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Post by sasami on Jul 14, 2003 16:34:47 GMT -5
I used to love watching on friday and saturday nights around 11pm the historical dramas. Then without warning they were not on at that time. I used to look forward to them during the week and couldn't wait until the weekend to see what would happen next.
I would love to see subtitled korean movies on the weekend. Since I've only seen one so far and can't even remember the name of it and it just happened to be played on cable, I think either on IFC or Sundance. If there is a place to rent Korean movies that are subtitled in the Chicago area that would be great.
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Post by Mariah on Jul 14, 2003 19:02:54 GMT -5
Sasami I think I know the movie you are talking about that came on sundance. The movie is Chunhyang and it came out in 2000 and was a great movie about love. Moreover, here is the website if you want to know more about Korean subtitled movies Koreanfilm.orgAlso for those of you who haven't seen this movie listed below here are some good details that I got from the Korean film website Chunhyang It made perfect sense that Im Kwon-taek would choose to direct this story. With over 90 films to his credit, Im has become somewhat of a father figure in the film industry, revered particularly for the manner in which he celebrates the arts and traditions of old Korea. With his 1993 film Sopyonje he created a feature that, for some, represents the very essence of Korean tradition. Therefore it seemed only fitting that his latest effort would be based on Korea's most famous and best-loved folk tale, Chunhyang. People often compare this folk tale to Romeo and Juliet, both for its thematic content (teenage lovers secretly married, but separated by class) and for its stature within Korean culture. It has been filmed over a dozen times, notably as Korea's first sound film and then later as a mid-1950's box-office smash that revived the film industry after the war. The character of Chunhyang has become a national icon, admired as much for her beauty and virtue as for her resistance against corrupt authority. This particular adaptation, however, is not simply a retelling of the story; it is built around a pansori narration of the tale. Viewers who have seen Sopyonje will be familiar with the vocal art of pansori, a style of narrative song developed in Korea's countryside. Whereas in Sopyonje viewers were introduced to the beauty of the singing, in Chunhyang the pansori is far more moving, because we follow the story's narration together with the intense swells of the music. This is perhaps the most amazing aspect of this film, that it gives us such access to a little-known but remarkable form of art. The film is structured as a 'story within a concert' where we move between shots of the performer and the story he narrates; and unlike many narratives of this kind, the 'story' and its 'frame' interact to create something greater than the sum of its parts. This movie features two teenage actors making their debuts: Cho Seung-woo as the earnest but somewhat inconsiderate Mong-ryong, and Lee Hyo-jeong playing Chunhyang, the embodiment of virtue, intelligence, and stubborn will. The screen time they share together is delightful, from Mong-ryong's painting on Chunhyang's dress to their adolescent sexual romping. Another breathtaking aspect of the film are its visuals, shot by veteran cinematographer Jung Il-sung, who has worked closely together with the director in the past. Although I personally have not been impressed with much of Im's recent work, Chunhyang is a real find. It is the most accessible film of Im's late career, and one of his best ever. (Darcy Paquet) Addendum: In May 2000, Chunhyang became the first Korean feature film ever to participate in the Competition Section at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was very well received, with some naming it a darkhorse contender for the Palme d'Or, although it ended up not winning a prize.
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Post by fantasticeel on Jul 14, 2003 22:11:11 GMT -5
I've thought the same thing, actually. It would be awesome to see some on TV since there are so few available in the U.S.
But if you're looking for some, you might want to try the Sulzer branch library on Lincoln and (I think) Sunnyside. They have at least 3 in their video section: Shiri,Tell Me Something, and Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? Also, Blockbuster video on Lawrence and maybe Oakley or Bell (I have a bad memory for streets) has a few: 301/302 and Chunhyang, in addition to Shiri and Tell Me Something.
Also, another Im Kwon-Taek movie called Chiwaseon (sp?) was just playing in theaters. Hopefully that will be available for rental sometime...
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Post by sasami on Jul 14, 2003 23:47:43 GMT -5
Mariah,
Chunhyang is exactly the movie I saw. It was very beautifully well done. Even though I didn't understand the language just listening to the sound of the narrator and watching the actors, it was more easy to get swept away in the story than if the narrator just talked.
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Post by Knov1 on Jul 16, 2003 0:24:42 GMT -5
You should be able to find Chunhyang on DVD at Blockbuster. It comes with subtitles. I don't know about places in Chicago where you can rent subtitled movies, the majority of the videos/dvd's don't come with subtitles, but annyoung.com sells some subtitled movies and dramas.
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Post by JP Paulus on Jul 16, 2003 20:20:55 GMT -5
There is a movie version based on the time covered by "Chang Nok Soo" (my first korean historical drama). Diary of King Yonsan, The (1988) Here's the blurb: "The 10th King Yonsan in Yi Dynasty is prejudiced in favor of Jang Nok-Su and the lady attendants, after that he lost his mother. He ignores to govern the country. The Gapsa massacre of Confucian literati happens 10 years after his governing. Consequently, the retainers help Jin-Seong to the throne and Yonsan finishes his vicissitudinous life two months later in Kyodong." The link is here. www.asiandb.com/browse/movie_detail.pfm?code=374&mode=review
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candy
New Addict
Posts: 31
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Post by candy on Jul 17, 2003 12:23:54 GMT -5
;)hey, i was thinking exactly the same thing, i would love to see some korean movies, it'd be great to have even more choices to watch, since in the other channels we always see the same movies over and over again, so hopefully they'll think about doing it sometime, but don't forget the subtitles ;D
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