My Barefoot Friend (Korea)
 
Opening Dec. 15

Documentary. Directed by Lee Seong-gyou. Shalim is one of the 10,000 rickshaw workers who taxi people around barefoot in Calcutta, India. The 50-year-old man’s dream is to buy a motorized rickshaw and make more money to support his family better. He works alone in Calcutta, through the merciless traffic in the overcrowded streets, while the rest of his family live in the countryside with the money Shalim sends every month. When his wife becomes severely ill, Shalim is faced with harsh reality of having to spend his hard-earned money on her treatment. The Indian government is trying to forbid his profession altogether, banning of rickshaws on the streets of Calcutta.

50/50 (U.S.)

Opened Nov. 24

Comedy. Drama. Directed by Jonathan Levine. Radio script writer Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has nothing to worry about. Life is good for the 27-year-old, who is more than happy with his job as well as his talented artist girlfriend. Everything changes, however, when he finds out he has a rare, fatal spinal cancer. Soon after he starts chemotherapy, his girlfriend decides not to stay with him. As Adam sinks into despair, his ever-optimistic friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) and young female therapist Katherine (Anna Kendrick) try their best to help him deal with his ordeal.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (U.S.)

Opened Nov. 30

Fantasy. Romance. Directed by Bill Condon. Newly married Bella (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) go off on their honeymoon to a private island off the coast of Brazil. While enjoying herself with her husband, Bella realizes she may be pregnant with a half-vampire baby. As Bella gets confirmation that she is actually pregnant, the couple immediately leaves the island and returns to their home. Worried that the baby, which has some supernatural powers, could hurt Bella even before it is born, Edward suggests terminating the pregnancy.

Chilling Romance (Korea)

Opened Dec. 1

Romance. Directed by Hwang In-ho. Yeo-ri (Son Ye-jin), who has the unusual ability to see ghosts, has never dated in her life and lives in seclusion. One day she is approached by Jo-goo (Lee Min-ki), a struggling magician who has a huge crush on her. While Yeo-ri is used to being surrounded by ghosts all the time, Jo-goo feels threatened by them. And even though he constantly feels his life is in danger, he cannot give up on Yeo-ri.

Tokyo Oasis (Japan)

Opened Dec. 1

Drama. Directed by Kana Matsumoto. Touko, (Satomi Kobayashi), an obscure actress, leaves the film set of her latest project on a whim. Without any plans in mind, she begins to wander the streets of Tokyo, and comes across three random people. Right after leaving the set, she is offered a ride by a driver named Nagano. At a small theater venue, she chats with former screen writer Kikuchi. At the zoo, she runs into Yasuko, a young woman who has failed to get into an art school despite five attempts.

White Jungle (Korea)

Opened Dec. 1

Documentary. Directed by Song Yoon-hee. Promoted as the local version of Michael Moore’s 2007 medical documentary “Sicko,” doctor-turned-filmmaker Song Yoon-hee’s 9 million won indie film offers a rare expose on Korea’s health care system. Filled with sarcasm and even kitschy satire of political figures including President Lee Myung-bak and former Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun, the movie reveals how privatized hospitals in Korea focus solely on profit-making without taking issues of welfare into account.