 The 2005 New York Korean Film Festival caught Filmbrain completely by surprise this year, and he is kicking himself for missing the Q&A sessions with Baek Yun-shik & Choi Dong-hun (star and director of The Big Swindle) and Lim Chan-sang (director of The President's Barber). Fortunately, there are still opportunities to catch the gems that the festival has to offer. The following are Filmbrain's personal picks:
The Big Swindle -- This brilliantly written heist-comedy with its multi-layered flashbacks and shifting perspectives is full of top-notch performances (including Baek Yun-shik from The President's Last Bang) and is far more interesting and entertaining than any recent Hollywood equivalent. Though this is director Choi Dong-hun's debut feature, it feels like it came from the hand of a master of the genre. Screening on Wednesday 7 September @ 6:50 PM, BAM Rose Cinemas.
The President's Barber -- A perfect companion piece to The President's Last Bang, The President's Barber tells of an ordinary man who becomes an accidental hero and winds up as barber to President Park Chung-hee. Starring the wonderful Moon So-ri (Oasis, A Good Lawyer's Wife), this political satire is at times reminiscent of Being There, and, like Im Sang-soo's film on President Park, a clever and daring look at a difficult period in South Korea's history. Screening on Tuesday 6 September @ 9:00 PM, Lighthouse Theater.
Spider Forest -- A film that is often (unfairly) grouped under the K-Horror umbrella, this deliberately paced, brooding, mature, psychological drama is more akin to David Lynch than it is to the recent batch of Ring-like horror films that have come out of Korea. Creepy and emotional, this is one that Filmbrain is looking forward to seeing on the big screen. Screening on Friday 9 September @ 9:15 PM, BAM Rose Cinemas.
Complete schedule and details can be found HERE. Filmbrain hopes to see you there! |