Korean cinema gets needed boost from 'Good News,' 'World of Love'
Actor Sul Kyung-gu in a scene from movie "Good News" / Courtesy of Netflix
Despite persistent concerns about a prolonged slump in Korean cinema, the latter half of the year is seeing a promising turnaround, fueled by a pair of critically acclaimed films instilling hope in audiences and the industry.
Following award-winning director Park Chan-wook’s new work, “No Other Choice,” which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in late August and was released here in September, the momentum is being carried by two highly praised films that offer distinctly different cinematic experiences — Netflix’s black comedy movie “Good News” by director Byun Sung-hyun and independent film “The World of Love” from director Yoon Ga-eun.
‘Good News’ hailed as Byun Sung-hyun’s best work
Released on Netflix on Oct. 17, “Good News” is a sharp black comedy based on the actual 1970 Yodogo hijacking incident, portraying the suspicious operation of officials determined to land the hijacked airplane at a disguised airport. The movie stars Sul Kyung-gu, Hong Kyung and Ryoo Seung-bum.
The film has been hailed by film critics and fans as director Byun’s best work to date. After demonstrating his unique and vibrant directorial skill in previous hits like “The Merciless” (2017) and “Kill Boksoon” (2023), critics say his talent has fully blossomed with “Good News,” solidifying his status as a director with a distinct and confident style.
The movie’s critical success is evident globally. It was invited to the Toronto International Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival. The movie has maintains a 3.6 score on the Korean movie rating site Watcha Pedia and a remarkable 100 percent “Fresh” rating on the U.S. movie review site Rotten Tomatoes.
Among those singing the film’s praises is renowned Korean film critic Lee Dong-jin, who gave the film four out of five stars on his blog, commenting, “I was desperately waiting for a Korean film like this.”
Fans are commending Byun for skillfully depicting this unbelievable historical event by utilizing a cast that includes a mix of A-list Korean and Japanese actors in a compelling film.
A scene from director Yoon Ga-eun's "The World of Love" / Courtesy of Barunson E&A
‘The World of Love’ shows Yoon Ga-eun’s strengths
On the independent film front, director Yoon’s “The World of Love” is also earning similar praise for its profundity and artistic value as a low-budget film.
Released on Oct. 22, the film is Yoon’s first new work in six years, following her debut “The World of Us” (2016), a film that was lauded by critics for its sensitive and pure portrayal of a young girl’s inner world.
The new film centers on 18-year-old high school student Lee Joo-in (Seo Su-bin), who finds herself in a complicated situation after she is the only student to refuse to sign a schoolwide petition. “The World of Love” has been called one of the year’s best Korean films by fans and cements Yoon’s status as an indie favorite and a major director to watch.
Film critic Lee also gave “The World of Love” four out of five stars, speaking highly of the director’s empathetic approach to the story. “A generous and profound direction that fully embraces and protects the characters, without judging or interfering,” Lee commented.
The film made history as the first and only Korean film invited to the Platform competitive section of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, and won the Roberto Rossellini Jury Award at China’s Pingyao International Film Festival. The film is also invited to the competition section of Japan’s leading indie movie festival Tokyo Filmex, slated for November.
Thanks to strong reviews from the audience, the film sold over 30,000 tickets in just five days, an outstanding achievement for an independent movie.