200 Pounds Beauty

director

Kim Yong-hwa(김용화)

cast

Kim Ah-joong

Joo Jin-mo

Kim Yong-geon

Seong Dong-il

Lim Hyeon-shik

Lee Han-wi

Kim Hyeon-sook

Park No-sik

Jeong Yoon

Park Hwi-soon

Park Jin-gook

Daejong Film Fest Showcases Trends

South Korea's esteemed 45th Daejong (Grand Bell) Film Festival held in southern Seoul, showcased the latest local box office trends, with its stronghold of original thrillers, stylistic period pieces and experimental projects. While superstars grabbed the limelight as expected, hitherto overlooked veteran actors and young debutant directors shined the most, suggesting that blatant star power, be it a reputed director or ravishing screen beauty, don't always guarantee ticket sales or awards. The red carpet event took place outside the COEX Convention Hall in a sea of blinding camera flashes as glamorous cineastes filed in. Screen beauties like Han Chae-young, Park Jin-hee and Shin Ae were elegant in cleavage-bearing, long evening gowns while others such as Kim Yun-jin and Ko Ara chose mini-dresses to show off their figures. Actress Kim A-jung, who won last year's award for Best Actress (``200 Pounds Beauty''), and popular announcer Choe Gi-hwan hosted the show. To add more sparkle to the star-studded event, pop group the Wonder Girls took to the stage to deliver bubbly dance music. ``The Chaser,'' the feature film debut of young director Na Hong-jin and the highest grossing film this season, took the festival by storm by winning five of 11 nominations, including those for Best Picture and Director. For Actor Kim Yun-seok, who has endlessly displayed solid acting through supporting roles, his first leading role won him both the Best Actor prize and the BMW Popularity Award. The 40-year-old dazzled the screen as a sullen, disheartened former cop opposite hot young actor Ha Jung-woo. Another murder thriller ``Seven Days,'' the latest homegrown film starring ``Lost'' star Kim Yun-jin, won three of 10 nominations including Best Actress, Sound Effects and Editing. Like ``The Chaser,'' it enjoyed critical acclaim and high sales at the box office earlier this year. Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Actress went to Yoo Jun-sang (``Return'') and Kim Hae-sook (``Open City''), respectively. The latter star showed off a wild, charismatic streak as an ex-convict in ``Open City,'' breaking away from her usual TV roles as a housewife. The 52-year-old, sexy in a sleek black dress on the night, also received attention for her role as a mother who falls in love with her daughter's former fiance. The romance film ``Viva Love'' won director Oh Jeom-gyun the title of Best New Director and Best Screenplay. Korean cinema and broadcasting have seen a high tide of stylistic period pieces depicting lives and loves from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). The befittingly named court intrigue ``Shadows in the Palace'' by debutant director Kim Mee-jung won the award for Best Lighting while ``Hwang Jin Yi,'' starring actress Song Hye-kyo as the famed poet and dancer, received prizes for Best Music and Costume. ``M,'' celebrated director Lee Myung-se's striking, surreal story starring Gang Dong-won, received the Best Visuals Award. ``Miracle of a Giving Fool'' starring Ha Ji-won and Cha Tae-hyun, a hit among popular cartoon-turned-movies, won the public vote for Best Hallyu (Korean Wave) Movie. Actor Daniel Henney, who recently finished shooting his Hollywood debut in the ``X-Men'' franchise, was named Best New Actor (``My Father'') and model-turned-actress Han Ye-seul won Best New Actress. A special honor went to Yoo Dong-hoon, president of the Korea Scenario Writers Association, for his lifetime contribution to Korean cinema. Stellar Event Casts Dark Shadows But brightness is always accompanied by dark shadows. Inefficient organization prolonged the running time of the event, and the awardees did not receive sufficient time to express their happiness. The preceding film festival inviting moviegoers to watch movies and meet cineastes at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, May 24-28, was popular and was extended until the 30th. However, the award ceremony itself drew a rather disappointing level of public participation. The annual event recorded a relatively low viewer rating of 11.9 percent through its live broadcasting on SBS. The ceremony caused disorder in the Samseong-dong area where roads were blocked off, and there was sharp criticism of its overly commercial tactic of charging people to vote for the Hallyu Movie Award.

Family, History Surface in `Underground’

With the two Korean leaders slated to meet for talks in late August, the release of the heartfelt drama ``Underground Rendez-vous'' is most timely. Free of political commentaries, the film celebrates universal values of love with a delightfully comical edge as it portrays a family forced to live under unnatural separation. Set during the early 1980s, ``Underground'' tells the hilarious story of Yeong-tan (Im Chang-jung), an aspiring schoolteacher who, caught along a series of mishaps, ends up teaching children in a small mountainous village. Meanwhile, the ``real'' teacher (Ryoo Seung-bum) who was supposed to move into town is trapped in the middle of nowhere, unable to move his right foot after stepping on a landmine. All seems swell for Yeong-tan, and he even falls in love with an angelic beauty, Seon-mi (Park Jin-hee), the sister in law of the town chief (Im Hyun-sik). One day, Yeong-tan catches Seon-mi and the chief in an awkward moment, and being the Don Quixote he is, immediately proceeds to disclose the so-called incestuous scandal. Over the course of his investigation, however, Yeong-tan discovers that Seon-mi lives in a town up north -- in North Korea. It turns out that 30 years before, the chief's family had been separated when they accidentally stood on the wrong side of the fence while the 38th parallel was being drawn. However, the family members have been able to visit one another through an underground passage between the North's southernmost village and the South's northernmost village in North Chungcheong Province. But with authorities of both sides closing up on their clandestine rendez-vous, the family must risk everything to stay together. ``Korea is the sole country left with the problem of division, but the younger generation does not understand it very well,'' director Kim Jong-jin told reporters at a Seoul theater Tuesday. Kim, assistant director of comedies like ``The Greatest Expectation'' (2003) and ``My Wife is a Gangster'' (2001), makes his solo debut. ``I hope they will be able to learn about the separation as part of our history, why members of a family cannot live together while living in such proximity, and why the North and South have different political ideologies,'' he said. The film transcends the basic premise of a typical family comedy by uniquely morphing itself into a period piece. The opening scene evokes Michael Bay's ``Pearl Harbor'' (2001) as military jets congest a swelling, ruby red sunset. Furthermore, the dichotomy between the airborne vessels and hanbok-clad characters is striking. ``Underground'' vividly captures 1980s Seoul with police stations packed with student protesters, all the way back to a pivotal moment in Korean history when the Soviets (now Russia) and Americans drew the 38th parallel across the peninsula. But when a family inadvertently splits while helping the soldiers erect the fence, the situation turns absurdly comic -- it makes you wonder whether to laugh or cry. Continuing the tradition of films like ``Welcome to Dongmakgol'' (2005), ``Underground'' keeps the heavy theme afloat with tastefully orchestrated comic relief, provided by comedian actors who give life to charming characters. Im Chang-jung, the prince of Korean comedy with hits like ``Sex is Zero'' (2003) under his belt, struts out his comic acts alongside veteran actors like Im Hyun-shik (``200 Pounds Beauty,'' 2006). The actors hit all the right notes, spicing up sappy moments here and there with witty lines. Park Jin-hee, the Korean Naomi Watts who is enjoying the peak of her acting career at a not very young age, also provides much laughter with her narcissistic character. ``Underground'' opens across theaters Aug. 15, a historic day when the two Koreas had celebrated -- as one -- their independence from Japan 62 years ago in 1945. The family comedy will capture hearts in tune with Korea's Independence Day, Gwangbokjeol, meaning ``recapturing the light'' in Korean. By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter

[Talk of the town]Hair raising refusal causes loss of face

The chance of a lead role in a promising soap opera or movie is unquestionably a golden opportunity for actors to demonstrate their potential. Thus Kim Ah-joong and Cha In-pyo must have felt awful for declining such offers on account of their hair. After her success in the movie “200- Pound Beauty,” Kim gladly accepted the lead role of Ko Eun-chan in “Coffee Prince,” a popular drama that boasts an audience rating of 30 percent ― until she realized that Ko was a cross-dressing young woman. This meant that Kim’s long, shiny hair had to be cut. Kim’s manager, Kim Eun-joo said, “Unfortunately, as a shampoo model, Kim is forbidden to get a haircut at any time under the shampoo contract.” Cha In-pyo also missed his chance to perform in “May 18,” the box office success about the Gwangju uprising. Already acquainted with both the film’s director and distributor after his part in “Mokpo Harbor,” Cha seemed perfect for “May 18.” However, he was promptly replaced, when the director decided his curly hair was not fit for the role of a strict teacher. Yoon Eun-Hye and Son Byung-ho snatched up the respective roles. By Lee Seung-eun

Highway Star Sold to Japan

The release rights for Korean musical comedy Highway Star has been sold to Japanese firm Avex Entertainment. For Avex, known primarily as one of the largest independent record labels in the world, the pick-up marks its first purchase of a Korean film after a recent move into the film industry. Korean sales outfit Studio 2.0 sold the film, which stars My Sassy Girl lead actor CHA Tae-hyun. Highway Star is about a struggling rock musician who is duped into 'trot' music, a now often mocked traditional style of Korean country music popular in the 80's and still loved today by the senior generation. The film is a remake of a Japanese feature titled Enka no Hanamichi. Its grossed US$11.7 million on its release at home in February, following in the footsteps of other Korean music-themed comedy-dramas of personal transformation such as Radio Star (2006) and the mega-hit 200 Pounds Beauty (2006). The film is the feature debut for directors Kim Hyun-soo and Kim Sang-chan. Nigel D'Sa (KOFIC)

Korean filmmakers face uphill battle

In the second half of 2006, Korean films led by "The Host," "Tazza: The High Rollers" and "200-Pound Beauty" enjoyed strong showings at the box office, outsmarting Hollywood blockbusters. This year, the situation has been completely reversed. Big-budget Hollywood flicks like "Spider-Man 3" dominated the local box office in the first six months of 2007, while the share of local films, once hovering at around 40 percent, plunged to 20 percent in May. The Korean film industry now places its hopes on a handful of movies to be released in the second half of this year. The spotlight is on "Hwaryeohan hyuga," which roughly translates into "Colorful Holiday," a tale that centers on the Gwangju massacre of May 18, 1980 when troops sent by the military dictatorship killed hundreds of innocent citizens. The film, which cost about 10 billion won ($10.9 million) to make and is set to be released on July 26, portrays actual events leading up to the May 18 massacre, with the main character named Min-woo (Kim Sang-kyung) joining a citizen militia to protect demonstrators against government troops. Directed by Kim Ji-hoon, the film also stars well-known actors such as Ahn Sung-ki and teen idol Lee Jun-ki. Critics say that the film's realistic depiction of the tragic incident may renew interest in Korean films among audiences. Although there are conflicting views about its commercial potential, critics also point to "D-War," a sci-fi monster movie directed by Shim Hyung-rae, as one of the major Korean films in the second half of the year. "D-War," to be released on Aug. 2, is a typical effects-heavy movie shot mostly in Los Angeles. The film has drawn keen attention from local fans and critics because of its ambitious foray into the American market, as well as its massive production budget. It is estimated that the film cost about $70 million to shoot, including all the special effects developed by Younggu Art, a home-grown CGI company founded by director Shim. Starring Jason Behr and Amanda Brooks, the English-language film revolves around a Korean legend about a huge snake-like creature known as "imoogi." The serpent-like monster smashes its way into downtown Los Angeles in the hopes of finding a girl destined to transform it into a dragon. Director Shim, once touted as a pioneering comedian-turned-director, has been promoting the sophisticated computer graphics in an attempt to dispel any mistrust over the delay-plagued launch schedule. Meanwhile, "Haebuhak gyoshil," which means "Anatomy Class" in Korean, is drawing public attention as a well-made horror films. Depicting mysterious deaths that originate in a human anatomy lab of a medical college, the film's sharp-edged visuals are said to be on par with big-budget Hollywood horror flicks. The film, directed by Son Tae-kyeong, is scheduled to be released on July 12. But Korean filmmakers are widely expected to face an uphill battle in the second half of this year as well, as high quality and numerous Hollywood movies are set to hit local theaters. The most immediate threat is "Die Hard 4.0" (also known as "Live Free or Die Hard"), which is armed with plenty of action sequences, showcasing the trademark blockbuster features of the die-hard film franchise. The movie, scheduled to be released on July 19 in Korea, is directed by Len Wiseman, and features Bruce Willis as action hero John McClane. "The Simpsons Movie," set to hit the theaters here on Aug. 23, is also a strong contender for Korean filmmakers. The animation features arguably the most popular sitcom family in history. Even a number of Korean viewers are familiar with Bart, Homer, Marge, Lisa, Maggie and their Springfield neighbors. By Yang Sung-jin

Ko So-young: Never Out of the Public Eye

s an entertainment reporter, I am often asked: “Who is the most beautiful in the flesh?” Even in the world of entertainment, where a fresh drop-dead gorgeous face is making her debut every five minutes, the actress Ko So-young is perhaps the most beautiful. Making her comeback after a nine-year break, Ko stars as the angelically innocent Eun-soo, who suffers a breakup with her boyfriend due to opposition from their parents, in the SBS drama "Blue Fish.” Ko has a unique image and atmosphere. She looks confident, beautiful, luxurious and trendy. However, she has turned down several offers of drama parts, including the lead in a soap titled “Bad Love”, in which she was to star opposite K-pop superstar Rain. Against this background of refusal, many were on tenterhooks right until the night of the first show wondering whether Ko would really be in it. But she was, and her character was the polar opposite of the parts she used to play. But the result was a crushing defeat. The viewer ratings hovered around 6 percent and did not get better. Critics blamed the worldly Ko's casting as a monotonous innocent for the failure. Audiences no longer warm to innocents, so it seemed Ko made the wrong choice. She was offered the lead in “200 Pound Beauty” and instead plumbed for “Go Go Sister.” Unfortunately, “Beauty” was the surprise smash hit of the year, attracting 6.8 million moviegoers, while “Sister” barely lasted two weeks in the theaters. That wasn’t the end of her unlucky streak. There has also been unkind speculation following news that she owns an under-construction building valued at W10 billion (US$1=W938) in glitzy Cheongdam-dong in southern Seoul. Ko reportedly came under a tax probe at the end of March. The land she owns costs W160 million or so per square meter. She now has a building constructed -- six stories above ground and two below -- on a 445.2 sq.m site. According to a real estate expert, the land may be worth at least W6 billion and the cost of construction may amount to more than W1.5 billion. Some experts predict it will fetch W10 billion once complete since there are few tall buildings around the site. Ko bought the land on May 24, 2005. Real estate experts say she may have made a 30 percent profit because cost of land has much increased compared to two years ago. A real estate expert hinted, “Ko seems to aim at putting the building to lease.” The question people have been asking is how she earned such a huge amount of money without appearing in dramas or movies since 2002. But those close to her say she has kept making lucrative commercials for brands like THEFACESHOP, Hillstate apartments and Giordano. Considering that stars with similar name value get more than W500 million for shooting a commercial, it is not surprising that she should own such an expensive building. One person close to Ko says she suffered various rumors regarding her long-period break and ownership of the building, but actually the building and site did not cost nearly as much 10 billion. “The cost of land amounts to W5-6 billion. It seems that the value of building has been inflated because she is a celebrity.” Ko brought defamation charges against 35 netizens with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, accusing them of spreading false rumors about her private life through Internet message boards, cafes and blogs. Her legal representative, DeRyook International Law Firm, said, "Some netizens have spread lies in cyberspace for several years saying that Ko is personally close to a particular person she has never met." "As an unmarried woman and a public entertainer, I felt shock and shame, but I refrained from direct response and instead asked the portal sites to delete the comments, hoping that the rumors would naturally be revealed to be false," Ko says. "But every time I was the subject of discussion, these lies were deliberately repeated and spread off-line. I have no choice but to sue the writers.” Despite that, the public is bound to keep watching. This story has been contributed by Yoo A-jeong from SportChosun.