15 Films you cannot miss at the 15th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival

By Asian Film Festival on August 7, 2019 • ( Leave a comment )

We present a list of fifteen films you should not miss at the Jecheon International Music & Film Festival which will take place from August 8th – 13th, in Jecheon, Korea.

About the festival:
Launched in 2005, Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF) strives to be both a celebration of film set in the beautiful landscapes of Jecheon City and exhilarating music shared and enjoyed by everyone of all generations and musical tastes.

The cozy and scenic host city, Jecheon, is located in Chungcheongbuk province in central Korea. Jecheon is most famous for Cheongpung-ho, a lake that captivates tourists with natural beauty that is reminiscent of traditional Korean landscape paintings. “World Music Film Today”, JIMFF’s sole competition section, will present films from around the world this year. The jury will award an outstanding film with the Grand Prize among the most contemporary selections related to music regardless of genre.

Recommended Films:

A Punk Daydream by Jimmy Hendrickx – Belgium, Indonesia | 2019 – 65 minutes

Left to fend for themselves on the fringes of society and family that have stigmatized them, Jakarta’s young punks speak up. The conflict of teen punk Eka with his parents is driven by an intense quest for individual freedom. Meanwhile, embracing similar ideals are the local traditional tribes, who have found freedom in perfect tune with nature, but struggle to maintain their identity.

Trailer:

Farewell Song by Shiota Akihiko – Japan | 2019 – 116 minutes

A story about a singer-songwriter duo band Haruleo and their roadie Shima: while Haruleo is drawing attention in Indy-Scene, they suddenly announce their disbandment and begins their national tour. Leaving behind the shining moments of youth, the three pour their true hearts in their last concert. The past with dreams, reality, and love are woven into beautiful music.

Trailer:

First Night Nerves by Stanley Kwan – Hong Kong, China | 2018 – 100 minutes

Yuan Xiuling, a star past her prime, plans a return to the spotlight a year after her philandering husband passes away. An opportunity arises when she is cast as the lead in a theatre production titled [Two Sisters]. However, her co-lead is her biggest rival, He Yuwen, a rising actress making her theatrical debut. In the week before opening night, tensions rise and tempers flare. The actresses struggle to cope with artistic expectations, jostle for media attention, and let past resentments and grievances rise to the surface. A new film after a long hiatus from Hong Kong maestro Stanley Kwan, stars two of Hong Kong′s most quintessential actresses, Sammi Cheng and Gigi Leung, alongside China′s Bai Baihe.

Schedule:
August 13th | Tuesday | Megabox Jecheon 5 | 12:30 pm

Trailer:

Free My Soul, Free My Song by Hyun Jinsik – Korea | 2019 – 83 minutes

Jihee is mentally challenged and has a low self-esteem. She feels comfortable when she is invisible among people. Her encounter with guitar changes her life. She begins to open herself to the world. However, she doesn’t have her own song, and she wants to write a song to tell her story. The journey is not easy, but she finds her way.

GOGOSONG by Hong Hyunjung – Korea | 2018 – 102 minutes

For Gong Sunhwa (32), love is always difficult. She gets into a huge fight with Kang Wonhyung (30) just before two months of their wedding day. All the wounds that have been hiding behind her smile pour out. Meanwhile, her former musician father, who was absent in her childhood, shows up. Witnessing little but amazing moments of love, will Sunhwa run away from her love again?

Trailer:

Kokdu: A Story of Guardian Angels by Kim Tae-yong – Korea | 2018 – 73 minutes

Director Tae-yong Kim and music director Junsuk Bang created National Gugak Center’s performance, [Kokdu], and (2017) is a ﬁlm version of it. It tells a story about young siblings who try to ﬁnd their grandmother’s ﬂower shoes and go to the underworld. They meet four “Kokdus”, the guides of the underworld, and ﬁnd the shoes. It is a piece of a warm family story depicted with Korean traditional culture, music and dance, describing the way how the main characters fully mourns loved one’s death and let them go. The ﬁlm has been in-vited to many Korean and overseas ﬁlm festivals such as Berlin International Film Festival and New York Asian Film Festival. JIMFF 2019 presents the moving story that consoles all and makes all happy with Korean traditional music “Gugak”, produced by National Gugak Center and Kirin Productions.
“A special program presents Kokdu: A Story of Guardian Angels accompanying with a live performance of National Gugak Center afﬁliated group.”

Schedule:
August 9th | Saturday | Jecheon City Cultural Center | 17:00 pm

Trailer:

Listen to Your Heart. The Beautiful Mind by Son Mi, Ryu Jang-ha
Korea | 2018 – 97 minutes

“Ensemble.” An orchestra made of kids with different handicaps. The teacher, parents and many others get together to complete the orchestra. The orchestra “Ensemble” is a small community of people who understand the difference of each other, and music is a communicative medium for them. Now listen to their stories and music.

Trailer:

Metal Politics Taiwan by Marco Wilms
Germany, Taiwan | 2018 – 90 minutes

Freddy Lim is the lead singer of a heavy metal band and is no less passionate about his political career. In 2015, he founded the New Power Party and one year later was appointed as the representative of foreign affairs and national defense of Taiwan’s parliament. What happens when the heavy metal hero of the oppressed people hangs up his stage gear and slips into a politician’s suit?

Trailer:

Mr. Jimmy by Peter Michael Dowd – USA, Japan | 2019 – 114 minutes

Sakurai Akio dedicated his life to Jimmy Page. For 30 years he recreated vintage Led Zeppelin concerts in Tokyo clubs until the “real” Jimmy Page stops by one night, changing Akio’s life. Inspired by Mr. Page’s ovation, Akio quits his job and leaves his family to move to Los Angeles and join the “Led Zepagain.” Soon cultures clash, and Akio’s vision of America encounters reality.

Trailer:

Re-sound by Jeong Ilgeon – Korea | 2018 – 112 minutes

Marking its 40th anniversary, “Meari”is a folk singing club at Seoul National University, which resisted against dictatorship in the 80s and has been producing and singing band music since the 90s. Its 40 years of history, which encompasses from graduates who have dedicated their lives to folk to students who sing about their youth in the band, represent the history of Korea’s modern age and the progressive social movement, “music movement.”

Trailer:

Rhythm is Everywhere by Rajiv Menon – India | 2019 – 131 minutes

When a gifted young drummer from a poor untouchable family yearns to learn to play mridangam (Indian percussion instrument) from the top Maestro, he faces rejection from the classical music community as well as from his family. Following his struggle, we travel from the high-brow world of Carnatic music to current reality TV shows. The score by A.R. Rahman is a charm.

Trailer:

Shining Ground by Jang Dong Ju – Korea | 2019 – 116 minutes

Underground performance hall in Hongdae. Seven nameless rappers hoped to play hip hop and came to Seoul with a vague dream. However, unlike what they thought, they carry a brick or serve more than they stand on stage. The hopes and goals of these seven unknown rappers are at stake. Monthly rents and various bills that put more pressure on them. [Supported by JIMFF2018 Music Film Project Promotion]

Trailer:

This Old Road by Sasabe Kiyoshi – Japan | 2019 – 105 minutes

Kitahara Hakushu, a significant figure in Japanese literature and music, had a wild side with his drinking and adultery. He and his earnest fellow Yamada Kosaku stood against the era with music. Despite the odd time due to different lifestyles, they go hand-in-hand and release nursery rhymes such as “This Old Road (Konomichi)” and more. As they enter the era of war, things become difficult.

Trailer:

Viva la Vida by Lee Sangmok – Korea | 2019 – 93 mintues

Is this Gugak (Korean traditional music) or Flamenco? A flamenco guitarist, a flamenco dancer, a Korean traditional singer and a gypsy violinist have moved to Jeju Island for different reasons. They meet in a new neighborhood and start new music Gugak-flamenco crossover under the band name, “Soriquete.” Their new sound and life challenges delivers free and independent paradigm of life to us trapped in a monolithic system. [Supported by JIMFF2018 Music Film Project Promotion]

Trailer:

When Spring Comes by Ryu Jang-ha – Korea | 2004 – 128 minutes

My dream to play trumpet in orchestra hasn’t worked out. A call from my ex saying she’s getting married makes my winter day colder. I realize I have an ad in my pocket looking for a teacher for a school pipe band in Gangwon-do. The band with lousy instruments will be disbanded if they don’t win in the upcoming contest. The kids say they just love music.

Schedule:
August 10th | Saturday | Megabox Jecheon 8 | 13:00 pm

Trailer: