'My Perfect Roommate' shows how family transcends blood ties Actors Na Moon-hee, right, and Choi Woo-sung in a scene from the film, “My Perfect Roommate” / Courtesy of Twin Plus PartnersBy Kwak Yeon-soo“My Perfect Roommate” gives veteran actress Na Moon-hee a role designed to break audiences' hearts: a role with an aftertaste of betrayal and loneliness, but also versatility and humor.With a career that spans over six decades, Na has solidified herself as one of Korea's most beloved stars. She has wowed audiences time after time with memorable performances in films like “Miss Granny” (2014), which sold more than 8.6 million tickets in local theaters, and “I Can Speak” (2017), for which she won the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Actress.At the age of 81, Na has taken a lead role in “My Perfect Roommate” as grumpy old woman Keum-boon. She comes to live with a college student, Ji-woong (Choi Woo-sung), through a home-share program that pairs older adults who have extra space in their homes with students who need to rent spaces affordably.The film addresses social isolation and lonelinessJun 19, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Broker' tops 1 mil. admissions From left, Korean actors, Lee Joo-Young, Lee Ji-eun, Gang Dong-won, Song Kang-ho and Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda attend a press conference for their film "Broker" in Seoul, Korea, May 31. AP-Yonhap"Broker," the first Korean-language film project by Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda, surpassed 1 million admissions Saturday, according to the movie's local distributor.The film hit the milestone at 8:30 a.m., becoming Kore-eda's first film to reach 1 million in Korea, CJ ENM said.Released June 8, the flick was at No. 3 after "The Witch: Part 2. The Other One" and "The Roundup" at the daily box office in the country Friday.Starring Song Kang-ho, Gang Dong-won and singer-and-actress Lee Ji-eun, better known as IU, "Broker" is about people on a road trip searching for possible adoptive parents of a newborn left in a baby box. Song won best actor at this year's Cannes Film Festival for his role as Sang-hyun, who steals unattended infants left by their parents in a baby box and sells them to parents who need babies.The Korean action comedy "The Roundup," the sequel to the 2017 hit movJun 18, 2022
Showbox unveils 27 upcoming Korean films, TV shows Showbox CEO Kim Do-soo speaks during a press conference held at Seoul Dragon City in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of ShowboxBy Kwak Yeon-sooBuoyed by the success of Korean cultural content, Showbox, one of the country's largest film production and distribution companies, has unveiled its plans to premiere 27 new films and TV dramas in the latter half of this year. The company, which has been at the forefront of the Korean film industry for 20 years, also promised to provide solid support for filmmakers to create compelling and entertaining content.“Last year, 'Squid Game' and 'Hellbound' proved inventive and gripping Korean storytelling that can cater to global audiences successfully. We will continue to invest in Korea's creative filmmakers and, together, we will keep on developing our original intellectual property (IP) into 'super IP,'” Showbox CEO Kim Do-soo said during a press conference held at Seoul Dragon City in Seoul, Wednesday. Super IP refers to IP that can be expanded into other formats, for example a movie that can be transformed into a drama, game, webtoon orJun 15, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
INTERVIEW Shin Si-a makes debut with major role in 'The Witch: Part 2' Shin Si-a makes her acting debut with the lead role in the sci-fi action film "The Witch: Part 2. The Other One,” which hit local theaters Wednesday. Courtesy of NEWRookie actress leads sequel to 2018 hit blockbuster By Lee Gyu-leeAbout four years after the action blockbuster “The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion” propelled rookie actress Kim Da-mi to stardom, the film's sequel has discovered another newcomer Shin Si-a, who bagged the lead role through a competitive audition process. Actress Shin Si-a / Courtesy of NEWDirected by Park Hoon-jung, whose previous work includes the 2010 gory thriller film "I Saw the Devil,” "The Witch: Part 2. The Other One,” which premiered Wednesday, picks up on the plot from the first series of a top-secret project that engineers human to have superpowers. A girl (Shin), who wakes up in the project's laboratory, goes out into the world after becoming the lone survivor. While she tries to adapt to her new environment with the help of Kyung-hee (Park Eun-bin), different forces go after her, each with different motives. The 24-Jun 15, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
Bucheon Int'l Fantastic Film Festival to open next month Organizers of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) pose for a photo at Bucheon City Hall, Gyeonggi Province, June 14. YonhapThe Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), Korea's largest annual genre film festival, will return to a normal schedule after two years disrupted by the COBID-19 pandemic, organizers said Tuesday.Under the motto of "Stay Strange," the 26th edition of BIFAN will run from July 7 to 17 in Bucheon, just west of Seoul. A total of 268 films from 49 countries will be shown at five local venues as well as on the local online platform Wavve during the period.Organizers said most outdoor events, including the opening and closing ceremonies, and the red carpet event, will take place as they did in the past before the COVID-19 outbreak. Founded in 1997, the annual fest was scaled down in the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.Opening the festival will be the Korean premiere of the horror film "Men" by English filmmaker Alex Garland, while the closing film is Korean director Jung Bum-shik's thriller "New Normal."Ten films willJun 14, 2022
Disney/Pixar's 'Lightyear,' with same-sex couple, will not play in 14 countries; China in question Producer Galyn Susman, left, and Director Angus MacLane pose for a photo, as they arrive for the UK premiere of “Lightyear” in London, June 13. Reuters-YonhapWalt Disney has been unable to obtain permission to show its new Pixar movie "Lightyear" in 14 Middle Eastern and Asian countries, a source said Monday, and the animated film appeared unlikely to open in China, the world's largest movie market.A "Lightyear" producer told Reuters that authorities in China had asked for cuts to the movie, which Disney declined to make, and she assumed the movie would not open there either. The animated film depicts a same-sex couple who share a brief kiss, which prompted the United Arab Emirates to ban the film.The United Arab Emirates said the couple's relationship violated the country's media content standards. Homosexuality is considered criminal in many Middle Eastern countries.Representatives of other countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia and Lebanon, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on why they would not allow the film to be exhibited."LJun 14, 2022
INTERVIEW Korean animators discuss bringing 'Toy Story' spin-off 'Lightyear' to life A scene from the film, “Lightyear” / Courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea By Kwak Yeon-soo“Lightyear,” which follows the origin story of Buzz Lightyear, a legendary space ranger in the “Toy Story” franchise, boasts all-ages storytelling with boundary-pushing animation.In the film, Buzz (voiced by Chris Evans), along with his robot companion cat, Sox (Peter Sohn), and three cadets, embarks on a dangerous mission to find his way back home through space and time. However, he is confronted by a mysterious conqueror named Zurg who threatens the universe.Two Korean animators ― layout artist Chun Sung-uk and 3D animator Lee Chae-yeon at Pixar Animation Studios ― participated in creating the “Toy Story” spin-off. Both said they were honored to join the project as they grew up watching the “Toy Story” film series. Layout artist Chun Sung-uk at Pixar Animation Studios / Courtesy ofJun 12, 2022By Kwak Yeon-soo
CGV to focus more on high-tech screens, premium theaters to brace for post-pandemic demand CGV Yongsan in Seoul / Korea Times fileCJ CGV, Korea's largest multiplex cinema chain, said Sunday that it will expand investment in high-technology, multi-projection screens and premium theaters to meet changes in post COVID-19 pandemic customer demand."We will focus more on expanding high-tech screens in a bid to help movie fans not only watch content but also experience something more special at theaters," said Cho Jin-ho, in charge of content programming at CGV. "We are also adding more small private screening rooms for those who want their own space."He said CGV's flagship technologies of ScreenX and 4DX will be front-line formats for this strategy.ScreenX is a multi-projection cinematic platform that provides 270-degree panoramic images to audiences by expanding the display onto the theater's side walls. The 4DX format allows films to be enhanced with various physical effects, including motion seats, water and scents.Globally, CGV operates 350 ScreenX theaters and 783 4DX theaters in 106 countries, including the United States, France, Britain and Japan, as of June 2022.CGV openJun 12, 2022
Special screenings of films by Cannes winners to be offered Cinema chain CGV will hold special screenings of director Park Chan-wook and actor Song Kang-ho's films, which have won awards or been invited to compete at Cannes Film Festival, from June 16 to 29. Courtesy of CGVBy Kim RahnSpecial screenings of films by director Park Chan-wook and actor Song Kang-ho will be held later this month at CGV.The nation's largest cinema chain said, Thursday, that seven films will be screened at CGV Art Houses nationwide from June 16 to 29 to honor Park's Best Director award and Song's Best Actor award won at the 75th Cannes Film Festival.The seven movies are those that have been either nominated for or won an award at Cannes festivals ― four films directed by Park and three by other directors and starring Song.Among Park's films, neo-noir thriller “Oldboy” won the Grand Prix at the 57th festival. “The Handmaiden,” the erotic psychological thriller that competed in the 69th edition, will be screened this time in an extended version with some 20 extra minutes added.“Decision to Leave,” the romance noir that earned Park thJun 9, 2022By Kim Rahn
INTERVIEW 'Broker' actor Song Kang-ho says winning award was never his goal Actor Song Kang-ho plays the role of a baby broker in the new drama film, “Broker.” Courtesy of Sublime Artist AgencyBy Lee Gyu-leeActor Song Kang-ho, who recently won the Best Actor award at the 75th Cannes Film Festival for his performance in the film, “Broker,” said accolades have never been his goal in acting.“As an actor, the purpose of acting and taking part in films is not to win a trophy. The only goal is to communicate with audiences through a good piece of work,” the actor told The Korea Times during an online interview, Wednesday. “Screening at film festivals and winning just happens to be part of that whole process of working hard and making a good film. I'm very thrilled and honored but this has not been my goal and won't be in the future. It always has been this way and nothing will change,” he said.Recalling when his name was called as the winner at the festival's closing ceremony, he said it was more meaningful to share the moment with his family. “This was the first time my son came with me (to Cannes) … I'Jun 8, 2022By Lee Gyu-lee
