[Herald Interview] Actor Go Soo still unsure after 20 years

With chiseled features and deep dark eyes, Go Soo has earned himself the nickname “the statue of David” among Korean fans -- but his identity as an actor has been less defined. Now nearing 20 years since his debut, the actor had a busy but less-than-noticeable 2016, starring in the TV period drama “The Flower in the Prison” as a mysterious tradesman and making a brief appearance in the film “The Age of Shadows.”　Actor Go Soo (Young Hwa In)Go returns to the big screen as the lost, confused, tired

Feb. 19, 2017

Kim Min-hee notches best actress at Berlin film fest

Kim Min-hee has become the first South Korea actress to win the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival.Kim won the award for her role in the upcoming movie “On the Beach at Night Alone” which is directed by Hong Sang-soo.“Today, I was presented with a joy that shines like the bright stars...For some, I believe that this movie can bring emotions deep within their hearts,” she said. Kim Min-hee poses with the trophy for the best actress award at the 67th Berlin Inte

Feb. 19, 2017

Kim Min-hee wins best actress in Berlin film fest 2017

South Korea's Kim Min-hee has won best actress at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival for a film exploring the meaning of love through unconventional relationships.She took home the Silver Bear for Best Actress on Saturday for "On the Beach at Night Alone," beating tough competition from 17 other films. She became the first Korean to clinch the honor at the Berlinale.In the film, she plays the role of Young-hee, an actress pondering her relationship with a married movie director while dr

Feb. 19, 2017

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

New Trial(Korea)Opened Feb. 15Crime, thriller. Directed by Kim Tae-yunBased on a true story, the film traces Hyun-woo (Kang Ha-neul), who is framed after being the sole witness of a murder, due to the lackluster and overly aggressive investigation conducted by the police. Hyun-woo subsequently spends a decade in imprisonment. Lawyer Joon-young (Jung Woo) finds out about the case, and decides to uncover the truth.Fabricted City(Korea)Opened Feb. 9Thriller, science fiction. Directed by Park Kwang-

Feb. 17, 2017

'Fabricated City' to open in N. America

This image provided by CJ Entertainment shows the official poster for "Fabricated City." (Yonhap)The release of the Korean action film "Fabricated City" in seven North American cities will begin this week, its regional distributor said on Thursday. The movie is set to open in Los Angeles and Buena Park, California, on Friday and New Jersey, Dallas, Honolulu, Vancouver and Toronto a week later, CJ Entertainment America said.The latest by "Welcome to Dongmakgol" director Park Kwang-hyun, "Fabricat

Feb. 17, 2017

[Movie Review] ‘The Red Turtle’ is a masterpiece

You don’t need words to create poetry. Without spoken dialogue, the Oscar-nominated “The Red Turtle,” a richly imagined French-Belgian animated drama created with the skillful assistance of Japan’s virtuoso anime enterprise Studio Ghibli, tells an emotionally deep, thematically rich story.Kids and families are all but guaranteed to return home from the theater profoundly touched. And even moody souls whose hearts are three sizes too small must confess that animated films this spellbindingly beau

Feb. 17, 2017

[Movie Review] Glutton for punishment? Then see ‘50 Shades Darker’

In all the kinked knots and twists of satin that adorn “Fifty Shades Darker,” none is more worthwhile to uncoil than the tangled absurdities of its central dominator, Christian Grey.He’s a singularly ridiculous cocktail of money, abs and sex toys. “The right term is sadist,” he says in “Fifty Shades Darker,” the second in a planned trilogy based on E.L. James’ best sellers. He buys companies. He flies helicopters. He’s proficient with nipple clamps. He’s like some kind of humorless combination o

Feb. 17, 2017

Hong Sang-soo admits recent film about affair reflects reality at Berlin Film Fest

Director Hong Sang-soo and actress Kim Min-hee attended the Berlin International Film Festival together on Thursday, marking their first public appearance together since reports of their extramarital affair surfaced last June.The two spoke at a press conference that followed the press screening of their latest film “On the Beach at Night Alone,” helmed and penned by Hong. It is the only Korean film competing in the main competition category of the film fest’s 67th edition.“On the Beach at Night

Feb. 17, 2017

Director Hong Sang-soo attends Berlin film fest with actress Kim Min-hee

Award-winning Korean filmmaker Hong Sang-soo attended the Berlin International Film Festival together with actress Kim Min-hee on Thursday to promote their latest film nominated in the main competition category. Filmmaker Hong Sang-soo (left) and actress Kim Min-hee attend a press conference held at Berlin Internationl Film Festival on Thursday. (Yonhap)It was their first public appearance after media reports of their extramarital relationship emerged last June. Neither of them have officially c

Feb. 16, 2017

‘The Handmaiden’ stays strong in North America

Director Park Chan-wook’s “The Handmaiden” has surpassed $2 million in ticket sales as of Sunday, according to Box Office Mojo, a ticket sales chart operated by IMDB. The film ranked 65th on the Box Office Mojo list, despite opening at just five theaters in the US in October last year. By the fourth week of its run, “The Handmaiden” was being screened at 123 theaters, gaining moderate popularity. “The Handmaiden” (CJ Entertainment)The acclaimed Korean director has previously showcased works in N

Feb. 16, 2017

Kim Yun-jin, Ok Taec-yeon to star in mystery thriller

Hollywood actress Kim Yun-jin is returning to the big screen in Korea with mystery-thriller “House Above Time,” starring alongside Ok Taec-yeon, as he makes his film debut.The film has been confirmed for an April release. It traces the story of Mi-hee, played by Kim, a housewife whose husband is killed and son goes missing. She returns to her home after 25 years in prison.  Poster for “House Above Time” (Peppermint & Company)The film aims to create tension inside the setting of the house.Kim, 43

Feb. 16, 2017

Ha Jung-woo debuts as producer in ‘Single Rider’

Ha Jung-woo has been credited as a movie producer for the upcoming film “Single Rider,” expanding the scope of his fame beyond being one of the most influential actors in Korea.It marks the first time the 38-year-old actor has produced a movie, despite having acted in and directed multiple flicks during the course of his career. Ha Jung-woo (Yonhap)“This is the first feature-length flick of the Perfect Storm Film -- which produced the movie -- and as Ha is involved in the company, he came to par

Feb. 16, 2017

Isabelle Huppert: ‘I’m not an artist, I’m the canvas’

She’s made more than 100 films over 45 years, not to mention her frequent stage work, and is recognized as not only one of the best actresses to come out of France, but as one of the leading actresses in the world.And yet, Isabelle Huppert won’t call herself an artist.“No,” she said in an interview, quickly brushing off the title. “I don’t think actors are artists. We use that word too much. I am an interpreter -- someone’s universe is being expressed through me.”OK, so are you the paintbrush?Sh

Feb. 16, 2017

‘New Trial’ tops box office on release day

The crime drama film “New Trial,” released Wednesday, is quickly rising to the top of the box office. It topped the box office on the day of its release, according to the Korean Film Council.Directed by Kim Tae-yun and starring Jung Woo and Kang Ha-neul, the film traces a man who is framed and imprisoned for 10 years after witnessing a murder. Kang plays the framed man, while Jung plays a lawyer who is intent on uncovering the truth.“New Trial” is based on the true story of the murder of a taxi

Feb. 16, 2017

Im Si-wan’s new movie to open in March

The upcoming film “One Line” starring In Si-wan and Jin Goo has been confirmed for a March release, the film’s distributor Next Entertainment World said Wednesday. NEW released a poster for the film, announcing it will hit local theaters near the end of March. The film is a crime thriller that tells the story of an ordinary university student, Min-jae, who joins a team of veteran scammers to steal money from a bank. Im will play Min-jae, the handsome student who is naturally skilled at the art o

Feb. 15, 2017

In new local film, inmates sneak out of prison to commit crimes

(Yonhap)Prison is where those convicted of breaking the law are forcibly confined. But what if they could freely move in and out of their cells to the outside world to commit crimes?The new Korean crime thriller "The Prison," coming out next month, is based on this premise."The idea abruptly sprang into my mind," its director Na Hyun said during a news conference for film at a cinema in southern Seoul on Tuesday. "I then began writing a draft of the screenplay, asking myself that if a prime susp

Feb. 14, 2017

Bong Joon-ho’s son makes directorial debut

Acclaimed director Bong Joon-ho’s son Hyo-min has made his directorial debut with the short film “Wedding” aired on Feb. 5 on cable channel JTBC2, local entertainment outlet Star News reported Monday.About 15 minutes long, it is the fourth in an ongoing film project titled “Directors TV Web Movie” led by YGKPlus, a modeling and acting agency arm of the entertainment behemoth YG Entertainment. “Wedding” features actor Son Ho-joon as its lead character Ji-hwan, a deaf man who attends an old high s

Feb. 14, 2017