[Herald Interview] ‘Cakemaker’ an indie cinema hit

Perhaps the biggest hit of indie cinema so far this year, German-Israeli production “The Cakemaker” opened in local theaters Thursday. The film was shown in the noncompetitive World Cinemascape section of the Jeonju International Film Festival early this month, where the movie’s main actress Sarah Adler also served on the jury. The Korea Herald sat down with writer and director Ofir Raul Grazier ahead of a screening on May 6. “I had a friend who had a double life. He had a wife, children, like a

May 24, 2018

Lee Chang-dong's 'Burning' sold to over 100 countries at Cannes

"Burning," the latest movie from award-winning South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong, has been sold  to more than 100 countries around the world, the film's local distributor said Wednesday.Producers of the mystery-thriller signed deals with  distributors from about 100 countries within two days of it  receiving its world premiere at the 71st Cannes Film Festival on  May 16 (local time), according to CGV Arthouse. Director Lee Chang-dong and the cast of "Burning" (Yonhap)The deals were made in a

May 23, 2018

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ second-most successful foreign film in Korea

Now the highest-grossing comic-based film of all time in Korea and around the world, “Avengers: Infinity War” has become the second-most successful foreign film at the Korean box office with 10.57 million tickets sold. According to data from the Korean Film Council on Sunday, the film sold 128,294 tickets on Saturday, which took it to the No. 2 spot after “Deadpool 2.” It reclaimed the spot from Lee Chang-dong’s critically acclaimed “Burning,” which won the Fipresci International Critics’ Prize

May 20, 2018

‘Burning’ gets critics’ approval with Fipresci prize at Cannes

Despite failing to win the top prize at the 71st Cannes Film Festival, Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning” was recognized with the Fipresci International Critics’ Prize for best film in the main competition.The mystery drama was considered one of the favorites to win the Palme d’Or, along with “Capernaum” by Nadine Labaki, “BlacKkKlansman” by Spike Lee and “Shoplifters” by Hirokazu Kore-eda, which took home the top prize.However, the Korean auteur’s masterful depiction of the insecurity, anxiety, pent-up

May 20, 2018

‘Shoplifters’ wins Palme d’Or, grand prize to Spike Lee

CANNES, France -- A tumultuous Cannes Film Festival concluded Saturday with the Palme d’Or awarded to Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Shoplifters,” a tender portrait of a poor, impoverished family, while Harvey Weinstein accuser Asia Argento vowed justice will come to all sexual predators.At the closing ceremony for the 71st edition of the French Riviera extravaganza, the Cate Blanchett-led jury selected one of the festival’s most acclaimed entries, one hailed as a modest masterpiece from

May 20, 2018

‘Burning’ sets record high score at Cannes jury grid

Director Lee Chang-dong’s “Burning” garnered a record high score in the Cannes Film Festival’s daily newsletter upon its jury screening. With a 3.8 average, the film has nabbed the highest score in the history of Screen’s Cannes jury grid, surpassing the previous record of 3.7 set by Maren Ade’s “Tony Erdmann” in 2016.All but two critics awarded the film the full four stars, with two giving three stars. Screen’s review described the film as “quietly devastating…a film of wondrous complexity and

May 18, 2018

Amid flag controversy, Steven Yeun will skip Korean press at Cannes

Caught in “Rising Sun” flag controversy, Korean-American actor Steven Yeun will not meet Korean press at Cannes Film Festival. The actors and the director of film “Burning” were to meet Korean media outlets in Cannes for an interview on Friday. But Yeun and fellow actress Jun Jong-seo will not be attending the event, leaving only actor Yoo Ah-in and director Lee Chang-dong at the press event. Steven Yeun in “Burning” (Pine House Film)Yeun will participate in the official press conference and an

May 16, 2018

[Herald Interview] Isabella Eklof takes no breaks in ‘Holiday’

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province -- Danish director Isabella Eklof pulls no punches with her feature film debut “Holiday,” which has been a darling of the film festival circuit, even if it is not so likely to see wide, international theatrical releases. She is determined to bring the female gaze to film, and holds a steady, anthropological eye on her subjects.“I think people like a challenging first movie, one that’s different and interesting,” Eklof told The Korea Herald on May 5, after screening

May 14, 2018

Steven Yeun’s flag controversy grows despite apology

Former “Walking Dead” star Steven Yeun has found himself neck-deep in controversy in his birthplace surrounding him “liking” an image of a disputed flag, as some called even his apology not good enough.On Friday, Yeun pressed “like” on a picture posted by Joe Lynch -- with whom he worked on 2017 flick “Mayhem” -- of him wearing a shirt with a design resembling the “Rising Sun” flag of the Empire of Japan, which carries strong negative connotations in Korea. The actor acknowledged the next day th

May 13, 2018

[Herald Review] ‘Marching for our Beloved,’ important message, ineffective delivery

May of 1980 marked one of the bloodiest and greatest moments in modern Korean history, as citizens of Gwangju rose against Chun Doo-hwan’s rule after his military coup the year before.Thirty-eight years on, plays, movies, comic books and even songs have been made to commemorate the hundreds killed and many more scarred for life. “Marching for our Beloved,” directed by Park Ki-bok, is among them. “This is not the first film about the May 18 (Gwangju Democratization Movement), but I felt we have t

May 13, 2018

'Avengers 3' tops 10 mln admissions in S. Korea

"Avengers: Infinity War" surpassed 10 million in attendance on Sunday, the 19th day since it hit South Korean theaters, its local distributor said.The latest release from Marvel Studios became the fastest foreign film to break 10 million in South Korea, according to Walt Disney Company Korea.It also became the 21st film ever to hit the milestone in the country and the fifth non-Korean film to do so, following "Avatar" (2009), "Interstellar" (2014), "Frozen" (2014) and "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (

May 13, 2018

‘The Heiresses’ wins top international prize at Jeonju film fest

The 19th Jeonju International Film Festival announced a total of 12 awards across five categories, in a closing ceremony held in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, Wednesday. The grand prize for the international competition and Korean competition went to Marcelo Martinessi’s “The Heiresses” and Jung Hyung-suk’s “The Land of Seong-hye,” respectively. Kwon Ye-ji’s “Dong-a” grabbed the grand prize in the Korean Competition for Shorts section, which saw 21 short films compete. (Jeonju IFF)“The Heiresse

May 10, 2018

Experiments, collaboration at Jeonju international film competition

JEONJU, North Jeolla Province - Out-of-focus camerawork through cracked doors, surging sounds of the ocean, bending genre and form -- this year‘s international competition at the Jeonju film fest has all the hallmarks indie cinema audiences could expect. The 19th Jeonju International Film Festival, which features 241 films showing over 10 days, sees 10 films produced in 20 different countries compete in a veritable exhibition of experimentation and collaboration.  "Distant Constellation" (JIFF)“

May 9, 2018

Gang Dong-won invited to Cannes while promoting film

Actor Gang Dong-won was seen late Tuesday on the red carpet of the 71st Cannes Film Festival.According to YG Entertainment, Gang was formally invited there as a guest while visiting the city to promote his upcoming film “Tsunami LA.” It is a disaster film set in Los Angeles, the first Hollywood flick for the 37-year-old actor.  Gang Dong-won (YG Entertainment)The agency did not comment on media reports that Gang met with French filmmakers for a potential role in a film made there.This year’s Can

May 9, 2018

'Avengers 3' becomes fastest foreign film to break 8 million admissions in S. Korea

"Avengers: Infinity War" surpassed 8 million in attendance on Sunday, the 12th day since it hit South Korean theaters, box-office trackers said.According to computerized box-office figures from the Korean Film Council, the latest release from Marvel Studios logged about 7.76 million in accumulated ticket sales as of Saturday. An additional 276,252 people viewed the movie by 9 a.m. Sunday, bringing its cumulative total to 8.03 million, its local distributor Walt Disney Company Korea said.In this

May 6, 2018

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Champion(Korea)Opened May 1Comedy, Drama Directed by Kim Yong-wanMark (Ma Dong-seok) is a Korean-American adoptee working as a bouncer, but with a dream of becoming an arm-wrestling champion. Jin-Ki (Kwon Yool), a promoter dreaming of turning his life around through Mark, invites Mark to his birthplace for an arm-wrestling tournament.Avengers: Infinity War(US)Opened April 25Action, Adventure, FantasyDirected by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Thanos (Josh Brolin) wants collect all of the Infinity Stone

May 4, 2018

‘Burning’ is story about youths that speaks with the heart

Watching a Lee Chang-dong movie is not exactly a “kick back and relax” type of experience, as the director challenges viewers by posing questions as a form of communication, inviting them to ponder relevant issues in modern society like one of ethics.“Burning,” starring Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun and rookie actress Jeon Jong-seo, is a mystery drama film that in itself is shrouded in mystery. In a press conference held before heading to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival -- where the film will compete for

May 4, 2018

Family drama ‘Yakiniku Dragon’ kicks off JIFF

The Jeonju International Film Festival officially kicked off Thursday, with a Japanese-Korean director’s heartwarming family drama “Yakiniku Dragon.” Chong Wishing’s film, set in the Kansai region of Japan between 1969-1971, is about Koreans Yong-gil and Young-soon -- played by Kim Sang-ho and Lee Jung-eun -- who run a tiny barbecue joint in an impoverished town near an airport. Their daughters Shizuka, Rika and Mika, and son Tokio-- played by Yoko Maki , Mao Inoue, Nanami Sakuraba and Ooe Shinp

May 3, 2018

Through her eyes

Seoul International Women’s Film Festival shines light on gender issues through women-led filmsThis year’s annual film festival of movies made by women, about women and for women will seek to touch on gender-related social issues prominent across Korean society today.Organizers of the 20th Seoul International Women’s Film Festival held a press conference Wednesday to introduce films to be shown at the event, while announcing that this year’s topic will be digital sexual violence, the #MeToo move

May 2, 2018

[Video] Ryan Reynolds visits Korea for ‘Deadpool 2’

The wisecracking mercenary superhero Deadpool is not too different from Ryan Reynolds, said the actor who plays the character at a press conference in Seoul Wednesday.The actor visited Korea to promote “Deadpool 2,” the sequel to the Marvel superhero film “Deadpool” released in 2016. The second installment is set for a world premiere in Korean theaters on May 16. “I would say we‘re a pretty close match,” Reynolds told reporters of his character at a hotel in central Seoul. “The only difference,

May 2, 2018