Twelve North Korean defectors tell their stories

American director’s documentary film shows brutal suffering of N. Korean civilians and refugeesThese 12 stories are hard to believe, heartbreaking and horrifying. American director N.C. Heikin’s documentary, “Kimjongilia” is a piece of cinematic work devoted to telling the stories of survivors of North Korea and its regime. The movie’s title, “Kimjongilia,” refers to a hybrid red begonia that was

June 13, 2011

Box office

Poongsan Dog (Korea)Opening June 23Drama. Directed by Jeon Jae-hong. A young man named Poongsan (Yoon Gye-sang) crosses the border between South and North Korea to deliver goods requested by members of the two Koreas’ separated families. One day, he receives a secret request by the South Korean government to safely bring In-ok (Kim Gyoo-ri), the lover of a high-ranking North Korean defector, to Se

June 10, 2011

J.J. Abrams teams with his childhood hero, Steven Spielberg

There are plenty of stories with Hollywood endings ― this is one with a Hollywood beginning.A new J.J. Abrams film called “Super 8” reaches theaters Friday with a coming-of-age story about young, amateur filmmakers who film a spidery space alien on the loose in Ohio during summer 1979. For people who know the 44-year-old Abrams, that plot seems only slightly more fantastic than the real-life, thre

June 10, 2011

Buddhist star Richard Gere...to visit Korea for Templestay

American actor Richard Gere will visit South Korea later this month to experience traditional Korean Buddhist temples, the country’s largest Buddhist sect said Wednesday.Gere, a practicing Buddhist, will come to Korea on June 20, in time for his photography exhibition titled “Pilgrim,” featuring photos of Tibet, the Jogye Order said. He will have a meeting with Venerable Jaseung, head of the Jogye

June 9, 2011

‘Moby Dick’ a well-made conspiracy flick

Director says film inspired by a true case from 1990 adds new genre to Korean cinemaBack in 1990, a private named Yoon Seok-yang, who had been serving in the Defense Security Command of Korea’s Armed Forces, ran away from his camp with a floppy disk. The disk had a list of the country’s big figures, including former presidents, religious leaders, politicians, and social activists that the DSC had

June 6, 2011

Box office

White: The Melody of the Curse (Korea)Opening June 9Horror. Directed by Kim Gok and Kim Sun. Pink Dolls, an unpopular girl group, gets a sudden taste of stardom after releasing their new single, “White.” The piece is a version of a song that has never been released by any singer before. As the group becomes even more popular, each member tries to be selected as lead vocalist. Meanwhile, Eun-joo (H

June 3, 2011

Mexico’s crime groups grabbing lucrative market for pirated goods

Marcelo Ramirez watches over a stall piled with pirated movies and music outside a busy Metro stop flanking the capital’s elegant Reforma Avenue. For him, buying and selling pirated goods is a way of life.“There are no good jobs,” he said while customers browse the discs, each with a makeshift cover slipped inside a cellophane envelope. “If people could make a good living there wouldn’t be piracy.

June 3, 2011

USC’s new animation center takes it to a new degree

LOS ANGELES ― Jeffrey Katzenberg was visiting the University of Southern California recently when a faculty member stopped to chat with him. As the two parted ways, the DreamWorks Animation chief urged him: “Just keep sending me magicians.”The magicians Katzenberg seeks are animators, in high demand as the art form has exploded not only in movies and video games but also arenas such as medical res

June 1, 2011

‘Winter Butterfly’ tells poignant tale of suffering in N.K.

Defector makes first movie based on his early life in N. KoreaWhen he was growing up, death was not shocking but ordinary. He saw dead bodies in the street, people being executed in public, and people dying of hunger.North Korean defector Kim Gyoo-min, who has been living in South Korea since 2001, is debuting as a film director with “Winter Butterfly.”Based on a true tragic incident that Kim had

June 1, 2011

Lee C.H., Kim S.R. to promote Seoul International Youth Film Fest

Actor Lee Chun-hee and child actress Kim Sae-ron have been appointed as promotional ambassadors for the 13th Seoul International Youth Film Festival, which begins July 7.The festival has been a venue for youngsters to share their culture through films and media education since 1999. This year, a total of 143 films from 37 countries, featuring stories of youth, children and growing up will be scree

June 1, 2011

Korean actor Kwon Sang-woo eyes Chinese film career

SHENZHEN (AP) ― After building a name for himself in the South Korean film and TV industries, Kwon Sang-woo is setting his sights on another booming Asian entertainment market ― China.The 34-year-old actor is shooting a Chinese-language romance alongside Hong Kong actress Cecilia Cheung and will next join the Jackie Chan project “Chinese Zodiac.”Kwon, who shot to fame with the 2003 TV drama “Stair

May 29, 2011

BOX OFFICE

Mama (Korea)Opening June 1Drama. Directed by Choi Ik-hwan. Featuring the stories of three different mothers and their children, director Choi Ik-hwan’s “Mama” tells what mothers mean to the traditional and contemporary Korean mentality. Hyung-seok, a 5-year-old boy who suffers from a fatal heart disease, lives with his mom Dong-sook (Uhm Jung-hwa) alone. Being a single mother, Dong-sook works as a

May 27, 2011

Korean films chase 21st-century American dream

Quality proven but without vital connections, Korean films struggle to crack HollywoodLOS ANGELES ― Cinema 2 of CGV in Los Angeles, U.S., was a full house on the night of the sneak preview of the South Korean movie “Late Autumn” this month. The English-speaking audience, about 70 percent of whom had Asian features, laughed and sniffled their way through the two-hour movie starring Korean heartthro

May 26, 2011

Huppert shows unknown sides in Seoul

Award-winning French actress in town promoting new movie and photography exhibitionFrance’s star actress Isabelle Huppert showed up on Thursday at The Museum of Photography, Seoul in Bangi-dong, eastern Seoul, decked in a dark brown dress and a black leather jacket, flashing the cool “French chic” smile at the press crowded to see her. “This is my second time here since I visited the 1998 Busan In

May 26, 2011

No laughs for female directors

Fewer women making R-rated comedies than 15-20 years agoIn corporate America, it’s no longer a surprise to see a woman running a giant company like eBay or Hewlett-Packard. But in Hollywood, where actresses have far shorter careers than actors do, and male stars are paid far more than leading ladies, there are still mountains to climb. That’s especially true in the comedy world, which is dominated

May 24, 2011

Malick's 'Tree of Life' wins top Cannes fest honor

Bill Pohlad (L) and Dede Gardner, producers of the American film "The Tree of Life", present the Palme d'Or in Cannes, France, May 22, 2011. The film by American director Terrence Malick has won the 2011 Golden Palm (Palme d'Or), the most prestigious award of the 64th Cannes International Film Festival ending on Sunday night. (Xinhua-Yonhap News)CANNES, France (AP) _ American director Terrence Mal

May 23, 2011