Favourite film
I liked Bong Joon-ho’s Mother (main picture) best. It has an extraordinary innate artistic value and Kim Hye-ja’s acting was excellent, too. Of course, across the years I had seen her mostly in TV dramas and in Kim Soo-yong’s film Late Fall [which was released in 1982], but again she gave a superior performance in Mother.
Biggest news story
In the midst of the slump in Korean films, the news that Haeundae took more than 10 million admissions [in Korea] and, that, at the same time on the other side of the spectrum, independent films like Old Partner and Breathless did very well, too.
These two issues together this year were the biggest news story for me, because it’s breathing life and energy back into what was a stagnating market.
Changes in store for 2010
2010 will be a year in which we will be able to watch with keen interest as actresses take centre stage in Korea. Yoon Jung-hee has come back to star in Lee Chang-dong’s film, and Jeon Do-yeon is starring in Im Sang-soo’s remake of The Housemaid.
There is also the recent Berlinale selection The Actresses (pictured, right), directed by E J-yong, with its ensemble cast of actresses. Also, I think 2010 will be the year the Korean film industry gets out of its long-time slump. As for me, I’m thinking of making next year’s edition of PIFF my last.
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