Search results
Jun 12, 2023 · Korean cinema boasts a remarkable repertoire of films, and among them, several have emerged as iconic masterpieces. Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" (2019) made history by becoming the first Korean film to win the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, captivating audiences with its layered social commentary and exceptional storytelling.
- The Quiet Family. The Quiet Family might not be the best movie in the world, but it actually kick-started the careers of actors Choi Min-sik, who would star in Oldboy and I Saw the Devil, and Song Kang-ho, who was the star of Parasite and Memories of Murder.
- I Saw the Devil. Actors Lee Byung-hun and Choi Min-sik lead the film I Saw the Devil, which came out in 2009 to fanfare. Lee portrays an NIS Agent who, after the murder of his wife on the side of the road, decides to take the path of revenge against the man who did this to her.
- Train to Busan. A zombie movie that gained the love of fans from all over the world, many know the name Train to Busan. Gong Yoo portrays a disgruntled worker who is taking his daughter on a high speed train to Busan, as he wants to let her spend time with her mother for birthday, but a country-wide zombie outbreak is happening.
- A Tale of Two Sisters. 2003’s A Tale of Two Sisters showed the world what South Korean horror could be about, and it delivered righteously. The movie would become the first Korean film to be screened in American movie theaters, and has remained the highest-grossing Korean horror film released.
Feb 19, 2020 · Parasite (2019) explores the non-distribution of wealth in a brilliantly crafted tale of a poor family infiltrating a rich one. The film captured the Korean zeitgeist, the global zeitgeist – and four Oscars. The Oscar smash-hit Parasite (2019) has drawn renewed attention to both South Korea and South Korean cinema.
People also ask
Which Korean films are famous?
What was Korean cinema like in the 60s?
Why do some South Korean movies stand out from the rest?
Why is South Korean cinema so popular?
Key Films & History [Ultimate Guide] Korean New Wave cinema has revolutionized the global film landscape with its unique blend of gripping storytelling and aesthetic innovation. We’ve witnessed a seismic shift as movies like “Parasite” and “Oldboy” captivated audiences worldwide, showcasing the depth and creativity of Korean filmmakers.
- A Petal
- The Attorney
- The Old Garden
- National Security
- Peppermint Candy
- 26 Years
- May 18
- Fork Lane
- A Taxi Driver
- 1987: When The Day Comes
Korean title: 꽃잎 (Ggotip)| Year Released: 1996 | Starring: Lee Jung Hyun, Moon Sung-keun We start withA Petal — perhaps the first feature film to depict the Gwangju Uprising. The film’s director Jang Sun-woo was jailed under Chun Doo-hwan’s regime, and used A Petalto express raw social commentary on the brutality of authoritarian rule. The film foc...
Korean title: 변호인 (Byeonhoin)| Year Released: 2013 | Starring: Song Kang-ho, Kim Young-ae, Oh Dal-su, Im Si-wan, Kwak Do-won Veteran actor Song Kang-ho stars as a lawyer, loosely modeled off former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, in The Attorney. The film draws inspiration from the real-life 1981 Burim Case in which Chun Doo-hwan’s government ...
Korean title: 오래된 정원 (오래된 정원) | Year Released: 2006 | Starring: Ji Jin-hee, Yum Jung-ah, Youn Yuh-jung Based on a 1990 novel by famed South Korean writer and dissident Hwang Sok-yong, The Old Garden offers an artistic and romantic (but still intense) mediation on the lasting traumas of Korean democratization. Directed by Im Sang-goo (who also made ...
Korean title: 남영동 1985 (Namyeong-dong 1985) | Year Released: 2012 | Starring: Park Won-sang, Lee Geung-young Known for his outspoken social views, director Chung Ji-young had a very political objective with National Security: to influence South Korea’s 2012 Presidential Election, ostensibly in favor of liberals. Unfortunately, Chung didn’t succeed ...
Korean title: 박하사탕 (Bakha Satang) | Year Released: 1999 | Starring: Sol Kyung-gu, Moon So-ri, Kim Yeo-jin Despite its innocuous title,Peppermint Candy offers another weighty exploration of South Korea’s recent history. The film starts with its protagonist Kim Yong-ho’s suicide, and then goes backwards in time to explore the traumas that lead to his...
Korean title: 26년 (26 Nyeon) | Year Released: 2012| Starring: Jin Goo, Han Hye-jin, Bae Soo-bin, Im Seu-long Adapted from a popular webcomic by artist Kang Full, 26 Yearspresents a unique vision of “coming to terms with the past”. In the film’s fictional story, a group of five ordinary citizens band together to assassinate an unnamed man responsibl...
Korean title: 화려한 휴가 (Hwaryeohan hyuga) | Year Released: 2007 | Starring: Kim Sang-kyung, Ahn Sung-ki, Lee Yo-won, Lee Joon-gi As its name suggests, May 18 focuses entirely on the Gwangju Uprising. The film centers around two brothers who caught up in the uprising’s events, and includes many scenes where soldiers suppress civilians. May 18 came at ...
Korean title: 포크레인 (Pokeulein) | Year Released: 2017 | Starring: Uhm Tae-woong, Son Byong-ho Produced by renowned (and recently infamous) auteur Kim Ki-duk, Fork Laneis another movie that explores the Gwangju Uprising from the perspective of a perpetrator. The film’s protagonist is Kim Gang-il, a construction equipment operator. In 1980, Kim served...
Korean title: 택시운전사 (Taeksi Unjeonsa) | Year Released: 2017 | Starring: Song Kang-ho, Thomas Kretschmann One of the best Korean movies of 2017, A Taxi Drivertells a poignant story of friendship and perseverance set amidst the Gwangju Uprising. The movie is based on the real story of a taxi driver who ferried German reporter Jurgen Hinzpeterto Gwang...
Korean title: 1987 | Year Released: 2017 | Starring: Kim Yoon-seok, Ha Jung-woo, Yoo Hae-jin Last but not least, there’s1987: When the Day Comes — a recent release which centers around the events that led to 1987’s June Struggle. In January 1987, a student activist named Park Jong-chul was tortured to death while in police detention. At first, the ...
Feb 13, 2020 · 10. A Tale of Two Sisters. Kim Ji-woon’s best film is this hair-raising horror film based on an ancient Korean folk tale about two children dealing with a beautiful but evil stepmother (Yeom Jung-ah). She cuts a terrifying figure as she says, “I think you girls need to be taught a lesson.”.
Mar 24, 2023 · The Housemaid (1960) This classic by controversial director Kim Ki Young has been hailed by film curators and scholars as one of the most important films in Korean cinematic history. The melodrama ...
