Discoveries from South Korea World Cinema

Yeon-shil is the lover of crime boss Dong-il. She pays off one of the boss's henchmen, Man-ho, with whom she once had an affair; Man-ho is an opium addict, and he has been blackmailing Yeon-shil by threatening to disclose their past relations.

With the king's death, Queen Heon-ae becomes the queen mother. Young Heon-ae misses Wang-uk whom she loved before rising to the throne. Wang-uk, however, is indifferent towards her.

Wan-ju, a failed stage actor, makes ends meet by playing real-life parts as someone’s boyfriend or wingman. Desperate for money, Wan-ju takes on his most challenging role ever when he agrees to pretend to have witnessed a murder.

After the Gwangju Democratization Movement is terminated by brute force, Jong Soo runs from the authorities and goes to Dongducheon in search of Tae Ho, an older neighbor from his hometown. He is a student at Jeonnam University and a night school teacher who is on the run because of his involvement in the Gwangju Movement.

Seong-jin decides to go on a trip with her girlfriend Yu-mi for her stepmother Hye-jin, who is lonely after her father passed away. She sees the sea, cooks meat at the pension, and has fun. She sings and plays at the pension karaoke, when a power outage occurs, and Hyejin and Yumi's bodies change. Yumi and Hyejin comfort each other saying they will be fine soon, and decide to keep it a secret from Sungjin. Seong-jin keeps skipping over Yu-mi, who has her Hye-jin's soul, but Hye-jin, who enters her Yu-mi's body, is uncomfortable. Seeing the two of them, immature Yu-mi, who entered Hye-jin's body, flirts with her, and Seong-jin is embarrassed to see her stepmother like that.. Will Hyejin and Yumi be able to return to their own bodies?

A novelist suffering from a prolonged writer's block loses confidence in his work and love life.

Bun-rye, the eldest daughter in a poor family, is violated by Yong-pal, who is a married man, and out of desperation she becomes a concubine of Young-cheol, a gambler who is impotent. Kong Jo-shi is in love with Bun-rye, though she still has feelings for Yong-pal. After losing his money, Young-cheol takes out his anger on Bun-rye and throws her out of his house. In retaliation, Jo-shi kills Young-cheol, and Bun-rye is driven to madness.

Set in Anyang, South Korea, crew members for an upcoming documentary research the devastating fire that took occurred in a factory prior to the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. 22 female workers, who were locked in their dormitory, were killed in the fire. Along the way, the crew members also come across the past of Anyang, including the origin of the city's name ("Anyang" is a Buddhist term for "Paradise"), Buddhist temples, a search for a 500-year-old "grandma tree" and upcoming mayoral election.

Chim-Ae, an orphan, is saved by an old monk of Seo San Temple, Mu Bul Dang while he is wandering in war fires. Then he enters the priesthood and trains himself a mountaineering asceticism. When he becomes an eminent young priest, the last trial to receive the mantle of the preceding abbot applies on him. The old monk sends the fairest of the fair, Myo-Hyang of cottage Ni Am to Chim-Ae to form a connection with her. But Chim-Ae quickly removes his earthly desires towards woman and goes through this hardship by fasting meditation. However the old monk recognizes that love sprouted between two youngsters and shows Chim-Ae the face of transgression which he mentally violated without hesitation to make Chim-Ae and Myo-Hyang go back to mundane existence.

Deuk - man, a returning student, finds lodging difficult. The owner of the boarding house, Sookmyung, is tired of her busy husband picking out the type in the narrow printing shop room every day, so he ludicrously seduces him. Deckman moves the house, but skepticism stubbornly searches for him. Deckman throws himself away more easily than the first, because he gives up the rented house and draws him to his house. However, the virtue of being humiliated by the slave of the castle is no longer able to bear the burden. Duk-man, who throws away everything and goes out into the streets and wipes out the glass of high-rise buildings, registers for the new semester and tells the friends' petitions about the pain.

A peaceful yet somewhat boring small town has everything the townspeople need: a beauty shop, a pharmacy, a convenience store, and a Chinese restaurant. 'Chung-Wha-Roo' is the only Chinese restaurant in town until a new Chinese restaurant by the name 'A-Bang-Goong' opens right across the street. At first, A-Bang-Goong seems less than enthusiastic about their business; the exterior of the restaurant resembles a warehouse without a signboard, and all the employees are grotesque and brusque, even lacking the willpower for decent service including delivery. Despite the fact they serve only two dishes on the menu, their incredible gourmet flavor quickly becomes the toast of the town. As A-Bang-Goong becomes a local and nationwide phenomenon,, WANG, the owner of Chung-Wha-Roo becomes desperate. WANG visits his rival's to taste the famous dishes. However, he falls faint after discovering a human finger in his food.

A suspense film with a hint of the classic Hitchcock film Rear Window, with its theme about the isolation of alienated people living in the city.

Jang Jung-Han is a commander of 330 unit who is with his wife and son Kyu-Shik. By chance Kyu-Shik meets a country boy In-Dol who asks him to find out his sister. The 330 unit comes upon Kyu-Shik's kidnap while it is searching for a couple burglar on motor cycle. Kim Min-Su stole money to pay for his son's medical charge 7 years ago. At that time he solicited Jang Jung-Han not to arrest him but he is arrested and jailed. After finishing his imprisonment, he finds that his wife remarried and his son is dying of maltreatment. He kidnaps Kyu-Shik to retaliate, but he gives up because Kyu-Shik is so simple and innocent. The commander solves the motor cycle case and finds that the woman is In-Dol's sister who feels regret her faults.

One day, a wife suffering from depression turned into a zombie. However, instead of despairing, the husband begins developing strange yet lovely survival recipes to get through each day with his wife. Set against the backdrop of a quiet and mysterious rural village, the husband attempts extraordinary dishes to satisfy his wife's appetite and discovers a crucial hint in his late grandmother's old recipes.

At the end of summer late in the afternoon, a man asks a woman a very difficult request.

An NGO worker in South America returns to Korea. During her month-long stay in Korea, she tries to spend as much time as possible with him, but the man is busy with his work at the TV station. They become disappointed with each other, and start quarrelling frequently. The woman now spends more time alone at home. Actor Yu Junsang has directed and starred in this film about two people who struggle to accept their differences. Although they are together, they are two different people who see the same things from different perspectives.

In the Chinese martial arts/fantasy opus Monkey War: New Pilgrims to the West - a sequel to the original Monkey War - the brave Monkey King launches out on a quest to build a new life for himself. But as he marches westward, he encounters a series of nearly insurmountable foes (including a pig demon and a horde of angry demonic spirits who attempt to eat his monastic tutor) and trials that he must overcome to reach a state of tranquility. (Rotten Tomatoes)

A pregnant couple living in a secluded seaside village. Myung-sook, who is having a hard time with her husband's pregnancy, is having an affair, accidentally walking on the beach and giving her pottery and heading to her house. Dong-cheol, walking down her street, sees Myeong-suk carrying her ceramics, and she is surprised to learn that ceramics are her national treasure. To steal the pottery, Dong-cheol enlists help from Yeongdeungpo fire moth Yu-min and heads to the house of the impregnated Myeong-sook...

Recently discharged Chan-Woo receives a letter of will from ex-acquaintance and leaves for her hometown carrying her ashes with him. As he starts to reminiscent about the girl and prepares for her religious service, he meets mysterious innkeeper Jin-Kyung. He senses genuine love from her, discovering matured self in the process.

Se-hee is doing home training. Ji-eun, her roommate, introduces her to her boyfriend's best friend, Kang-hyeon, as her home trainer.

Krisha is the daughter of the Yates who are the nomad tribe of the tundra. To save her sick mother, she follows the words of Shaman and takes off on her adventure to the end of Northern land to find the red bear she saw in her dreams. In the meanwhile, Captain Vladimir of the federal army and Bazak, the hunter, invades the forest to hunt the red bear. Krisha arrives at the forest where she hears the voice of the red bear.

Kim Su-im, the mistress of an American colonel, is arrested and charged with being a North Korean spy. While not denying the charge, Miss Kim takes the trial as an opportunity to relate her life as an explanation of why she committed treason as a spy.

A gangster-like detective and an ex-convict who met like fate will work together to launch a "super-legal" business that hunts criminals with bounty. Bad guys falling like autumn leaves in front of two men! Cider-like action is pouring down on this stuffy world!

The best rescue team in town, T-Pang Rescue has great members: Titi, the great leader; Pangpang, the incredible transformer; Toktok, the brain of the team; and Sheepon, the only girl, but the bravest of all! One day a big spaceship lands in town and turns into a fascinating amusement park. While everybody is attracted by exciting rides, a father bear asks T-Pang to find his baby lost in the park. Strangely enough, the guards in the park don’t let them search for the baby. With lots of doubt, T-Pang moves to save the baby.

About three monks in a remote monastery; an aging master, a small orphan and a young man who left his city life to seek Enlightenment.

11 days since the breakup with her loving boyfriend. A woman is in tears, suffering from misery. Her life turned into a mess after the shocking breakup. She finally made up her mind to let him go after finding a haggard woman in the mirror. From the Internet, she finds advice on how to mend a broken heart. She decides to calmly follow the suggested methods such as “Have a haircut,” “Bask in the sun,” “Erase the traces of your love.” Then she stumbles upon a matchbox packed with memories of Young-jae. She follows the traces of the matchbox to a cafe in Baek-ma station and tries erasing the remnants of her love.

Trainer Meng Doo-ho spots Young-chul in a bar fight and decides to turn him into a boxing champion.

A girl who has failed to be accepted by a first-rate university and is suffering from depression, suddenly finds herself pulled into the past. She meets her parents as teenagers and must somehow find a way to spark their romance before she can return to her own time.

Hye-yeong had no idea that her lover, Shin-ho, was a married man until Shin-ho's wife and children arrive in town. She leaves him but reappears 8 years later asking him to take responsibilty for their child.

Koo Kyo-hwan and Lee Ha-na are lovers The cash-strapped couple plans their own self-associated documentary, "Project Name: Love," blinded by the five million won advance fund. However, they suddenly break up due to differences in personality, artistry, and taste.

Keeping the Vision Alive is a documentary film containing the voices and images of Korean women filmmakers-both senior filmmakers and also the peers of director Yim. The film is Yim’s homage to both contemporary Korean women filmmakers, written by a filmmaker of the same age, and also to the history of women filmmakers in Korea. Yim does not reveal her own voice or opinion and lets the voices and images of the filmmakers speak for themselves through a non-interventionist camera. From the pioneers, Park Nam-ok, and Hwang Hye-mi, who directed First Experience in 70’s, to recent filmmakers, Byun Young-joo and Jang Hee-sun, the film traces their experiences, troubles, concerns and thoughts as women and women filmmakers. Keeping the Vision Alive calmly and enthusiastically encourages and celebrates the struggles, the resistance and the survival of women filmmakers in a conservative Korean film industry and a male-dominated and sexist social system. (Kwon Eun-sun)

Ri-ae', a woman who had everything but could not fulfill her dream. 'Cheol-woo'. a man with a genius talent but is not lucky. 'Ri-ae' bought the painting of 'Cheol-woo' who she met by chance, and they decided to complete the last work by borrowing each other's names. 'Ri-ae' forgets her vanity and learns true love. And 'Cheol-woo' who had no hope, finds a reason to live as a man with a warm smile...

Real action between the real fighters of this generation! Fighter Yeong-tan challenges Moon-soo to a fight. They put their egos on the line in this battle. While betrayal and schemes surround them, who will win the fight?

Jae-young, an ordinary woman in her mid-20s is sentenced to death by an angel, and ascends to Heaven. Going to Heaven means nothing to her because she assumes Heaven is devoid of reason and humanity. But she accepts her fate and proceeds to bid farewell to her mother and friend. During her farewells, the desire for life starts to torture her.

On his way to China, where he is to meet a longtime lost cousin, Kim, a filmmaker, meets a young woman, Young-hwa. When he meets her a second time in a hotel, he decides to follow her until Tae-bak, where she meets up with her sister.

Ga-hyeon, a graduating student, visits her professor Min-cheol to adjust her grades. Min-cheol promises to adjust her grades on the condition that she helps him...

Yerin, a giraffe-loving high school girl, falls in love with her travel teacher, who dreams of traveling to Africa, but the more they meet in secret, the higher the barriers of reality that stand between them.

When I'm with you, my heart vibrates.

While filming an amateur horror movie, some of the members of the school's film club start acting a little odd.

Osaka Korean High School has provided education for the past six decades to the children of pro-North Korean residents in Japan. This school is located only about 20 minutes away from Hanazono Stadium, the mecca of Japan’s high school rugby, but it was not until 1994, 18 years after the foundation of a rugby team at the high school, that the Japanese education ministry approved the team’s entry into the official league. Since then, the team has run in the national league as a representative of the Osaka area and been considered a front-runner ever since. The team has strong players and passionate supporters, but it faces difficulties just before winning the league.

Jo Yang-eun was a leading mob boss in Korea in the 1970's leading the Yang-eun family. He was eventually arrested and charged under an internal security act and served 15 years in prison. This film, based on truth, is the story of his life in and outside of jail.

It depicts the Buddhist philosophy that humans gain eternal life by transcending time by killing their own bodies. This is Kim Dong-ri’s representative work. It describes the process by which "I", who had rejected the ugly appearance of Deungsinbul, gradually approached it through spiritual exploration and identified with it.

Sang-woo survived a car explosion. He lost his memory but he was able to return to a normal life thanks to his wife Yoon-hee who takes care of him with devotion. However, Sang-woo starts to feel alienated from himself in the past and the 'him' his wife talks about. He starts getting suspicious. He also finds out his wife was having an affair and becomes obsessed with finding out about his past. A man starts to follow his steps and Sang-woo is even more confused. 'What kind of a person was I in the memories lost?' The shocking truth is revealed.

A sequel to Yeong-ja's Heydays follows the career of Yeong-ja’s first love, Chang-su, and his faithful love for her.

Ryan and Kevin and their crew from Los Angeles are hired by U.S. Interpol to be matched up against the notorious Gambler Crew from South Korea, known to the b-boy world as the best of the best. Their mission is to gather information about Tony Kai, an "ex yakuza" member who controls the Asian underworld in the United States. Tony Kai is in South Korea planning a worldwide monopoly on drugs, sex, and gambling. Ryan and Kevin struggle as they go deeper into the Asian underworld. Ryan falls for a beautiful Korean girl named Esther who happens to be the sister of "Kicker", the leader of the mafia-run Gamblers crew. Their love is put to the test as the rivalry between the two crews escalate. As reality sets in, the crew from LA is no match against the world champion Gamblers crew in the Mach 1 competition. Ryan, Kevin and the crew go into hiding where they meet an underground b-boy legend...

Min-woo lives separately with his younger brother’s friend Hae-ri because of household clashes. The younger sister, Su-mi’s opposition is the most severe. Su-mi, who became a family member through remarriage of her parents, still has a crush on her older brother Min-woo alone. Su-mi is carrying out a dangerous plan to break him up with Hae-ri.

Three short films from South Korea, Japan, and China grapple with the aftermath of conflict and personal trauma.

After the war, a journalist investigates a Communist leader in South Korea.

While on a family trip, Ryan and Kory encounter an evil robot force. With their transforming robot friends, Tobots, they fight against the hostile conspiracy to turn humans into robots.