[HanCinema's Digest] Cinema Snippets

Published on 2016/02/27

Recently discovered films from Russia and Germany show Japan's colonial activities, "Spirit's Homecoming" depicts the tragic fate of Korean comfort women, the Japanese version of "Miss Granny" to be released in April, and is South Korea's push for blockbusters threatening smaller productions?

"Films shed light on colonial Korea"

New films have emerged that depict Korean life under Japanese rule. The new films were recently obtained from Russia and Germany and include "North Joseon Sheep Speak" (1934) and "Hwanghae Stockbreeding Fair" (1924), both of which are short (the former is 23 minutes and the latter just seven) and they "were created by members of the Japanese administration responsible for managing the colonial Korea in the early 20th century".

...READ ON THE KOREA HERALD

"Korean Comfort Women Drama Tours US Campuses"

Korean comfort women have long been a heated issue for Korea-Japan relations, despite recent political acknowledgements, and one filmmaker has made it his missions to depict the abuses caused to thousands of woman during Japan's occupation. The film, "Spirits' Homecoming", according to JO Entertainment, depicts the "devastation and tragedy of the history caused by the military of Imperial Japan, and to heartily send out the message that this cannot be repeated".

...READ ON KOBIZ

"South Korea's Polarizing Film Market: Can Mid-Budget Genre Movies Survive?"

The Hollywood Reporter analyzes South Korea's film industry's recent success but also the effect the drive for blockbusters has had on mid-budget productions: "As polarization within the industry deepens-between both big-budget and indie filmmaking as well as younger and older audiences-insiders say Korea's oligarchic entertainment conglomerates are only becoming more conservative about the projects they greenlight. And much like in Hollywood, it's the stars who are stepping up and throwing their weight behind inspiring, indie-spirited projects".

...READ ON THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

"Japanese Miss Granny Remake Scheduled for April"

Hwang Dong-hyuk's comedy drama "Miss Granny" (starring Shim Eun-kyung and Na Moon-hee) claimed over 8.6 million admissions at the Korean box office back in 2014, and now a Japanese adaptation (titled "Ayashii Kanojyo") will be released on April 1st: "Following Ayashii Kanojyo's release in April, Thai and Indonesian versions of Miss Granny are expected to bow later this year".

...READ ON KOBIZ