VOD Choice in May

2020-05-01 ~ 2020-05-31
VOD Choice in May
VOD Choice May, recommended by the staff at Korean Film Archive 

Films
  • 01. Under the Sky of Seoul ( Seoul-ui Jibungmit ) Lee Hyung-pyo, 1961
    “Under the Sky of Seoul,” the debut film of director Lee Hyung-pyo, is a family drama that depicts the events taking place in the alleyways of Seoul, which surround the family of Kim Hak-gyu (played by Kim Seung-ho), who runs an oriental clinic. Although this was his debut film, Lee Hyung-pyo had advanced experiences and sensibilities from having produced films at USIS. The film could have felt static because it takes place in small spaces such as homes, an oriental clinic, and narrow alleyways. However, the director used natural camerawork, upbeat music, and interesting accessories to drive the boredom out of the screen. Because it is based on a serial novel printed on a newspaper, this film has a narrative that is composed of individual episodes woven together. Each episode induces laughter from the audience by presenting minor conflicts and resolutions, but in the end, an important incident—city council election—is used to resolve fundamental issues causing the minor conflicts and complete the story as a whole. As such, “Under the Sky of Seoul” feels like multiple sitcom episodes, rather than a well-organized feature-length story. 
    Lastly, Kim Seung-ho, who played the role of Kim Hak-gyu in this film, went on to strengthen his on-screen image as a father figure by playing father roles in multiple family drama films during the early 1960s. I like Kim Seung-ho’s character in “Under the Sky of Seoul,” because unlike the shabby father in “A Petty Middle Manager” or hardworking father in “A Coachman,” this father character is charming for his stubbornness combined with slight sneaky tendencies. (Lee Su-yeon, Researcher, Korean Film Archive Research & Exhibition Team)
  • 02. Wang Sib Ri, My Hometown (Wangsibli(Wangsimni)) Im Kwon-taek, 1976
    In this film, Jun-tae (played by Shin Sung-il), the son of a day laborer, is reunited with his former lover Jeong-hee (played by Kim Young-ae) in when he visits Wang Sib Ri, his hometown, for the first time in fourteen years. It is an ordinary setup for a melodrama. The seemingly innocent romance film, however, suddenly gets tangled with rough and tough deceptions, taking the story in an unexpected direction. The confusion is short-lived, as the audience is immersed in the tensions of repeated courtship and rejection, deception and traps. As the story progresses, it becomes confusing as to which of the masks worn by the characters are their real persona. I recommend readers to follow this distorted story and try to understand the characters’ final decisions. 
    The coal-gray atmosphere of Wang Sib Ri in the 1970s is another element stressed in the film. The scene in which Jun-tae and the owner of the billiard center (played by Choi Bool-am) walk the endless field covered by briquette ash presents a foreign sight that does not exist today. It also invokes a strange atmosphere. More imagination should be possible if the audience thinks about the mood and the situations surrounding the year 1976, when the film was made. Those who watch the film may think of the coal-gray-colored air in the film as they walk by the subway transfer center, plazas, and arcades in Wang Sib Ri. (Jeong Hyeon-gyeong, Korean Film Archive Policy Planning Team)
  • 03. Grown-ups Just Don't Understand (Eoreundeul-eun molrayo) Lee Kyu-hyung, 1988
    Several things must be prepared before playing this film. First, find small pieces of paper and a pen. Second, right before pressing the play button, write down “Health (Body)” and “Study (Learning)” on the pieces of paper. When the film begins with a narrator and the story continues, add little slash marks under each of these words every time you find those themes are displayed in various scenes. Make sure to remember counting the presentation of the themes and not be too distracted by the youthful looks of the now-aged movie stars. 
    As the numbers for “Health” and “Study” grow, the film will advance towards the end. At this time, the audience will find that this film takes the form of a somewhat familiar genre. Viewers might feel the cringe, with their bodies rolling up like the edges of old movie posters. I advise them to just accept the cringe. The way that the film was presented the “cool” thing back when it was first released.
    After viewing the film, get active to practice the maxims “a healthy mind in a healthy body” and “work out the body and work out the mind.” Or grab a cup of coffee, gather your little ones, and tell them about the good old days when you were young. (Heo Seo-yeon, Librarian, Korean Film Archive Video Library)

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