Chinese writer Lu Xin’s 1921 novella “The True Story of Ah Q” is being staged as a contemporary dance piece by Korea’s state-run troupe this winter.Choreographed by local artist Hong Sung-yop, “Ah Q” was premiered by Hong’s own, private troupe at LG Arts Center in 2006. It has been made into a new version for the upcoming show, after going through changes and script revisions. Hong has been serving as the artistic director of the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company since 2010. One of the l

Performance Dec. 18, 2012

Since her debut in 2000, actress Son Ye-jin’s forte has been romantic dramas.Though she’s done a few comedies (“The Art of Seduction,” “My Wife Got Married”) and a thriller (“White Night”), some of her most memorable roles are still the beautiful-yet-tragic heroines of her box-office-hit tearjerkers. She was the innocent high-school girl whose first love is destroyed by war in her 2003 film “Classic.” In her 2004 tearjerker “A Moment to Remember,” she played a young, happily married wife who get

Film Dec. 17, 2012

Lana and Andy Wachowski and Tom Tykwer’s much-anticipated $102 million sci-fi film was finally unveiled to the local press in Seoul last week, featuring Korean actress Bae Doo-na as part of its star-studded ensemble.The Wachowskis (“The Matrix,” “V for Vendetta”) and Tykwer (“Perfume: The Story of a Murderer”) met with the local press on Thursday, along with Bae and English actor Jim Sturgess, and shared their experience of making “Cloud Atlas,” the most expensive independent movie of all time.T

Film Dec. 16, 2012

If you haven’t booked your Christmas holiday yet, and you want to spend it with your family, Singapore’s integrated resorts could be the ideal choice. From Marina Bay Sands’ famous infinity swimming pool to Resorts World Sentosa’s Universal Studios and Marine Life Park, the casino-based vacation resorts offer something for everyone regardless of their age.Among the two, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) recently celebrated its grand opening. The $4.93 billion resort is developed by Malaysian conglomer

Travel Dec. 14, 2012

TORONTO ― Accepting Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln is no stretch. His filmography is thick with serious work, and the actor drips gravitas and immersive artistic commitment befitting a towering historical role. But few knew what to expect when “Hyde Park on Hudson” producer-director Roger Michell (“Notting Hill”) cast Bill Murray as Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Murray’s resume is stronger on off-handed, wiseguy roles than drama. Yet Michell insisted that no other actor could lead his film. Mi

Film Dec. 14, 2012

Inventing the Christmas TreeBy Bernd Brunner, translated by Benjamin A. Smith(Yale University Press)If you’ve just returned from a tree lot and plan to pull out boxes of decorations this afternoon, you may find it hard to imagine that Christmas trees took well into the 19th century to be widely accepted in the United States.“In a sense,” writes scholar Bernd Brunner in his compact cultural history of the holiday icon, “the Americanization of the ‘German’ Christmas tree runs parallel to the Ameri

Books Dec. 13, 2012

Cross RoadsBy Wm. Paul Young(FaithWords)Paul Young isn’t insulted at the suggestion that the lead character in “Cross Roads” has a dark soul.To the contrary, the author of “The Shack” chuckles with delight.“Thank you,” he said. “That is a compliment. ... I’m a writer that likes to explore questions, and one of my questions is: ‘How does grace or transformation get into the heart of someone who is really lost? Who’s really isolated themselves from relationships?’”Anthony Spencer’s desolation is c

Books Dec. 13, 2012

Korea’s Culture Ministry recently published two English-language books, one about Korean sports and the other about local fashion, as the newest additions to its “K-series,” a book series featuring Korean culture.“K-Fashion: Wearing a New Future” and “K-Sports: A New Breed of Rising Champions” are published by Korea Culture and Information Service, an affiliate of the Culture Ministry.Among the two, “K-Fashion” is written by Kim Hong-ki, who works as a fashion curator and a journalist. He has sp

Books Dec. 13, 2012

Korea’s celebrated writer Seong Seok-je recently published the first love-themed novel of his literary career.The 52-year-old has previously written on love and intimacy in his short stories, including the famous coming-of-age tale “First Love,” but this is his first full-length novel delving into the subject.Titled “One and Only,” the book tells the story of Se-gil, a young boy who falls for fellow student Min-hyeon ― whom he runs into during their entrance ceremony to elementary school. From t

Books Dec. 13, 2012

It’s been 30 years since Alfred Hitchcock died, and more than 50 years since his most famous film ― “Psycho.” So while his name, reputation and image remain in the public consciousness, generations have grown up not knowing much more than that about him.And if casual film fans don’t know Sir Alfred well, they certainly know even less about his wife, Alma Reville. His one-time boss, his editor, confidante and sounding board, Alma steps into the spotlight in the glamorous form of Dame Helen Mirren

Film Nov. 30, 2012

Inventor, painter, designer ― Leonardo Da Vinci was a brilliant man. This undeniable fact is borne out by his drawings, his notebooks, his paintings, and one fresco in particular ― The Last Supper in the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.But, according to Ross King, it wasn’t a job Da Vinci wanted.In “Leonardo and The Last Supper,” King gives you a portrait of the times behind Da Vinci, and the politics and decisions that went into the creation of the painting.Renais

Books Nov. 29, 2012

“In the House of the Interpreter,” the new memoir by the celebrated African writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o, takes us to the hopeful and turbulent world of 1950s Kenya. And it begins with a startling image.Ngugi is a teenager, returning home from his prestigious boarding school. He’s finished his first term at the top of his class and is still wearing his khaki school uniform and blue tie. Carrying his belongings in a wooden box, he reaches the ridge where his village should come into view. But it’s n

Books Nov. 29, 2012

Homespun movie “Juvenile Offender” has been invited to a total of four international film festivals, after being previously featured at three film fests overseas, its local production house announced on Monday.A socially conscious tale about a troubled teen and his mother, the film by director Kang Yi-kwan has been previously featured at the Toronto International Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival and Taipei International Film Festival. Actor Seo Young-ju won best actor at Tokyo In

Film Nov. 26, 2012

Thanks to their popularity online, many webtoons, especially the works of Kang Full, have been made into movies. From political drama to murder thriller, these movies show off diverse genre and style. One of the most anticipated films this month, “26 Years,” is based on Kang’s 2006 work of the same title. The film tells the story of five ordinary people who together make a plan to assassinate the former president Chun Doo-hwan, for the massacre of innocent civilians while crushing a pro-democrac

Film Nov. 23, 2012

Dance“Swan Lake”: Following Russia’s Mariinsky Ballet’s performance in November, Seoulites are getting another chance to see the Tchaikovsky classic “Swan Lake” ― this time staged by the Korea National Ballet. The famous ballet tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse. She tries to break the curse with her love interest prince Siegfried, but fails as the prince gets tricked by the magician. For the upcoming show, Korea National Ballet is performing a v

Performance Nov. 23, 2012