Korean film "The Naked Kitchen" invited to Berlin film fest

Korean film "The Naked Kitchen" has been invited to the 60th Berlin International Film Festival, according the movie's producer Soo Film on Wednesday.

"Kitchen" will be shown in the Culinary Cinema section -- a non-competitive category which recognizes films revolving around the themes of food and love, nature and the environment -- at the fest on February 18, Soo explained in a press release.

The film, helmed by director Hong Ji-young, portrays the love triangle which occurs in a restaurant kitchen between characters played by actors Shin Min-ah, Joo Ji-hoon and Kim Tae-woo.

Hong had written the film adaptation of "Antique," a novel by Japanese cartoonist Fumi Yoshinaga, which had also shown at the same category in Berlin last year.

The festival, which started in 1950, is considered one of the most prestigious film events in Europe, alongside Cannes, Venice and Rotterdam. The fest will be held from February 11 to 21 this year.

Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr
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Once In A Summer [ Korean Movie 2006 ]

Genre : Drama, Romance
Starring : Lee Byung-Hun, Soo Ae
Release date : November 30, 2006
Runtime :121 min.
Directed by : Jo Geun-Sik

Synopsis:

In the summer of 1969, Yoon Suk-Young avoids his father by volunteering to work on a rural farm in Sunaeri. Having no interest for volunteer work, he spends most of his time alone, when he happens to meet the village librarian, Suh Jung-In, and falls in love. Jung-In, a bright and hard-working orphan, also becomes interested in return. Their love grows within the short period of his volunteer time, and they are soon faced with unforeseen circumstances of separation... Time passes and Yoon Suk-Young becomes a professor. He then goes with a writer and the PD of a TV program to Sunaeri to find his first love. However, the villagers refuse to talk about Suh Jung-In. The mysteries of the love story thicken as the movie moves forward.
[credit : http://english.visitkorea.or.kr]

Gallery:

Gang Dong-won, Song Hye-kyo start filming "Love"

Korean actor Gang Dong-won [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

Top Korean actors Gang Dong-won and Song Hye-kyo have started shooting their feature segment for the Asian omnibus pic "Camellia", according to the film's producer BAL CON on Wednesday.

The two actors started filming "Love For Sale" on Friday, playing former lovers who forget their memories about each which later leads them to a fatal destiny.

"Camellia" is an omnibus pic made up of three feature films directed by three Asian directors. Each episode will be set in the past, present and future of the city of Busan, Korea.

The first feature "Iron Pussy", which tells the story of Busan during the 1970s, will be directed by Thailand's Wisit Sasanatieng and star Korean actor Kim Min-jun and Thai-American actor Michael Shaowanasai.

Korean actor Sul Kyung-gu and Japan's Yositaka Yuriko will appear in the second segment, "Kamome", which is set in modern day Korea. It will be directed by Japanese filmmaker Yukisada Isao.

Set in the near future, "Love for Sale" is the final episode which will be helmed by Korean director Jang Joon-hwan. Jang won rave reviews for his directorial debut "Save the Green Planet!" in 2003.

Gang has been considered one of Korea's top heartthrobs since his appearance in the 2004 film "Romance of their Own". He most recently starred in comic fantasy flick "WOOCHI", which set a record for attracting the most number of viewers on its opening day and has been ranked at No.2 behind "Avatar" for four consecutive weeks. Gang has another movie coming out next month, titled "Sworn Brothers".

Korean actress Song Hye-kyo [Lee Won-woo/10Asia]

Actress Song Hye-kyo shot to fame in 2000 after starring in KBS TV series "Autumn Fairy Tale" alongside Hallyu stars Won Bin and Song Seung-hun. She garnered increasing popularity throughout Asia with her subsequent roles in hit dramas such as "All In" (SBS, 2003) and "Full House" (KBS, 2004).

Reporter : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr
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Lee Na-young Takes on Transgender Part

Actress Lee Na-young is one of the most coveted models for advertisers along with fellow 30-something stars like Kim Hee-sun and Ko So-young. She has appeared in almost all major commercials for cosmetics, electronics, beverage, food, telecommunication, and construction companies, and she still has many advertisers wooing her. For her management agency, she is the beautiful goose that lays the golden eggs.

Over the 10-plus years of her acting career, Lee has shown different sides of herself in each eight film she starred in, including "Who R U?" (2002), "Please Teach Me English" (2003), "Someone Special" (2004), "Maundy Thursday" (2006), and "Dream" (2008). In her latest film, romantic comedy "Lady Daddy," Lee appears as a man. She is not a transvestite but a single, unmarried transgender woman who discovers she has a son from the time she was a man and must now live with him.

Lee had a lot of fun filming it, and seems quite impervious to her looks. Where does her confidence spring from? "None of the parts I've played in films were pretty. In fact, I get stressed out if I have to look pretty. I keep thinking, 'what if I don't?'" As for playing a man, "I've wanted to do a part like that for quite a long time. Some actresses have done it recently. I was especially impressed by Cate Blanchett's performance in 'I'm Not There,'" she said. "When I read the screenplay, I was worried that I might misrepresent the image of transgender people due to my insufficient knowledge, but I was attracted to the uniqueness of the material. I thought the theme would be more appealing and easier for the audience to understand when combined with comedy."

"Lady Daddy" will have to challenge huge blockbusters "Avatar" by James Cameron and "Woochi: The Taoist Wizard" by Choi Dong-hoon. Is Lee just unlucky in terms of box office success? "Someone Special" and "Who R U?" found moderate belated success only after the screening was finished. This time she also has a cold snap to contend with, which might keep people at home. But Lee is determined not to let that put her off.

credit: englishnews@chosun.com

source : Chosun

"Oldboy" selected top 100 films of the decade by The Guardian

Korean film "Oldboy" has been selected as one of the top 100 films of the past decade -- from the year 2000 thru 2009 -- by U.K. daily newspaper The Guardian.

The Park Chan-wook-helmed pic was ranked at No. 38 on the "100 best films of the noughties" list by the Guardian. The top three movies on the list were "There Will Be Blood" (2007, starring Daniel Day-Lewis), "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" (2006, starring Sacha Baron Cohen) and "Mulholland Drive" (2001, directed by David Lynch).

"Oldboy", which stars Korean actors Choi Min-sik and Yoo Ji-tae, is about a man who is locked in a hotel room for 15 years without knowing why. He plots revenge upon his release and finds himself trapped in conspiracy, violence and falling in love with an attractive young chef.

The movie has received high praises from critics since its release in 2003 and won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

Other Asian movies on the list were; Taiwan's "What Time Is It There?" (at No. 19, directed by Ming-liang Tsai), "One and a Two" (No. 22, Edward Yang), Japanese animation "Spirited Away" (No. 41, Hayao Miyazaki) and the Academy Award-winning film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (No. 45, Ang Lee).

Reporter : Ko Kyoung-seok kave@asiae.co.kr
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr
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