12 Korean Films you cannot miss at the 20th Joenju International Film Festival

By Asian Film Festival on May 1, 2019 • ( Leave a comment )

We present a list of 12 Korean Films you cannot miss at the 20th Jeonju International Film Festival which will take place from May 2nd – 11th (2019) in Jeonju, South Korea.

East Asia Anti-Japan Armed Front by Kim Mirye
Korea | 2019 – 74 minutes | Documentary
Korean Cinemascape

On August 30th, 1974, the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries bombing was carried out by the East Asia Anti-Japan Armed Front. Following Mitsubishi bombing, a series of Japanese corporations were attacted by the Front. They were arrested in May 1975. More than 40 years have passed since then, I went to Japan to see the trace of their thought.

Ensemble by Jung Hyungsuk – Korea | 2019 – 118 minutes | Fiction
Newtro Joenju

There is a performance team preparing for an outdoor yard play in Jeonju. Director Young-ro, supporting director Se-young. Actor Man-sik and his wife Hye-young. And Joo-young, the youngest member of the performance team. And Minwoo, who plays busking music. The warm, heart-wrenching stories of the three couples are depicted in omnibus format.

Goodbye Summer by Park Juyoung – Korea | 2019 – 71 minutes | Fiction
Korean Competition

Hyunjae confesses his love to Sumin who is his first love, but she hesitates and his best friend declares the end of the friendship. They don´t pity for Hyunjae who´s within sight of death and just think of themselves. Unknown things happen around Hyunjae. One day, Byungjae with a strange accent appears, and the confused days naturally flow back.

Height of the Wave by Park Jungbum – Korea | 2019 – 95 minutes | Fiction
Newtro Jeonju

Yeon-su, the police officer, is dispatched to an island and starts to witness strange situations. Yae-un, who lives in the island after she lost her parents when she was young, and the others´ behavior terrifies Yeon-su. Film director Park who constantly focused on stories related to human greed and collapse, deeply explores the guilt of human and the possibility of redemption again.

Junha’s Planet by Hong Hyung-sook
Korea | 2018 – 109 minutes | Documentary
Newtro Jeonju

Junha is one of the most difficult children at the school. His autism causes him to attack his classmates and even teachers without warning. Each outburst further isolates Junha from his community as his teachers and peers struggle to find a way to live “with” Junha. The camera provides an intimate look into this society, leaving the question; what is human entity and how is it connected?

My name is Kim Bok-dong by Song Won-geun
Korea | 2018 – 107 minutes | Documentary
Korea Cinemascape

In 1992, KIM Bok-dong, reported herself as a victim of the sexual slavery, “comfort women” during World War Ⅱ. She wanted to receive the proper apology from the Japan government but they denied its responsibility. In 2011, commemorating the 1000th Wednesday demonstration, Statue of Peace was installed in front of the Embassy of Japan. The fight over Japan confronts a new stage.

Ongals by Cha Inpyo, Jeon Haelim
Korea | 2019 – 87 minutes | Documentary
Korea Cinemascape

Since 2007, Ongals, the Korean nonverbal comedy team, has traveled the world and gained popularity. They have yet to make their way across the ocean to the biggest stage in the world… Vegas. But their journey isn’t easy, since one of the old members suffers from cancer while a rookie doesn’t seem to adapt himself to the team. This documentary is about the life and challenge of Ongals.

Remain by Kim Minkyung – Korea | 2018 – 99 minutes | Fiction
Korean Competition

Suyeon and Sehyuk have been married for 10 years. They move from Seoul to Busan for Sehyuk´s work. While Sehyuk is busy with his work, Suyeon starts her career as a dance professor at the disabled education center. She gets to know Junhee, a man in a wheelchair. They gradually get closer and share their hearts and bodies. Eventually, the three people remain in different places.

Rivercide: The Secret six by Kim Byeongki
Korea | 2018 – 108 minutes | Documentary
Korea Cinemascape

The Grand Canal project was one of the key pledges of the former President Lee. He first said that he was carrying out a project to save the four rivers but it was a lie. He eventually proceeded the project which was a hotbed of all kinds of irregularities. After ten years, now the river is dying. Some people collaborated to the past regime, and some resisted it. On whom will we stand?

Shades of the Heart by Kim Jong-kwan – Korea | 2019 – 85 minutes | Fiction
Jeonju Cinema Project

Chang-seok’s marriage failed. He left his wife and came back to South Korea. He is about to publish a novel based on his own experience. He meets various people, including Mi-young, Yoo-jin, Sung-ha and Ju-eun. Upon meeting these people, Chang-seok changes his mind and starts weaving yet another story.

The Breathing of the Fire by Ko Hee-young
Korea | 2019 – 93 minutes | Documentary
Joenju Cinema Project

The documentary of a potter who struggled with fire for his entire life to make a singular piece of crockery and his daughter who developed her own power to inherit the fire from her father. The potter wishes to meet the misfortunate bowl “Maksabal,” which became a national treasure of Japan. On the other hand, his daughter wants the father’s fire. Would their desire be fulfilled?

Tiptoeing by Kwon Woojung
Korea | 2019 – 90 minutes | Documentary
Korea Cinemascape

When my daughter, Jihoo, was 1 year old, I took her to a doctor and heard something unexpected. “She might have cerebral palsy.” Now that she is seven years old, she still walks on her toes. This film is a self-reflection story of a person, as she tries to dig into the waves of honest and sometimes intolerable feelings brought by her daughter´s toe walking.