Inaugural Korean Film Festival
22 – 31 October 2004 At the Sky City Theatre
The growing love for Asian films sees the Inaugural Korean Film Festival launch itself with a battle cry that’s being
heard all over the world.
After months of hard work the Korean Cinerama Trust is putting the final touches to an affair that started off with love
for cinema, instigated by the First Citizen of this country.
It was Helen Clark who called everyone to “action” when she discussed with the Korean President last year July about
working towards drafting a film co-production agreement between the two countries.
Asia 2000 Foundation then approached Korean born broadcaster Melissa Lee who through her extensive contacts gathered
together a group of Korean film enthusiasts and local Korean film directors to take the quest for a fest into the next
act.
Months of weekends were spent by the working committee viewing numerous Korean films produced in the last four years.
The hard but enjoyable slog has now come to an end with 12 top rating Korean films ready to stimulate the senses of NZ
cinema buffs.
The 10 day film fest at Auckland’s Sky City Theatre which starts on the 22nd of October charges off with Korea’s most
successful and highest grossing film in American cinema history. Tae guk gi, “the brotherhood of war” by director Kang
Je-Gyu (who will be attending the opening night in Auckland) took almost 400-thousand dollars, capturing the second
highest earnings on 29 American screens over just one weekend. This war drama has left behind even some American films
with praises for the film coming from almost all prominent media in the US.
Other sub-titled action movie will be director Park Chan-Wook’s Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, described as a hard boiled
Asian thriller, which is being praised by the BBC as one of the best Korean films to be screened in England in a very
long time. Park recently won at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival for his film “Old Boy”.
But it’s not all about action, the festival also showcases “Untold Scandal” a delightful tale about the Chosun dynasty’s
greatest Casanova and Jezebel who join forces to corrupt a young widow. From the naughtiest period drama to “My Sassy
Girl”, the romantic comedy hit of 2001, the Korean Film Festival has a movie for every type of movie goer.
If only action and romance is not good enough on their own, then the “Spirit of Jeet Kun Do: Once Upon A Time In High
School” will satisfy those looking for complete entertainment in one movie. This action movie inspired by one of the
worlds most famous martial artists of all time, Bruce Lee, and school yard experiences of the director Yoo Ha promises
to be a film that everyone can relate to regardless of age.
One of the twelve movies also tackles the contemporary issue of the tense relationship between North and South Korea.
“Double Agent” takes a deeper look at the almost unkown history of sacrifices made by spies from both Korea’s over
several decades. This gripping drama set in the 80’s brings to attention the covert war which is still being waged in
the Korean peninsula.
The Festival also celebrates the empowerment of women with an unusual tale. This flip side of the genre coin introduces
the age of the female action hero, in “My Wife Is A Gangster”. Outrageous personalities and over the top character names
and action breaks down stereotypes in a film that promises to have the most dramatic fight scene in Korean cinema
history.
And the female influence to get these movies recognition on the other side of the world continues with Melissa and her
team and have decided the film festival will run every two years with Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch targeted in
2006. In the spirit of film industry exchange, NZ films will be showcased in Korea every alternate year starting next
year.
The long term trade relationship between NZ and Korea is now firmly being taken to another level thanks to the vision of
people who not only desire for better relations between the cultures but also unselfish people who’ve sacrificed
hundreds of hours to bring to all the peoples of NZ, cinema that’s gaining popularity in leaps and bounds all over the
world.
The Korean Film Festival website is: http://www.NZKFF.com The list of films are: TaeGukki (aka Brotherhood of War), Failan, My Sassy girl, Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, The Spirit
of Jeet Kun Do (aka Once Upon a Time in High School), Untold Scandal, Double agent, No Blood No Tears, The Classic, My
wife is a Gangster, Dance with the Wind and The Phone.