch Antilles-September; Finland-Cinema Mondo; France-Metropolitan, Germany-Koch; Hong Kong-Edko; Italy-Koch; Japan-Gaga; Singapore-Clover, Golden Village; Spain-Filmin; Scandinavia-Triart; Switzerland-Ascot Elite; UK, Ireland-Picturehouse.

‘Broker’ starring Song Kang Ho

Best Actress: Zar Amir Ebrahimi, in Holy Spider, a copro of France, Sweden, Denmark, Germany. Isa Wild Bunch sold to USA, Canada-Utopia; Austria, Germany-Alamode; Baltics-a-One Films; Benelux-Cineart; Czech Republic, Slovakia-Film Europe; Denmark-Camera; Ex-Yugo-Fivia/ Cenex; France-Metropolitan; Greece-Cinobo; Hong Kong-Edko; Hungary-Vertigo; Indonesia-Falcon; Ireland, Latam, Malaysia, UK-mubi; Israel-United King; Italy-Academy 2; Japan-Gaga; Mexico-Canibal; North Africa-Ciné 7ème Art; Poland-Gutek; Portugal-Nos Lusomuno; Romania-Independenta; So. Korea-Pancinema; Spain-b-Team/ Karma; Switzerland-Xenix; Taiwan-Proview; Turkey-Bir.

Jury Prize co-winner: Eo, directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, copro of Italy, Poland. Isa Hanway sold to No. America-Sideshow and Janus Films; France-arp.

Jury Prize co-winner: The Eight Mountains, directed by Felix van Groeningen, Charlotte Vandermeersch, copro of Italy, Belgium. Isa Vision sold to Austria, Germany, Switzerland-dcm; Baltics-Kino Pavasaris; Benelux-Kinepolis, Dutch Filmworks; Bulgaria-Beta; Czech Republic, Slovakia-Aero; Denmark-Camera; Finland-Cinemanse; France-Pyramide; Greece-One from the Heart; Italy-Vision; Norway-Selmer; Poland-M2; Portugal-Outsider; So. Korea-JinJin; Spain-Avalon; Sweden-TriArt; Taiwan-Swallow Wings; Turkey-Bir; UK, Ireland-Picturehouse.

Best Director: Park Chan-wook (Old Boy) for Decision to Leave, So. Korea. Isa Cj Entertainment sold to USA, UK, Ireland, India, Turkey-mubi; Australia/ Nz-Madman; Benelux-Cinart; France-Bac; Germany-Koch; Greece-Cinobo; Hong Kong, Macao Sar China-Edko; Japan-Happinet Phantom; Poland-Gutek; Russia, ex-ussr-Arna; Scandinavia, Iceland, Baltics-Nonstop; Italy-Lucky Red; Singapore-Golden Village; Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia-Purple Plan; So. Korea-cj; Switzerland-Filmcoopi; Taiwan-Movie Cloud

Best Screenplay: Tarik Saleh, Boy From Heaven, Sweden. Isa Memento sold to Benelux-Cineart; Germany, Austria-x Verleih; Greece-Cinobo; Hungary-Vertigo, Latam-Impacto; UK, Ireland-Picturehouse Switzerland-Filmcoopi; Poland-M2 Films; Israel-New Cinema;, Ex-Yugoslavia-Blitz; Czech Republic, Slovakia-FilmEurope; Baltics-a-One; Romania-Bad Unicorn; Bulgaria-Beta; Portugal-Leopardo Filmes; Turkey -Bir Films.

Special prize for Cannes’ 75th anniversary: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne, Tori and Lokita, copro Belgium and France. Isa Wild Bunch sold to No. America-Sideshow and Janus Films; Baltics-European Film Forum Scanorama; Benelux-Cineart; France-Diaphana; Ireland, UK-Picturehouse.

Camera d’Or: War Pony, directed by Rieley Keough, Gina Gammell, USA. Isa Protagonist.

Camera d’Or Special Mention: Plan 75, directed by Hayakawa Chie, Japan. Isa Urban Films sold to China-DDDream; France-Eurozoom; Italy-Tucker; Japan-Happinet; Singapore-Lighthouse; Taiwan-Sky Digi; UK- September

Short Film Palme d’Or: The Water Murmurs, directed by Chen Jianying

Special mention: Lori, directed by Abinash Bikram Shah

Un Certain Regard

The jury was chaired by actress-director-producer Valeria Golino and included director Debra Granik, actress Joanna Kulig, actor-singer Benjamin Biolay and actor-producer Edgar Ramírez.

Grand Prize: The Worst Ones/ Les Pires, the debut feature directed by Lise Akoka and Romane Gueret. France. Isa Pyramide. France-Pyramide.

Jury Prize: Joyland, director Saim Sadiq’s debut feature and the first Pakistani feature in official selection at Cannes. Telling the story of a young man from a patriarchal family who secretly joins an erotic dance theatre and falls in love with a trans starlet. Copro of US-based All Caps and Pakistan’s Khoosat Films. Isa Film Constellation.

Best Director: Alexandru Belc for Metronom, debut feature focusing on a group of music-loving Bucharest teenagers caught up in the crackdown that followed the end of Romania’s cultural liberalization period in the early seventies. Romania. Isa Pyramide. France-Pyramide.

Best Actor: Jointly awarded to Vicky Krieps for Corsage, Marie Kreutzer’s period piece in which Krieps plays Empress Sisi of Austria, one of Europe’s first celebrity royals. Copro Austria, France, Germany, Luxembourg. Isa MK2 sold to US, Canada-ifc; Austria-Panda Lichtspiele; Benelux-The Searchers; France-Ad Vitam; Germany-Alamode; Hungary-Cirko; Ireland, UK-Picturehouse; Italy-Bim; Spain-Adso Films; Poland-M2; Czech Republic-Aerofilm; Ex-Yugoslavia-Demiurg

Best Actor: Adam Bessa for Harka, with Bessa as the impoverished young man who sparked revolutionary Tunisia and the Arab Spring. Tunisia. Isa Film Constitution sold to France-Dulac.

Best Screenplay: Mediterranean Fever, a Haifa-set, Arabic-language drama written and directed by Maha Haj. Israel. Isa Luxbox sold to France-Dulac.

The Coup de coeur prize: Rodeo directed by Lola Quivoron, about a young woman determined to infiltrate the male world of dirt-bike racing. France. Isa Les Films du Losange.

Best Documentary Award L’Oeil d’Or: All That Breathes by Shaunak Sen,a copro of India, United Kingdom, United States. Isa Submarine, USA-hbo, Sideshow.

Directors’ Fortnight

Best French Language Film Award: The Mountain by Thomas Salvador. France. Isa Le Pacte.

Europa Cinemas’ Award for Best European Film: Mia Hansen-Løve’s One Fine Morning. Europa Cinemas Network will now support the film with promotion and incentivize exhibitiors to extend its program run. The film was chosen by a jury of four exhbitiors from the network. It is the 19th time Europa has awarded the label. France. Isa Les Films du Losange sold to USA-Sony Pictures Classics; Australia/ Nz-Palace; Baltics-European Film Forum Scanorama; Benelux-Cherry Pickers; France-Les Films du Losange; Austria, Germany-Weltkino; Greece-Weird Wave; Hungary-Cirko; Portugal-Alambique; So. Korea-Challah; Spain-Elastica; Taiwan-Andrews; UK, Ireland, India, Turkey-mubi; Sweden-Nonstop; Denmark, Norway-Another World Entertainment Norway; Iceland- Myndform; Lithuania-Scanorama; Estonia-Bestfilm Eu; Latvia-Sia Best Film; Slovenia-Fivia.

Critics’ Week. Sidebar dedicated to first and second features. Kaouther Ben Hania, Jury President

Grand Prize: La Jauría feature debut by Andres Ramirez Pulido. Copro France, Colombia. Isa Pyramide. France-Pyramide.

Sacd prize: La Jauría about a country boy who is wrongly accused of a crime and incarcerated in an experimental rehabilitation center for tough boys in the heart of the Colombian tropical forest.

French Touch Prize: Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun, a bittersweet drama about a father and daughter who spend a summer holiday in a Turkish resort. United Kingdom. Isa Charades sold to No. America-A24; Austria, France, Germany, India, Ireleand, Spain, Turkey, UK — Mubi.

Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award: for Zelda Samson in Love According to Dalva directed by Emmanuelle Nicot, about a 12-year-old girl who dresses and lives like a woman until one day, she’s taken away from her house. Dumbfounded at first, she later meets a social worker, and a teen with a temper and a new life seems to start for her. Copro Belgium, France. Isa MK2 sold to France-Diaphana, Netherlands-Gusto.

Leitz Cine Discovery Prize for Short Film: The Ice Merchants, a prestigious first for Portuguese animation.

Fipresci Awards

The Jury: Mariola Wiktor (Poland), Nathalie Chifflet (France), Emanuel Levy (US), Simone Soranna(Italy), Ahmed Shawky (Egypt), Jihane Bougrine (Morocco), Magali Van Reeth (France), Bidhan Rebeiro (Bangladesh), Youssoufa Halidou Harouna (Niger)

Competition: Leila’s Brothers by Saeed Roustaee. Iran. Isa Elle Driver sold to France-Wild Bunch.

Un Certain Regard: The Blue Caftan by Maryam Touzani Copro of Morocco, France, Denmark, Belgium. Isa Films Boutique sold to Austria-Thimfilm; Baltics-a-One; Benelux-Cineart; Denmark-Camera; France-Ad Vitam; Greece-Danaos; Israel-Nachshon Films; Italy-Movies Inspired; Japan-Longride; Spain-Karma; Switzerland-Filmcoopi.

Critics’ Week: Love According To Dalva by Emmanuelle Nicot

(Belgium, France, 2022, 80 mins)

Screen’s Cannes jury grid:

Park Chan-wook’s Decision To Leave finishes on top of with an average of 3.2.

Prize of the Ecumenical Jury:

Broker by Hirokazu Kore-eda.

Queer Palm Award:

Saim Sadiq’s Joyland, a daring portrait of a transgender dancer in Pakistan, for the festival’s best LGBT, queer or feminist-themed movie.

Palm Dog Awards

Palm DogManitarian Award: To Patron, a Jack Russel Terrier who has helped sniff out over 200 landmines in Ukraine. Although the film festival usually celebrates movie stars, it also runs the Palm Dog awards, which, since 2001, recognizes the best dogs to appear on screen. Unfortunately, due to the war, Patron was unable to travel to Cannes to receive the award, so another Jack Russel named Opium receiveƒd it on his behalf. Earlier this month, Patron was awarded a medal by President Zelensky for his work. Credit: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine via Storyful (Ukrainian Jack Russell terrier mine sniffer)

Best Performance by a Dog: War Pony’s standard silver poodle, Britney

Canine cast: Godland. Denmark. Isa New Europe Film sold to Australia/ Nz-Palace; Baltics-Scanorma; Benelux-Imagine; France-Jour2Fete; Greece-One from the Heart; Hungary-Vertigo; Poland-New Horizons; Spain-Contracorriente; UK, Ireland-Curzon.

Watch the Palm Dog Ceremony here.

The Palm Dog turned 21 years old this year. What was started as a low-key event by British journalist Toby Rose and his critic friends is now a ceremony on the beach with global media in attendance, plus sponsors, as well as an embossed collar for the prize-winning pup — but still retains its all its sense of fun.

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Movie: "A Taxi Driver"

Where You Can Stream It: Amazon Prime, Hoopla

The Pitch: Movies that attempt to cover such sensitive topics as a real-world massacre tend to be moody, unpleasant, and relentlessly grim. Not so with 2017's "A Taxi Driver," which couldn't possibly be more different from the usual (typically Oscar-bait) fare. This South Korean film chronicles the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, a momentous historical event that proved to be a significant stepping stone on...

The post The Daily Stream: A Taxi Driver Uses Humor To Emphasize The Horrors Of Fascism appeared first on /Film.

Jang Hoon, who started his career as an assistant to Kim Ki-duk, has only directed four feature films as of now. “Rough Cut” in 2008, “Secret Reunion” in 2010, “The Front Line”, in 2011 and “A Taxi Driver” in 2017. However, all of them are considered top notch, with Hung managing to combine commercial success with acclaimed reviews. This particular one also netted him the Best Film Award from the Blue Dragon Awards.

Ji-won and Han-gyoo are special agents for North and South Korea, respectively. The two of them exchange glances during a North Korean assassination attempt of Kim Jong-il’s second cousin, which fails due to Tae-soon’s betrayal. Shortly after, Han-gyoo is discharged for mishandling the case and Ji-won takes the blame for Tae-soon, subsequently going into hiding from his commander named Shadow. Six years later, Ji-won and Han-gyoo meet again and through a series of seemingly random consequences,...

Koreans are no strangers to protest. Underneath the thin veneer of idol culture, smart technology, and (now apparent) phenomenal pandemic-care, South Korea has juggled with a history rife with public discontent. Maybe this is more “Parasite” vibes; in 2016-17, for example, the Candlelight Demonstrations witnessed one of the largest protests in history. International media turned all eyes to Korea, as the uprising usurped the corrupt absurdities interwoven into Park Geun-hye’s administration. The historic moment brought to light (no pun intended) a crucial part to Korea’s contemporary democracy, the end-result of a long and hard road of protest.

Forty years ago, the death of a different political leader — Park Cheong-hee — eventually led to an earlier turning-point: the Gwangju Uprising of 1980 on May 18. This bloody revolt has carved a deep scar in lived memory. As politicians climbed to power and curators commemorated the city through Asia’s oldest biennial, filmmakers...

Man-seob (played by Song Kang-ho) belts out Cho Yong-pil’s Short Hair as if appearing on an episode of James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke. Man-seob who is a Seoul taxi driver and widow living alone with his young daughter barely makes ends meet. He would not have to drive Hinzpeter (Thomas Kretschmann) to Gwangju if it weren’t for his back rent 100,000 won. “Let’s go Gwangju,” he says briskly to Hinzpeter, not knowing what awaits him.

The story resorts to Jürgen Hinzpeter’s witness to what he saw and what happened to him in May 1980. It is not detailed about the actual politics of the period and does not invoke the name, Chun Doo-hwan who imposed martial law and slaughtered Gwangju citizens. That is because it is not meant to inflame, but asks the audiences to empathize with Man-seob; we see Gwangju and its citizens at the time through his eyes.

A Korean space opera with a large budget and a star-studded cast. Possibly the first of its kind, it’s hard for it to live up to its hype. Despite the film not being perfect, it’s still a big step for Korean cinema to branch out, and try new things.

“Space Sweepers” revolves around the crew of ‘Victory’, a notorious space-junk collector ship in 2092. Earth is becoming uninhabitable, and humans are quick to ruin space next. The crew is down on their luck, need money, and need it fast. It is then rather convenient that such a solution falls into their laps, a humanoid robot girl, wanted by police as well as terrorists. Before long, it turns into a story about putting others above yourself or saving yourself.

The production ends up being a little cheesy, yet charming. Fun, but in the large scope of science-fiction films, middle-of-the-road. This...

The producers of Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh and Queer East Film Festival are delighted to announce their first ever collaboration, Tffe x Qeff. The project sees 2 UK premieres – Nobody (2020), a debut feature film from director Lin Chun-hua which reveals the story of an elderly transsexual character, rarely explored in LGBTQ+ cinema, and The Shepherds (2018), a documentary by Elvis Lu charting the struggles of LGBTQ+ Christians in Taiwan, and the challenges they face in making their voices heard.

The 3 short films presented earlier this year by Taiwan Ffe are brought back and presented alongside the two features. These are: Towards the Sun (2016), directed by Wang Yi-Ling, a moving story of an unlikely friendship, Chen He-Yu’s The Busy Young Psychic (2013) focusing on a teenage girl with a special gift and A Taxi Driver (2018), directed by Chen Yen-Hong, a thrilling story of a man finally deciding to take control of his own life.

A small but impactful revolution is narrated with grace and a dose of sense of humour in South Korean patriotic hit “Mal-Mo-e: The Secret Mission” which tells another story revolving around the Japanese occupation, from a seemingly unexplored point of view. This directorial debut of Eom Yoo-na, marked the transition from successful writer of “A Taxi Driver” to the director’s chair, and landed in theatres just before the 100th anniversary of the March First Movement, or the “Sam-il”, a day celebrating the beginning of Korea’s national independence movement from Japan.

“Mal-Mo-e: The Secret Mission” is screening at Florence Korean Film Festival 2020

It’s 1941 and, while fighting World War II, Japan rules Korea and as an effective way to keep the nation well under its thumb, Japan is trying to suppress Korean national identity in any possible way. Language is one important aspect of the culture of a nation and therefore,...

Set up by former Showbox executive Helen Jung, who had been behind multiple hit films such as historical drama “A Taxi Driver,” crime drama “Inside Men,” as well as disaster pic “Tunnel” and 2014 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight title “A Hard Day,” Acemaker Movieworks began its journey in the Korean film industry in 2018.

As with several other new entrants at the time, Acemaker represented a combination of industry veterans and non-industry capital. It sourced its money from the former owner of cosmetic company Carver Korea, which Unilever acquired in 2017.

“[We] seek diversity in content and support creators without prejudice,” says the company in its mission statement. Acemaker’s line-up includes not only strong box- office hits, but also festival-acclaimed slates such as “The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil.”

Indeed, over the past two years, Acemaker has built up a colorful catalog of films, including 2019 Cannes Midnight Screening title “The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil,...

The company is selling titles including ‘Protector’, ‘Dirty Money’ and ‘New Year Blues’ at the online Marche.

South Korean financier, producer and distributor Acemaker movieworks is launching its own sales unit at the Cannes virtual market.

Headed by former M-Line Distribution executive Jamie Seo, the company’s international business team is selling films including the directorial debut of leading Korean actor Jung Woo-sung, Protector (working title). The kidnap revenge thriller, which stars Jung with Kim Nam-gil and Park Sung-woong, is currently in production.

Acemaker also has Kim Tae-yong’s sci-fi drama Wonderland (working title) in production. Set in a world...

Kofic’s annual report reveals that South Korea’s top ten releases in 2019 accounted for 46.2% of total box office.

South Korea’s box office hit an all-time high last year, but also recorded increased polarisation, with Disney titles and big-budget local films drawing a greater proportion of screens and audiences, according to a report from the Korean Film Council (Kofic).

Last year, total admissions increased by 4.8% to an all-time high of 226.68 million tickets sold, amounting to $1.61bn in box office revenues – similar to the previous year’s take of $1.62bn – but in local currency terms, due to fluctuating exchange rates,...

The Oscar for Best International Feature Film going to Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” marks a history-making moment for the Academy Awards. “Parasite’s” victory is the first time South Korea has won the International Feature Film category in the history of the Oscars. The category was formerly called Best Foreign Language Film. Bong’s social thriller was the frontrunner to win the International Feature Film Oscar after nabbing six total Oscar nominations this year, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Production Design, and Best Original Screenplay. “Parasite” was the first South Korean movie to be nominated in any of these categories, making the film a history-making before the awards ceremony even began.

“Parasite” ending its awards season journey with a history-making victory at the 92nd Academy Awards is a full circle moment as the movie started its run at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, where it world premiered...

Mainstream Korean media gave pride of place to Monday’s unprecedented haul of six Oscar nominations for Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite.” The dark satire was nominated in categories including best international feature film, best screenplay and best picture.

Digital editions of The Korea Herald newspaper made “Parasite” its front page lead. The story was accompanied by a picture of Bong receiving a Golden Globes award.

The text was supplied by official news agency Yonhap, which called the film a “sensation,” but otherwise reported without flourish or quotes. That may have reflected the time of day that the story broke – early morning in Los Angeles is late evening in Seoul. But Yonhap happily noted that the film has earned $24 million at the North American box office – “the most popular subtitled film of the year.”

The Korea Times also used Yonhap material, but added: “It is the first time that a South...

Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” is officially a history-making Academy Award nominee. The critical and commercial favorite earned six Oscar nominations this morning and has written itself into the Academy Awards history books as the first South Korean nominee for Best International Feature Film (formerly Best Foreign Language Movie). South Korea had failed to receive an Oscar nomination for 91 years, but that has all changed with “Parasite.” Additionally, the film is the first South Korean movie nominated for Best Picture and Bong Joon Ho is the first South Korean filmmaker nominated for Best Director. Additional Oscar nominations for “Parasite” include Best Director, Best Editing, Best Production Design, and Best Original Screenplay.

“Parasite” started its awards run as a history maker at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was awarded the Palme d’Or. The prize made Bong Joon Ho the first South Korean filmmaker to win the Cannes Film Festival’s top prize.

One of the most captivating actors in South Korea, Ryu Jun-yeol grabbed audiences’ attention in supporting roles in films like The King, A Taxi Driver, and Believer; so much so that the New York Asian Film Festival honoured Ryu with their Rising Star award. Presenting his first leading role in Money, Ryu had an exclusive chat with Lmd about the seduction of the ₩on, and how his upcoming project, The Battle, crosses one goal off his acting bucket list. The Lady Miz Diva: How did the role of Choi Il-hyun come to you in Money? Ryu Jun-yeol: First of all, it was a really good script, I didn’t know at the time that it was based on a book. All in...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Ryu Jun-yeol has had quite the upward career graph. Beginning his career as an important part of an ensemble of young actors in 2015’s “Socialphobia”, he begun making his mark on South Korean cinema in 2017 with important supporting roles in “A Taxi Driver”, “The King” and “Heart Blackened”, some of the year’s biggest films in which he shared screen space with South Korean bigwigs such as Song Kang-ho, Jung Woo-sung and Choi Min-sik respectively. He followed that up with more prominent roles in films such as “Little Forest” and “Believer” the following year. Now, 2019 brings with it his first leading roles in the financial thriller “Money” by director Park Noo-ri.

“Money” is screening at New York Asian Film Festival

Jo Il-hyun, the son of raspberry farmers, comes from humble upbringings but dreams of becoming a stock broker and getting rich. He joins one of the top firms on the Yeouido,...

The star of Ryu Jun-yeol continues to ascend. He starred in the adrenalin-fuelled ensemble film “Hit-and-Run Squad” earlier this year before getting his first leading role in “Money”. He is also to be honoured with the Rising Star Asia Award later this month at the New York Asian Film Festival. Shortly after, he will be back on-screen in his latest starring role in director Won Shin-yun’s historical “The Battle: Roar to Victory”.

Synopsis

The story of the national independece army who fought for four days for a miracle in the Battle of Fengwudong where they won for the first time. Over a 4 day period, a fierce battle took place between Korean independence militias and Japanese forces in Manchuria, China. The militia includes Hwang Hae-cheol, who is a master with the sword, and Lee Jang-ha, who is an expert marksman.

Tacky English title aside, the film comes with some heavy names attached to it,...

Korean actor Ryu Jun-yeol and Japanese actress Nana Komatsu will both be awarded the Rising Star Asia Award at this year’s New York Asian Film Festival, which will run from June 28th to July 14th, 2019.

Ryu Jun-yeol in Lee Hae-young’s “Believer

Ryu, who got his break in the Korean Academy of Film Arts feature graduation project “Socialphobia”, exploded as a film star in 2017, with star-making turns in “The King”, “Heart Blackened” and the year’s biggest hit “A Taxi Driver“. He followed it up in 2018 with equally impressive roles in “Little Forest” and “Believer” and has already featured in “Hit-and-Run Squad” and the financial drama “Money” already this year.

Tokyo-born Nana Komatsu, meanwhile, started her cinematic journey in 2015 with “Close Range Love” and suspense thriller “The World of Kanako“. Her impressive filmography includes “Destruction Babies“, Martin Scorsese’s “Silence”, hit romantic drama “My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday” as well...

Locarno Film Festival have announced that South Korean superstar Song Kang-ho will be honoured with the Excellence Award at the 72nd edition of the Swiss festival in August this year, making him the first person from Asia to receive the award.

Song Kang-ho is an eclectic, versatile, graceful actor, who has been able to conquer South Korean cinema and then access the world of international stardom, and to whom the Locarno Film Festival will bestow the Excellence Award. His artistic birth can be traced back to the late 1990s, in Hong Sang-soo’s “The Day a Pig Fell Into the Well”, and his career path was laid down in the early 2000s. After “The Quiet Family”, he reteamed with Kim Jee-woon for “The Foul King”, causing audiences to stare in amazement at performances based on versatility and physical skill. This has been the case for twenty years’ worth of film sets,...

One of the finest Hong Kong cop thrillers of the previous decade, Johnnie To’s celebrated “Drug War” was a major success when it was released and continued his stance as one of the country’s finest modern directors. Now four years later, South Korea has opted for a remake of the film that takes the core essence of the same story into a new direction with Lee Hae-yeong’s new effort “Believer”.

“Believer” is screening at the Udine Far East Film Festival

After a friend is killed, determined cop Won-ho now has more ammunition than ever to nail the drug kingpin at the centre of the past two years of his life. After getting further clues to his identity, he and his squad begin an operation with the survivor of one of the attacks, Rak, a low-level employee in the operation, and begin to work through the organisation, in order to reach the top.

The London Korean Film Festival 2019 presents the UK Premiere of “Default” at Regent Street Cinema, Monday 20th May

“The poor get poorer… unemployment becomes the norm…

we must not choose that world.”

Recent years have witnessed a boom in political dramas in Korea, with hits such as “A Taxi Driver” (2017) and “1987: When the Day Comes” (2017) bringing in audiences in their millions. The second teaser in our showcase, based on the true events of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, adds the dimension of a fast-paced financial thriller to this popular genre. Default is an affecting film that considers the human impact of the crisis alongside acerbic commentary.

The crisis occurred when large companies, aspiring to compete globally, began to take out massive loans for expansion projects. When these investments failed to achieve returns, a domino effect began that would result in nationwide debt and the impending crash of the economy…

Set...

If not for the wonders of technology — and world’s most popular ride-sharing app in particular — Vic and Stu never would have met. Vic (Dave Bautista) is an enormous bull-in-a-china-shop-style cop recovering from eye surgery who can’t see well enough to drive (or shoot) on the night of his big bust. Stu (Kumail Nanjiani) is a touchy, easily disconcerted Uber driver who can’t afford to get another one-star review. And “Stuber” is the wildly irreverent, crash-test action-comedy that throws these two polar opposites together for a night of shootouts, stakeouts, and bust-out big laughs, as Vic commandeers Stu’s puny electric car, simultaneously deputizing and endangering its terrified driver, who hates it when you call him “Stuber.”

Debuting to justifiably enthusiastic response at the SXSW Film Festival as a work-in-progress screening — though tighter and no less polished than any of the flashy, fully-ready studio premieres that screened over...

The narcotics industry, or what existed of it, in South Korea has for the most part never been explored in cinema up until recently. 2018, however, changed that with two films on the subject out in a year. While “Believer” was a remake of the Johnnie To film “Drug War”, director Woo Min-ho’s latest film “The Drug King” attempted to tell the true tale of the 1970s drug trade through Busan into Japan. It was highly anticipated not only for being Woo Min-ho’s follow-up to the excellent 2015 thriller “Inside Men”, but also for starring South Korean superstar Song Kang-ho, who was last seen in the hit Gwangju Uprising drama “A Taxi Driver” as well as Bae Doona, one of the leading South Korean actresses. So does the film live up to the hype and the towering names it comes with? Let’s break it down.

After a brief introduction to methaphetamine,...

The rise of Ryu Jun-yeol as an actor has been an interesting one to watch. Starting his film career in the excellent 2015 social thriller “Socialphobia”, he really exploded on the scene in 2017 with three important and appreciated supporting roles in hit films “The King”, “A Taxi Driver” and “Heart Blackened”. These were followed by equally lauded roles in “Little Forest” and “Believer” in 2018. Only two months into the new year, we have the trailer for his second film of 2019, and his first leading role, in director Park Noo-ri’s “Money” (literal title).

Synopsis

Il-Hyun begins to work as a stock broker. His dream is to become rich. Il-Hyun meets a stock market scammer known as “Ticket Man”. He asks Il-Hyun to help in a stock market scam. Meanwhile, Han Ji-Cheol works for Financial Supervisory Service and has chased “Ticket Man” for a long time. He senses something suspicious with Il-Hyun.

Han Jun-hee’s crime action film heading to Australia and New Zealand.

South Korea’s Showbox has sold crime action film Hit-And-Run Squad to a raft of territories led by Australia and New Zealand (Jbg Pictures).

The other territories are Japan (New Select), Us and Canada (815 Pictures), Hong Kong (Megaton), Taiwan (Movie Cloud), the Philippines (Viva Communications), Singapore (Shaw Renters), Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (Westec Media), and Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand (Cj E&M Hk). The film also sold worldwide in-flight rights excluding Korea (Emphasis).

From director Han Jun-hee (Coin Locker Girl), the film stars Kong Hyo-jin (Door...

Korean filmmakers have a knack for turning their national crises into riveting entertainment, choice examples being last year’s “A Taxi Driver” and “1987: When the Day Comes.” Following in that tradition, domestic hit “Default” (which opened Nov. 30 in the U.S.) manages to make currency crashes and the Asian Financial Crisis a juicy subject onscreen.

Set in 1997, when South Korea faced national bankruptcy, this financial thriller dramatizes the tense run-up to the Imf’s bailout, which the Korean media coined the nation’s “day of humiliation.” Racily paced yet boasting crystal-clear exposition, this hard-nosed and clear-eyed lesson on capitalist hubris bristles with relevance given the escalation of the Trade War.

It’s hard to believe that director Choi Kook-hee has only shot one feature film “Split” before making a work of such lofty ambition. With consummate skill, he pulls together three character arcs that represent the lower-middle class, the financial sector,...

A new Song Kang-ho film is quite the event in South Korean cinema. Possibly the country’s biggest superstar, and one of the best known South Korean actors around the world, Song Kang-ho is known to star in massive hits and his films are often South Korea’s official entries to the Academy Awards for the Best Foreign Language category. So when he teams up with “Inside Men” director Woo Min-ho and Bae Doona, one of South Korea’s best actresses and Song Kang-ho’s co-star from “The Host”, big things are expected from the resulting collaboration “The Drug King”.

Synopsis

Set in Busan, South Korea during the 1970’s, Lee Doo-Sam builds an empire as a drug smuggler in the Busan underworld, while public prosecutor Kim In-goo attempts to take down Lee Doo-Sam.

Joining Song Kang-ho and Bae Donna is a strong supporting cast of Jo Jung-suk, who also starred...

Eighteen years after his debut feature film “Happy End”, director Jung Ji-woo reunites with actor par excellence Choi Min-sik for murder mystery/courtroom drama “Heart Blackened”, the remake of Chinese film “Silent Witness” starring superstar Aaron Kwok. “Heart Blackened” earned Best Supporting Actress nominations for both Lee Hanee and Lee Soo-kyung at the 54th Baeksang Art Awards, with the latter eventually emerging victorious.

Heart Blackened is screening at London Korean Film Festival

Yim Tae-san is the CEO of a vast empire who believes that money is the solution to all of life problems, except for his fledgling relationship with his daughter Yim Mi-ra. His relationship with her is further dented with his engagement to beautiful and much-loved singer Park Yoo-na, who just cannot seem to get Mi-ra to warm up to her, despite her best efforts. When Yoo-na is found killed in a parking lot shortly after a meeting with Mi-ra,...

One of the finest Hong Kong cop thrillers of the previous decade, Johnnie To’s celebrated “Drug War” was a major success when it was released and continued his stance as one of the country’s finest modern directors. Now four years later, South Korea has opted for a remake of the film that takes the core essence of the same story into a new direction with Lee Hae-yeong’s new effort “Believer”.

After a friend is killed, determined cop Won-ho now has more ammunition than ever to nail the drug kingpin at the center of the past two years of his life. After getting further clues to his identity, he and his squad begin an operation with the survivor of one of the attacks, Rak, a low-level employee in the operation, and begin to work through the organization, in order to reach the top. Complicated by...

“… a wild and boisterous crime drama …” ~ David Ehrlich, Indiewire

“… solid two hours of action and suspense that’s muscularly directed by Lee and stylishly shot …” ~ Richard Kuipers, Variety

Directed by Lee Hae-Young (“The Silenced”), “Believer”, the stylish, action-packed remake of Johnnie To’s Drug War, hits digital, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD October 30 from Well Go USA Entertainment. While technically a remake, Cary Darling of The Houston Chronicle notes that “Lee Hae-Yeong’s gripping retelling … stands on its own and is different enough from the original to make it less a clone and more of a genuflection.” The story follows an investigator who, in an effort to bring down the boss of Asia’s biggest drug cartel, conspires with a lowly member of the gang seeking revenge against the boss. “Believer”, stars Cho Jin-woong (“The Handmaiden”), Ryu Jun-yeol (“A Taxi Driver”), Kim Joo-hyuck (“The Servant”), Kim Sung-ryoung (“The Target”), Park...

With a history as rich and vast as the peninsula of Korea’s, it is no surprise that films based on the lives of revered national figures are made in South Korea in plenty. It is, however, baffling that no film that focused specifically on the very eventful life of activist, freedom fighter and the last Premier of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, Kim Koo, had been made so far. He is finally given his just dues in Lee Won-tae’s biopic “Man of Will”, starring Cho Jin-woong and Song Seung-heon, which focuses on his early days when he was still called Kim Chang-soo.

The film starts with the fight that would change the course of Kim Chang-soo’s life, where he ends up killing a Japanese man. As it turns out, Kim Chang-soo killed the man because he suspects him of having assassinated the beloved Empress Myeongseong,...