[New on the Scene] For Choi Seung-yoon, ‘Riceboy Sleeps’ is about strength of mothers

There are many stories and films that depict the lives of immigrants, struggling to adapt to family life in a new country with an uncooperative child. Canadian actor and filmmaker Anthony Shim’s “Riceboy Sleeps” (2022) is about So-young, a single mother from Korea who settles in the suburbs of Canada in the 1990s with her son, Dong-hyun. Soon after the film's March 17 release in Canada, it swept the global film awards, with the actors and director being invited to numerous

April 17, 2023

[Herald Review] ‘Killing Romance,’ a stress-relieving piece with kitschy comedy and nonsensical characters

Director Lee Won-seok’s upcoming fantasy comedy “Killing Romance” revolves around three characters -- chaebol scion Jonathan Na (Lee Sun-kyun), former superstar Hwang Yeo-rae (Lee Ha-nee) and long-time test taker Beom-woo (Gong Myung). The plot starts with Yeo-rae abandoning her actor career after receiving critical reviews for her bad acting. She leaves Korea to go on vacation and lands in Quala Island, where Na is waiting to save her life -- and her heart. The couple ties the

April 15, 2023

Jung Kyung-ho, Jo Woo-jin comedy film ‘Boss’ starts shooting

Jung Kyung-ho of TvN’s hit TV drama “Crash Course in Romance” (2023) and Jo Woo-jin from 2022 Netflix series “Narco-Saints” will join forces for the upcoming comedy film tentatively named “Boss.” According to production firm Hive Media Corp., the actors began shooting earlier this month. “Boss” revolves around a gangster group called Sikgu and the members trying to escape the election of choosing the next leader as they try to live different

April 14, 2023

‘Cobweb,’ ‘Hopeless’ invited to Cannes Film Festival

Director Kim Jee-woon’s upcoming black comedy “Cobweb” and director Kim Chang-hoon’s debut film “Hopeless” have been invited to this year’s Cannes Film Festival, according to the event’s organizers Thursday. No South Korean films have been selected to compete for the main prize, the Palme d’Or, at the 76th edition of the festival running from May 16-27. In the out of competition section is “Cobweb,” Kim Jee-woon's first featu

April 14, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“John Wick: Chapter 4” (US) Opened April 12 Action Directed by Charles F. Stahelski Legendary hit man John Wick embarks on a journey to defeat the High Table. He goes to New York, Paris, Berlin and Japan to seek out the most powerful players in the underworld, fighting against old friends who turned into foes. “Lonely Castle in the Mirror” (Japan) Opened April 12 Animation/Fantasy Directed by Hara Keiichi Based on the Japanese novel of same title by Mizuki Tsujimura,

April 14, 2023

[Herald Interview] Nothing fazes Byun Joong-hee, who began acting at 64

For Byun Joong-hee, who taught science at a Seoul boys’ middle school for 39 years, November is an especially nostalgic time. It was when her teachers’ drama troupe would put on its annual performance. “I began acting by joining a small group of teachers who performed in plays for fun. But after my first performance, my lips were dry and I felt like my mouth was full of sand, even after drinking water. I came back home and the thought came to me while doing the dishes -- I ne

April 12, 2023

[Herald Interview] Ahn Jae-hong, Jeong Jin-woon say actors bonded as one team in ‘Rebound’

“Rebound,” a basketball film by director Jang Hang-joon that opened in local theaters on April 5, is based on the real-life event of a national high school basketball championship that was held in 2012. The Busan Chung Ang High School team, the Underdogs, makes it to the finals for the first time ever with only six members. “When I first heard that it was a film about basketball, I thought basketball is an old sport liked by some fans here who have a special attachment to the S

April 11, 2023

Documentary 'This is the President' to premiere at Jeonju film festival

A South Korean film on former President Moon Jae-in's life after office will premiere at the 24th Jeonju International Film Festival this month, the organizer said Monday. “This is the President," which will be shown on April 29, documents the "down-to-earth aspects" of the politician who has retired to a quiet farming village, rather than detailing controversies and conflicts in the political arena, according to the festival website. In a 35-second trailer, Moon, Korea

April 11, 2023

[New on the Scene] Director Kim Tae-joon proves that hard work does pay off

Director Kim Tae-joon had dreamed of becoming a filmmaker since when he was in high school. After graduating from university in a non film-related major, he went straight into the film industry, working on shooting locations without any pay. The 39-year-old filmmaker’s debut film, “Unlocked,” a mystery thriller based on Higa Akira's award-winning Japanese novel of the same title, tells the story of Na-mi (Chun Woo-hee) and how her life is threatened by Jun-young (Yim Si-wa

April 10, 2023

[Box office] Movies in theaters this week

“Rebound” (South Korea) Opened April 5 Drama Directed by Jang Hang-joon Kang Yang-hyun (Ahn Jae-hong), a former basketball player and public service worker, returns to his alma mater as a newly recruited basketball coach to take charge of a team on the verge of disbandment. It’s not an easy journey. “Air” (US) Opened April 5 Drama Directed by Ben Affleck “Air,” a biographical sports drama film directed by Ben Affleck and written by Alex Convery, tell

April 8, 2023

Yoo Hae-jin, Lee Je-hoon to work together in new film

Actors Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Je-hoon will work together for the first time in “Moral Hazard” (working title) by director Choi Yoo-jin, who wrote the films, “Steel Cold Winter” (2013) and “Office” (2015). “Moral Hazard” revolves around South Korea’s No.1 soju company, which is on the verge of bankruptcy, and its struggles against a global investment firm that wishes to take advantage of the situation. Yoo will star as Pyo Jong-rok, a financial d

April 7, 2023

Netflix original ‘Black Knight’ confirms May 12 release

Netflix original drama “Black Knight” starring Kim Woo-bin and Song Seung-heon will be released on May 12 via Netflix, according to the global OTT service platform. Based on the webtoon “Delivery Knight” by Lee Yoon-kyun, published from 2016 to 2019, director Choi Ui-seok of “Cold Eyes” (2013) and “Master” (2016) tells a story of the Earth in 2071 hit by toxic air pollution. People rely on parcel delivery services for their basic needs and delivery

April 7, 2023

Jeon Do-yeon says she approached director Byun Sung-hyun of ‘Kill Boksoon’

Jeon Do-yeon said it was she who first approached Byun Sung-hyun, director of the Netflix action film “Kill Boksoon.” She was looking to collaborate with young and rising filmmakers after her own silver screen projects had faltered. “I had spent quite a long time waiting for the right project to come along, but I wanted to become more of an independent actor. So I approached a number of young and rising directors and director Byun was one of them,” Jeon told The Korea Her

April 5, 2023

[Herald Interview] Kang Gil-woo stays true to indie roots while thriving in new large-scale projects

Kang Gil-woo, an established actor in the South Korean independent film scene who has played notable roles in award-winning indie films, recently starred in a number of supporting, yet indispensable, roles in large-scale productions such as Netflix series “The Glory,” JTBC drama “Reborn Rich” and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Broker.” The 37-year-old actor has never been so active as he is now, going back and forth between indie films and commercial projects. &ld

April 5, 2023

[New on the Scene] Kim Si-eun, who transparently becomes her character

When actor Kim Si-eun made her Cannes and commercial film debut in July Jung’s “Next Sohee,” many paid attention to how realistically Kim portrayed So-hee, a high school student exploited as an intern at a call center. “I’m sure any actor at my age must have been interested in playing So-hee, because it was a project helmed by July Jung and co-starring veteran actor Bae Doo-na. But besides that, for me, So-hee expressed a message that resonated deeply inside me, mak

April 3, 2023

Director Na Hong-jin to helm star-studded thriller ‘Hope’

Award-winning director Na Hong-jin will take the helm for “Hope,” assembling a veteran cast from around the world. The thriller will mark Na's first film since his commercially and critically acclaimed success “The Wailing,” released in 2016. Hwang Jung-min and Zo In-sung will appear as a police officer Beom-seok and a young hunter Sung-ki, respectively. Hollywood power couple Michael Fassbender from “X-men” and his wife Alicia Vikander from “The Da

April 2, 2023

24th Jeonju International Film Festival aims to achieve both authenticity, mass appeal

The 24th Jeonju International Film Festival aims grab the public’s attention by representing both the authenticity and mass appeal of South Korea’s indie film scene, according to the organizing committee. This year’s JIFF will be held from April 27th to May 6 in Jeonju, showcasing 247 films from 42 countries. A total of 11 Korean films, 25 Korean indie films and 10 international films have been invited to the festival. “JIFF has become one of the most representative cultu

March 31, 2023

Director Lee Byeong-heon says ‘Dream’ brings both social message and joy

Director Lee Byeong-heon behind 2019 hit comedy “Extreme Job” has returned with “Dream,” a sports comedy, which is being released eight years after the film was initially set up. The film tells the story of a Yoon Hong-dae (Park Seo-joon), a professional football player-turned-coach who is put on disciplinary probation after becoming involved in an unexpected incident and tasked with coaching the South Korean national soccer team for the Homeless World Cup. “There w

March 30, 2023

[Herald Review] ‘Rebound’: a basketball film about overcoming setbacks

“Rebound” doesn’t just tell the real-life story of an underdog basketball team making it all the way to the championships – the film itself overcame real setbacks to make it into local theaters. The film, director Jang Hang-jun’s first project in 6 years, will finally open in local theaters after 11 years of setbacks. The film tells the moving story of passionate youths based on a real-life 2012 national high school basketball championship through tense, dynamic sce

March 29, 2023

Netflix film starring Yoo Ah-in put on hold

Netflix will put on hold the release of an original film featuring Yoo Ah-in, after the 36-year-old actor was questioned by police over allegations that he habitually used illicit drugs. Netflix was slated to release director Kim Hyoung-joo’s “The Match,” which stars Lee Byung-hun and Yoo Ah-in, in the first half of this year. All decisions regarding the film, including the release date, will be “temporarily put off,” a Netflix official was quoted as saying to loc

March 28, 2023