KOREAN SHORT FILM MADNESS
This year New York Asian Film Festival is partnering with DramaFever, the very best Korean drama streaming service, in order to bring you some of the most awesome Korean short films.These movies come from the Mise en Scène Short Film Festival, established by some of Korea’s biggest filmmakers including Bong Joon-Ho and Park Chan-Wook, and it’s a film fest that’s a talent farm which has turned out Kim Ji-Woon’s cinematographer and Yeun Sang-Ho, director of King of Pigs. These films will be available on DramaFever streaming from June 21st to July 21st!
오목어 Noodle Fish (2012)
Directed by: Kim Jin-Man
This wonderful animation is a pin-screen animation made entirely of soup noodles. It follows a fish who goes on an adventure of self discovery after some tadpoles tell him "To be a grown up, you've got to get out of the water." Technically impressive and very sweet.
누가공정화를죽였나 Who Killed Gong Jung-Wha? (2012)
Directed by: Han Ji-Hye Cast: Kim Min-Ji
A young woman named Gong Jung-Wha dies on the street during a summer in Korea. This film is an abstract faux-documentary exploring who Gong Jung-Wha was and what lead to her death. Lyrical and filled with stunning shots, this challenging film is worth your time.
청이 Cheung (2012)
Directed by: Kim Jung-In Cast: Seo Da-In
A little girl lives alone with her blind father, this film is about her navigating the social structure that comes with being in grade school while dealing with an abnormal family situation in a society where being different is taboo.
판도라 Pandora (2011)
Directed by: Heo Myeong-Haeng
Starring: Park Ji-Hoon, Kang Young-Wook, Son Byeong-Wook
Seoul Action School Team is on their way to Chungju to do a demonstration during the 2011 Chungju World Martial Arts Festival. Jeong-Hun arrives early and on his way to his room he runs into a man and accidentally switches phones. This sets off a non-stop martial arts chase extravaganza showing off the talented Seoul Action School Team.
녹색물질 Green Slime (2012)
Directed by: Kwon Oh-Kwang
Starring: Maeng Bong-Hak
One night during a heavy rain storm a young boy enters an inn with a wild tale that his father has turned into a monster. The men in the inn decide to investigate and to give anything more would ruin this wonderful horror short.
밤, 상 The Last Meal (2011)
Directed by: Jung Dong-Rak
Starring: Kim Jun-Ho, Lee Young-I
Our most deliciously melodramatic film out of this year’s shorts, The Last Meal follows a famous chef as he prepares for an international competition. At the same time his mother, who he has not seen in a long time, is dying and his family asks him to take care of her. It’s a slow-burn but the emotional investment is worth it.
마취 Anesthesia (2011)
Directed by: Kim Souk-Young
Starring: Baek Seon-Ju, Park Myeong-Sin, Park Se-Jin, Lim Hyeong-Guk, Jo Yun-Mi
A new nurse Ji-Hyeon witnesses the director of the clinic where she works raping a woman under anesthesia. She records the assault on her cell phone but runs into resistance from her coworkers about reporting her boss and decides to take matters into her own hands.
인투 포커스 Into Focus (2011)
Directed by: Jo Young-June
Starring: Song Il-Gon, Ryu Tae-Woong
Pan-Geun is an extra who wants desperately to become a lead actor. He gets an oppportunity to appear in the background of a popular TV drama and shaves his head for the role. However unexpected circumstances may prevent him from getting his moment in the spotlight.
가정방문 The Visitor (2012)
Directed by: Kim Bo-Young
Starring: Kim Jae-Rok, Lee Bo-Ram, Jho Soo-A, Kim Moo-Shin, Kim Bo-Min, Lee woo-Jin
Jin-A's extremely pregnant teacher, Boram, comes to Jin-A’s apartment to get her father to sign a permission slip for a contest before her maternity leave. She meets Jin-A's father and after a pleasant but antagonistic conversation she becomes aware that he is not really her father, instead he and his partner have taken over the house, and as Jin-A pleads for help her own survival instinct is telling her to run away.
Etude, Solo (2011)
Directed by: Yoo Dae-Eol
Cast: Hwang Kyung-Min, Seo Ji-Seong, Choi Woo-Sik
A piano tuner is assigned to go to a children's outdoor concert. As he tunes the piano and listens to the children's recital he realizes his childhood sweetheart is there.