Foulball (Korea)


Opening April. 2
Documentary. Directed by Cho Jung-rae, Kim Bo-kyeong

This 87-minute documentary follows the baseball team the Goyang Wonders, South Korea’s first independent club with no league affiliation, and Kim Sung-keun, a former manager of the team and the current manager of the Hanwha Eagles. In 2011, celebrated director Kim helmed a team consisting of baseball players who were undrafted high school and college graduates or were released from other professional teams, offering them them a chance to continue their careers. Actor Cho Jin-woong takes on the narration.



Twenty (Korea)


Opening March 25
Comedy. Directed by Lee Byung-hun

This coming-of-age film centers on three close friends who are all turning 20 years old. Chi-ho (Kim Woo-bin) is jobless and has no specific plans in life, but is very popular around girls, while Dong-woo (Lee Jun-ho) dreams of becoming a comic artist. Kyung-jae (Kang Ha-neul) is smart concerning his schoolwork, but not so much when it comes to relationships.



Whiplash (U.S.)


Opened March 12
Drama. Directed by Damien Chazelle

Based on the director’s real experience in his high school band, “Whiplash” is a story of a promising young drummer Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), who enrolls at a prestigious music conservatory, aspiring to become one of the greatest drummers in the country. It is at the school where he meets the tyrannical jazz band conductor Terence Fletcher, played by J.K. Simmons, who won the oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role. Fletcher sees potential in Neiman and pushes him to excel.



Empire of Lust (Korea)


Opened March 5
Drama. Directed by Ahn Sang-hoon

Set at the beginning of the Joseon era, “Empire of Lust” illustrates the ill-fated love between a fearless general, Kim Min-jae (Shin Ha-kyun), and a courtesan named Ka-hee (Kang Han-na) — who at first approaches Min-jae to take revenge but ends up falling in love with him. Actor Jang Hyuk plays Minjae’s political rival Lee Bang-won, a well-known historic figure whose ascension to the throne was established through bloody coups against his potential rivals and enemies, including his own siblings. The film has been called the Korean version of Ang Lee’s “Lust, Caution” for its complex romantic plot and explicit sexuality.





Kingsman: The Secret Service (U.K., U.S.)


Opened Feb. 11
Action, Thriller. Directed by Matthew Vaughn

Based on Mark Millar’s eponymous comic book, the film centers on veteran secret agent Harry Hart (Colin Firth), who selects a young, troubled protege, Eggsy (Taron Egerton), to join his secret organization Kingsman and gives him a chance to become a spy. Samuel L. Jackson stars as the villain Mr. Valentine, who has a scheme to overthrow the world using SIM cards.