Director Lee defends pace of Berlin’s sole Asian entry

BERLIN (AFP) ― The sole Asian contender for the Berlin film festival’s Golden Bear top prize, minimalist South Korean breakup drama “Come Rain, Come Shine,” met with jeers from critics Thursday.It tells the story of a woman who announces to her husband she is leaving him but, before she goes, spends one last day with him in their home ― an experience that fills them both with longing and regret.“S

Feb. 18, 2011

Events Calendar

Exhibitions“Delpire & Cie”: Though the name might not immediately ring any bells, unlike with other Magnum members, Robert Delpire is a powerful figure without whom photographic history cannot be properly discussed. The 82-year-old photographer, publisher and director of exhibitions, films and campaigns has a lot of clout over not only his fellow photographers but also in other cultural realms. Th

Feb. 18, 2011

Box office

Come Rain, Come Shine (Korea)Opening Mar. 3Drama. Directed by Lee Yoon-ki. A woman (Im Soo-jeong), who has been married for five years, one day tells her husband she wants to leave him for another man. The husband (Hyun Bin), an introvert who rarely speaks his mind, does not ask her why. On the day she moves out, he makes coffee and wraps her favorite teacup so she can take it with her. The film f

Feb. 18, 2011

He-men of a certain age contend with young rivals

This summer, 68-year-old Harrison Ford will be mixing it up with Old West-invading extraterrestrials in “Cowboys & Aliens.” Next month, 67-year-old Robert De Niro will star in the action thriller “Limitless.” When “The Expendables II” opens in 2012, the combined age of its top five prospective stars, God willing, will be 291 years.The landscape of recent motion pictures, in particular Manly Movies

Feb. 18, 2011

Court rules in favor of JYJ in a dispute with SM Entertainment

JYJ, a pop trio consisting of members from one of Asia’s favorite groups, “Dong Bang Shin Ki,” has won its legal battle to work independently from its management company.When three members of the quintet, namely Kim Jaejoong, Park Yoochun, and Kim Junsu (more commonly known as Hero, Micky and Xia), formed JYJ, SM Entertainment claimed the action was a breach of contract. JYJ members Kim Jun-su (le

Feb. 18, 2011

Rod Stewart becomes father for 8th time

LONDON (AP) _ Rocker Rod Stewart has become a father for the eighth time.The 66-year-old Stewart's wife, Penny Lancaster, gave birth to a baby boy Wednesday. British singer Rod Stewart, right, and his wife Penny Lancaster (AP)A statement released Thursday on the couple's behalf said they were ``proud and thrilled.''Aiden is Stewart and Lancaster's second child. They have another son, Alastair, who

Feb. 18, 2011

Opera Gallery unveils limited editions

Rarely publicized artworks by world renowned artists are on display at the “Limited Edition” exhibition currently running at Opera Gallery Seoul in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul. Opera Gallery is a leading gallery chain which first opened in Singapore in 1994. It has 11 branches all over the world, including its head office in Paris. The Seoul branch’s first exhibition of this year introduces ove

Feb. 17, 2011

Computer creams ‘Jeopardy!’ champs

CHICAGO (AFP) ― An IBM computer creamed two human champions on the popular U.S. television game show “Jeopardy!” Wednesday in a triumph of artificial intelligence.“I for one welcome our new computer overlords,” contestant Ken Jennings ― who holds the “Jeopardy!” record of 74 straight wins ― cheekily wrote on his answer screen at the conclusion of the much-hyped three-day showdown.“Watson” ― named

Feb. 17, 2011

Iranian drama cheered at Berlin fest

BERLIN (AFP) ― A warmly applauded Iranian drama emerged Tuesday as a front-runner at the Berlin film festival, which is throwing the spotlight on the country’s embattled film-makers.“Nader and Simin: A Separation” by Asghar Farhadi, who won a best director prize for his haunting film “About Elly” at the 2009 festival, brings another fascinating portrait of contemporary Iranian urbanites to the scr

Feb. 16, 2011

Korean musicals need time for sophistication

Broadway expert lauds Korean talents as ‘exceptional’ on world stageA veteran U.S. musical director has said Seoul’s musical scene boasts a many more talented musical actors than Broadway but lacks the time necessary to perfect technical elements to make the product more sophisticated.Robert Johanson is in Seoul to direct the musical “Monte Cristo” for the second consecutive year. The show is to r

Feb. 15, 2011

Classical music stars enliven Busan this week

Pianist Sergei Babayan to lead rich list of musiciansInternational and Korea-based classical musicians will put the spotlight on Busan this week, as they gather in the southeastern port city of Korea to hold eight different concerts.The 6th Busan International Music Festival kicked off Sunday at the Paradise Hotel with a chamber concert. The week-long event runs through Feb. 20 at the Busan Cultur

Feb. 14, 2011

More fun, visually pleasing exhibitions to come: Kim

Kim Young-na, the newly appointed director-general of the National Museum of Korea, would like to launch exhibitions that are more “fun and visually pleasing.” “(The) museum is the place where you exhibit the visual image (of the relics and art pieces),” the director told reporters at a press meeting held in Seoul on Monday. “Of course our research (of the exhibiting items) is important. But how w

Feb. 14, 2011

Documentary ‘The Last Tundra’ shows culture’s respect for nature

They follow the stars and the moon when they travel, melt gigantic pieces of ice for drinking water, and use natural moss for baby diapers and dish washing ― all in minus-50 degree weather.SBS documentary “The Last Tundra ― Movie Edition” offers a very rare glimpse into the life of the Nenets, the last reindeer herding nomads living in Siberian tundra. Through a yearly migration of more than a tho

Feb. 13, 2011

China, U.S. museum resolve dispute over exhibit

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ― A museum said Friday that its exhibit on the Silk Road, including a pair of ancient mummies, will go on after it resolved a dispute with the Chinese government that led to a pared-down event with fake mummies and life-sized photos of the artifacts.The exhibit will reopen Feb. 18 with a full complement of mummies and more ancient artifacts from the Tarim Basin in the autonomous

Feb. 13, 2011

Yale, Peru university sign deal on Incan artifacts

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut (AP) ― Yale University announced Friday that it will send back to Peru thousands of Incan artifacts removed from the famed Machu Picchu citadel nearly a century ago.The agreement allowing for the return of the ceramic pieces, animal and human bones, and metal and stone objects came after Yale and Peru officials announced in November that they had resolved a long-running disp

Feb. 13, 2011

Jagger, Dylan to join rising stars at Grammys

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan and Barbra Streisand join rising stars and seasoned chart-toppers Sunday at the music industry’s annual Grammys awards bash.Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and teen sensation Justin Bieber are also on a star-studded roster of performers at the show in Los Angeles, where rapper Eminem hopes to seal a comeback year with a brace of awards.While showcasing new talent,

Feb. 13, 2011

Liz Taylor treated for congestive heart failure

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Elizabeth Taylor remained in a Los Angeles hospital on Saturday for treatment of congestive heart failure. Oscar-winning actress Elizabeth Taylor remained in a Los Angeles hospital on Saturday for treatment of congestive heart failure. (AP)The Oscar-winning actress' condition was unchanged, her spokeswoman Sally Morrison said early Saturday afternoon. She did not know how long T

Feb. 13, 2011