Your K-DRAMA thread

[Thestral]

I am a consumption multi tasker and K Dramas are perfect. I can watch K Dramas whose genre I would never touch in an american show (crime, historical) and thoroughly enjoy them because there's a parallel experience going on, that of another culture. Even the tropes are different and that makes them hilarious.

Yes, exactly! It being another culture just makes it all the more interesting and I've definitely checked out genres that I'd not bother with in American stuff.

I totally get that. The family friendly element in American tv is something that almost has a taste it's so marked. Sometimes K Dramas crack me up too because in the middle of a show that is very wholesome there will be an absolutely horrible event that would never appear in such a wholesome show made elsewhere It's been very interesting seeing how much I've taken for granted as "the way tv shows are done".

Omg yes! Not often but now and then "This is all wholesome and comfy and WHAT THE HELL?! " but then it usually gets resolved quickly enough.

Honestly I only recommend wholeheartedly Reply 1988, the most acclaimed of the three. One of the others is a bit dull and the other one has some fairly toxic romance tropes (but isn't dull). You don't need to watch them in order, their only connection is that the adults are played by the same actors in each one (different characters). Just writing about Reply 1988 makes me want to watch it again LOL.

Oh cool, thanks. With the sheer amount of dramas out there it's good to have it more specified haha. Sounds like it's wonderful!

Not that I'm exactly sticking to "the best" though haha.

A lot of people watching their first K Drama with Squid went nuts at the bad acting of the white people. There's a pool of non-Korean actors in Seoul who get called on for "we need a white person" parts. They have other jobs and if they were really good actors they'd probably take themselves elsewhere for bigger roles. I'm sure the same could have been said in the early days of American tv where a script called for "one asian man" with 5 lines. I had watched so many K Dramas by the time Squid Games came out that I didn't even notice the bad acting until people started talking about it

Great point about "if they were really good actors" haha, and the comparison with early American TV roles. And you know, on the other hand, good for those folks getting roles at all and getting to live and work in Seoul for that matter. It totally makes sense, it was just kind of funny and a little jarring. I suppose I kind of though a little bit too "Ohhhh, is this what it's like for Koreans seeing Koreans in our shows sometimes?"

I'm completely used to the fiction now and I have trouble reading American fiction (which sounds terrible.. but I never read much fiction prior to the K journey). I feel like life.. just has endings without everything coming together in a way that makes sense. We want it to make sense so we write stories where it does but a lot of Korean fiction seems at peace with the randomness of life events as far as the end of a story goes. It's a markedly different approach (and of course books do vary).

This is totally fair of course, yeah. It's totally a valid way of approaching it even if it's not always what I'm wanting, haha.

Spoiler: Crash Landing

The Crash Landing ending pissed off a lot of people even as some thought it was SO romantic.I think they wanted a dramatic ending with beautiful scenery?

Spoiler: Crash Landing

To be fair, the beautiful scenery was certainly there. It's hard to beat the Swiss Alps in that regard.

FUN is definitely the word! Tell me your faves!

One K-Drama joy I have is Shazaming any music I hear on the show. Reply 1988 was particularly great for that and I have good Reply playlist now which led to a big explore of singers and groups. Everything is of the era so it was really interesting.

oh I could go down a bit of a rabbit hole here haha, so without doing toooo much of that, here's a few example of what I've been enjoying.

Spoiler: KPop

On the girls' side, I'd say Le Sserafim and Ive are two of the most recent groups I'm digging, and the ubiquitous Blackpink of course, and the legendary women of Mamamoo. For a more rocking vibe, I really like Dreamcatcher I also have a soft spot for IU, although her stuff is more 'singer-songwriter' maybe?

On the guys' side, Stray Kids and Monsta X are a lot of fun, and the dudes of Shinee. Also Jackson Wang. The friend I'm diving into all this stuff with is more into the girl groups though, which is perfectly fine by me haha. Plus, there's something really cool imo about KARD, not a lot of mixed-gender groups I think? I'm happy to go into more though, hahaha.

Anyway, I hear you about checking out the music on the show!

I absolutely love that about them. Since the big popularity explosion for Korean media thanks to Squid, Parasite etc.. there's been pressure to do a second season. Squid and Hellbound are making second seasons as are some happy romance shows that would never have made a second season before this. It's a little frustrating because I think the Hollywood policy of making a series pump out seasons until it finally crashes and burns is terrible. Hopefully it's won't become a K standard.

Yeah I mean, I'd never thought about it too much and I always have this habit of wanting moar, but there really is just something satisfying about being okay with a complete story? I definitely hope that for the most part they stick with that strategy. And I think for actors that enjoy taking on different styles of roles, that is probably satisfying too?

I couldn't get into Startup, I think I watched 3 eps. But I know a lot of people loved it!

Too much out there to stick with something that isn't holding your interest after all!

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Two VERY different movies I've watched over the last two days.

Peninsula: This is the sequel to Train to Busan though none of the characters are the same and it's set in Incheon, not Busan, 4 years after the events of Train to Busan. It's a totally different vibe, there isn't the build up of Train and it doesn't try to be surprising and edgy at all. It's your classic zombie drama but does have a lot about the post-Apocalyptic society that exists with the few remaining humans on the Korean peninsula. Post Apocalypse is one of my favourite genres so I was into all that but this is NOT The Last of Us LOLOL.. it's an action movie. Still I've been waiting a long time to see this one and I enjoyed it for what it was.

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Barking Dogs Never Bite: Bong Joon-Ho's directorial debut! Co written by him as well. This movie is from 2000, long before his well deserved international success. It's both VERY Bong Joon-Ho and VERY Korean. There's a super taboo to the West thing going on in this movie which I suspect is why it hasn't been elevated like some of his other early work. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone with an interest in this writer/director

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[Thestral]

Two VERY different movies I've watched over the last two days.

Peninsula: This is the sequel to Train to Busan though none of the characters are the same and it's set in Incheon, not Busan, 4 years after the events of Train to Busan. It's a totally different vibe, there isn't the build up of Train and it doesn't try to be surprising and edgy at all. It's your classic zombie drama but does have a lot about the post-Apocalyptic society that exists with the few remaining humans on the Korean peninsula. Post Apocalypse is one of my favourite genres so I was into all that but this is NOT The Last of Us LOLOL.. it's an action movie. Still I've been waiting a long time to see this one and I enjoyed it for what it was.

Does Korean post-apocalypse tend to have similar tropes to American? The hardbitten grimness, the emphasis on "gotta do what it takes to survive and all that? I've only gotten a taste of that through the (still-unfinished) Sisyphus, but I eventually got tired of some of the tropiness of The Walking Dead, for example.

Barking Dogs Never Bite

: Bong Joon-Ho's directorial debut! Co written by him as well. This movie is from 2000, long before his well deserved international success. It's both VERY Bong Joon-Ho and VERY Korean. There's a super taboo to the West thing going on in this movie which I suspect is why it hasn't been elevated like some of his other early work. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone with an interest in this writer/director

I haven't checked out any films yet (just not enough time), but I'm suuuuper-curious what this "super taboo to the West" thing is.


I think very soon I'm going to start watching Backstreet Rookie with my K-Drama friend (because who needs to finish shows right? haha), so looking forward to that.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Does Korean post-apocalypse tend to have similar tropes to American? The hardbitten grimness, the emphasis on "gotta do what it takes to survive and all that? I've only gotten a taste of that through the (still-unfinished) Sisyphus, but I eventually got tired of some of the tropiness of The Walking Dead, for example.

The Walking Dead was waaaaay too American tropey for me, I didn't give it much of a chance before I quit. Maybe I quit too soon but there were some very cliched disaster movie characters in it initially.

Haven't seen any K post-apocalypse that meets your description. The ones I've seen are concerned with a greater, usually sci fi story and are light on the survival details. I've read a K novella that was similar to The Last of Us in style but have seen no tv like that (I like actual survival details).

I haven't checked out any films yet (just not enough time), but I'm suuuuper-curious what this "super taboo to the West" thing is.

I highly recommend you watch Parasite if you've seen no films. It really is worth all the hype and Korea's first ever Oscar. I liked it so much I've now seen it 4 or 5 times. It's dark, multi layered and also humorous. I think if you've watched a bunch of K Dramas already you will definitely get more out of it.

I think very soon I'm going to start watching Backstreet Rookie with my K-Drama friend (because who needs to finish shows right? haha), so looking forward to that.

Have not seen that!

Am watching some Hong Sang-Soo films currently but want to review them all together

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

So watched two Hong Sang Soo films, a long time respected film maker/writer. I don't think I've seen any of his others yet. He's been making movies since the 90's and has new ones released in '22 an '23.

Edit: Both these films have some full sex scenes (very uncomfortable ones lol). I keep hearing about how there's tons of sex in Korean movies but I have never seen any sex in all the movies I've watched other than that one, totally covered scene in Parasite. These movies were also on an Aus tv channel streaming platform so maybe they wouldn't have ended up on Netfix with this level of sex? No idea.

Tale of CInema: 2005 The best of these two, it's a film within a film. We see scenes from the protagonist's famous art movie and then his life. How his friends responded to his success and how he pictured events that he either cribbed from their own lives or that they witnessed and perhaps interpreted differently. The parallels between the two led me to rewatch the film right away. This was a weird experience in that this description and the low key minimalist tone of the movie should mean I absolutely hate it but I was immediately drawn in and loved it. I'm still trying to figure out why

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Women is the Future of Man: 2004 Two entitled middle aged dudes who were selfish entitled 20 somethings meet up after some years, reminisce and argue, return to the woman they were both selfish and entitled with and repeat everything. Like Tale of CInema the style of this movie is one that I should find tedious but I enjoyed it a lot.

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Now to track down some of his newer films.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

On the girls' side, I'd say Le Sserafim and Ive are two of the most recent groups I'm digging, and the ubiquitous Blackpink of course, and the legendary women of Mamamoo. For a more rocking vibe, I really like Dreamcatcher I also have a soft spot for IU, although her stuff is more 'singer-songwriter' maybe?

On the guys' side, Stray Kids and Monsta X are a lot of fun, and the dudes of Shinee. Also Jackson Wang. The friend I'm diving into all this stuff with is more into the girl groups though, which is perfectly fine by me haha. Plus, there's something really cool imo about KARD, not a lot of mixed-gender groups I think? I'm happy to go into more though, hahaha

Of these I'd heard Blackpink, Shinee and listened to most if IU. I've now checked out the rest of them so thanks! I liked Le Sserafim best.

I'm going to give you a few names with the proviso that Sanulrim IS the most epic ever haha.. My most modern stuff is still a decade older than yours and I've been on a long deep crawl in the past so these are the most modern I have.

Sunny Hill. Grasshopper Song is on my perm rotation but they all have really weird, well developed music music videos. This is my most Kpop atm

Crying Nut. This is Korean punk. I like Milk Cattle at the OK Corral best of their albums, or as I call it "the cow album" lol. Sometimes they remind me a bit of Gogol Bordello.

Leenalchi Alternative rock mixed with pansori mixed with other traditional styles mixed with .. everything. Tiger is Coming is the song you may have heard elsewhere and if not.. it's quite a trip. They also did a huge series of Korean Tourism ads for all different cities which are a hoot both musically and visually.

Most of my other stuff is what you'd call singer songwriter or alternative and of course Trot.

 

[Thestral]

The Walking Dead was waaaaay too American tropey for me, I didn't give it much of a chance before I quit. Maybe I quit too soon but there were some very cliched disaster movie characters in it initially.

Haven't seen any K post-apocalypse that meets your description. The ones I've seen are concerned with a greater, usually sci fi story and are light on the survival details. I've read a K novella that was similar to The Last of Us in style but have seen no tv like that (I like actual survival details).

I eventually grew tired of TWD, to be honest. The early seasons had some pretty good stuff (but also some really frustrating stuff) but in the end the repetitive cliched stuff just got to be too much.

Actual survival detail is fun, just don't need toooo much of the "only by being harsh and abandoning morality can you survive" you know? "Greater, usually sci fi story" sounds fun, thanks.

I highly recommend you watch Parasite if you've seen no films. It really is worth all the hype and Korea's first ever Oscar. I liked it so much I've now seen it 4 or 5 times. It's dark, multi layered and also humorous. I think if you've watched a bunch of K Dramas already you will definitely get more out of it.

Yeah, Parasite is definitely on the list! Korea seems to do really well with "dark and also humorous" haha.

Have not seen that!

Currently halfway through Backstreet Rookie and so far... pretty good to really good! The two leads are great and have great chemistry (important for a slice of life/romance!) and the whole premise is one of those things I just can't imagine getting more than a brief glance in the US ("You want to make a show about... a struggling little convenience store...?")

There's been some warning signs and one particular plotline that's rather grating but it seems like there's always a pair of episodes that do something dumb. Hopefully it pulls out of that!

So watched two Hang Sang Soo films, a long time respected film maker/writer. I don't think I've seen any of his others yet. He's been making movies since the 90's and has new ones released in '22 an '23.

Edit: Both these films have some full sex scenes (very uncomfortable ones lol). I keep hearing about how there's tons of sex in Korean movies but I have never seen any sex in all the movies I've watched other than that one, totally covered scene in Parasite. These movies were also on an Aus tv channel streaming platform so maybe they wouldn't have ended up on Netfix with this level of sex? No idea.

Tale of CInema: 2005 The best of these two, it's a film within a film. We see scenes from the protagonist's famous art movie and then his life. How his friends responded to his success and how he pictured events that he either cribbed from their own lives or that they witnessed and perhaps interpreted differently. The parallels between the two led me to rewatch the film right away. This was a weird experience in that this description and the low key minimalist tone of the movie should mean I absolutely hate it but I was immediately drawn in and loved it. I'm still trying to figure out why

Women is the Future of Man: 2004 Two entitled middle aged dudes who were selfish entitled 20 somethings meet up after some years, reminisce and argue, return to the woman they were both selfish and entitled with and repeat everything. Like Tale of CInema the style of this movie is one that I should find tedious but I enjoyed it a lot.

Now to track down some of his newer films.

Of these I'd heard Blackpink, Shinee and listened to most if IU. I've now checked out the rest of them so thanks! I liked Le Sserafim best.

You're welcome! And... good choice for a best out of my suggestions haha. And yay for IU.

I'm going to give you a few names with the proviso that Sanulrim IS the most epic ever haha.. My most modern stuff is still a decade older than yours and I've been on a long deep crawl in the past so these are the most modern I have.

Sunny Hill. Grasshopper Song is on my perm rotation but they all have really weird, well developed music music videos. This is my most Kpop atm

Crying Nut. This is Korean punk. I like Milk Cattle at the OK Corral best of their albums, or as I call it "the cow album" lol. Sometimes they remind me a bit of Gogol Bordello.

Leenalchi Alternative rock mixed with pansori mixed with other traditional styles mixed with .. everything. Tiger is Coming is the song you may have heard elsewhere and if not.. it's quite a trip. They also did a huge series of Korean Tourism ads for all different cities which are a hoot both musically and visually.

Most of my other stuff is what you'd call singer songwriter or alternative and of course Trot.

Thanks for these recommendations! Do you have any particular favorite Trot examples?

Really enjoyed those four suggestions! Tiger is Coming didn't grab me at first but as it went on, it became almost... mesmerizing? The mix of traditional and more modern rock sounds ended up being really fascinating. Sanulrim and Sunny Hill and Crying Nut I took to like a fish to water on the other hand, haha. I'll need to listen to more of all three but so far so good.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I just rewatched Canola (2016) which I had previously seen on a plane quite a few years ago. I have always thought about this movie. It was sadder and more beautiful and more heartwarming than I remembered.

It stars Youn Yuh-Jung, a very famous actor in South Korea who often plays matriarchal roles. She has been well loved in South Korea since the early 70's. In 2021 Hollywood noticed her and she won a raft of best supporting actress awards for Minari including an Oscar.

Now Minari was a nice enough movie but her character is best described as "wise and crabby ethnic grandma". I was underwhelmed by the whole movie which didn't stray from a Hollywood expectation of a feel good migrant's tale.

THIS MOVIE, Canola, is what should have won her an Oscar. She is extraordinary in it and the character's range is far greater than her role in Minari. I wish people who loved Minari would seek out her other work, brave the subtitles and see how wonderful she is! (She's not even my favourite from that generation, but I love her). She is also in the K-Drama Dear My Friends which you would definitely love @Thestral , it's one of the most wonderful warmhearted, humourous, joyful and touching tv series ever. (It's the one where most of the cast are older and stars many famous Korean actors).

Anyway. Canola is the tale of a teenager reunited with her Grandmother on Jeju island after many years. I won't say anything else except have your tissues ready.

(I'll reply to the music topics tomorrow hopefully)

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[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I've been trying to see the disaster movie Ashfall since it came out. The Korean name is Baekdusan. Baekdusan is the volcano mountain in North Korea with a caldera lake. This mountain features in both North and South Korean myths and is supposedly the birthplace of Kim Jong-Il. It last erupted in AD946 and was one of the largest eruptions in the last 5000 years.

The premise: Baekdusan ERUPTS! Changing the title seems silly as the eponymous original one works so well.

It took me a few years to find this movie after missing it's very brief screenings in Melbourne. I enjoy a good disaster movie with dramatic footage and just like the American ones this movie had all the best scenes in the trailer It was ridiculous, had some classic K tropes and had a satisfying ending. Like a lot of Korean movies it seemed to be 20-30 minutes too long (but of course I've been trained in movie expectations my whole life from other countries).

It stars Lee Byung-Hun, otherwise known to me as Mr. Sunshine

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[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I'm on a roll for finding things that have been on my watch list for years.

Oldboy 2003

You will find Oldboy on any "Best Ever Korean Movies" list, it's renowned. It is a thriller, a mystery, a psychological piece of theater, a movie of grotesquely artistic violence, an absolutely shocking film. It is not for the faint of heart. All the action and violence feeds into the unfolding story and none of it is gratuitous or drawn out for the sake of a high action sequence.

The premise: A man is imprisoned against his will in bizarre circumstances for 15 years. When he gets out he seeks answers and vengeance. That is so deceptively simple a description..

I'm a delicate flower but I will watch this movie again it was that good. Highly recommend avoiding spoilers.

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[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Lady Vengeance 2005

This and the above movie, Oldboy are both written and directed by Park Chan-Wook and considered a part of his revenge trilogy of films, though the stories are not connected in any way.

There are two versions of this film, the all colour one and the one where the film gradually fades to black and white as it progresses. I watched the black and white version.

Firstly have to say this film contains scenes of child abuse that while not technically gruesome are DEEPLY disturbing, horrifying, and not at all what you'd see in an American movie even at this R rating. So be warned.

This is a revenge tale. After 13 years in prison the protagonist is released and she calls in favours for all her kindness to her fellow inmates, all ultimately in aid of her pursuit of revenge. In Korean this film is called Kind-hearted Geum-ja, the name of the titular character. Geum-ja was considered an angel in prison and none were aware that it was all done with deeply ulterior motives.

Like Oldboy this is gorgeous to look at, artistic in every detail as well as the pace of it. Strange, compelling, confusing. Not satisfying in the usual narrative way, and in that it does satisfy. You'll know what I mean if you see it. It's considerably less violent than Oldboy and not in any way an action movie.

* * *

I would like to rewatch it but the version I eventually found was blurry in places so I'm holding out to actually rent the video online. Have not found it anywhere Upsetting as Oldboy which I got from the same site was crystal clear. The other member of the trilogy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, seems equally elusive as a rental. Frustrating! These older classics are very impressive.

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[KimMH]

Lady Vengeance 2005

This and the above movie, Oldboy are both written and directed by Park Chan-Wook and considered a part of his revenge trilogy of films, though the stories are not connected in any way.

There are two versions of this film, the all colour one and the one where the film gradually fades to black and white as it progresses. I watched the black and white version.

Firstly have to say this film contains scenes of child abuse that while not technically gruesome are DEEPLY disturbing, horrifying, and not at all what you'd see in an American movie even at this R rating. So be warned.

This is a revenge tale. After 13 years in prison the protagonist is released and she calls in favours for all her kindness to her fellow inmates, all ultimately in aid of her pursuit of revenge. In Korean this film is called Kind-hearted Geum-ja, the name of the titular character. Geum-ja was considered an angel in prison and none were aware that it was all done with deeply ulterior motives.

Like Oldboy this is gorgeous to look at, artistic in every detail as well as the pace of it. Strange, compelling, confusing. Not satisfying in the usual narrative way, and in that it does satisfy. You'll know what I mean if you see it. It's considerably less violent than Oldboy and not in any way an action movie.

* * *

I would like to rewatch it but the version I eventually found was blurry in places so I'm holding out to actually rent the video online. Have not found it anywhere Upsetting as Oldboy which I got from the same site was crystal clear. The other member of the trilogy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, seems equally elusive as a rental. Frustrating! These older classics are very impressive.

*is afraid to watch these but I’ll do my best to find them.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

If you're at all sensitive I wouldn't recommend them. I have built up my tolerance over the years and have the added interest of wanting to thoroughly watch the K classics. Had either Oldboy or Lady Vengeance been a Hollywood movie by Tarantino and I'd read the description I would never watch it. I needed the added layer of K education LOL

Actually that's one reason I prefer watching media from other countries as well as reading translated fiction almost exclusively. It's a way of doing two things at once, there's the story but there's also the meta layer of the other country/language happening. This remains interesting even if the story itself is less so.

 

[KimMH]

Is conflicted now. A lot of my veneer has been scraped off witnessing the shitshow in America. Turns out watching fascists fascist is deeply horrifying- I dont have a lot of appetite for witnessing violence left

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Well I recommend Canola if you want a good K movie that isn't an action flick.

Yeah I never had an appetite for violence, or any kind of horror for that matter. I remember when I first saw the TNG ep Time's Arrow I was absolutely creeped the fuck out over all those alien beings under San Francisco. I found it unbearable to watch because it registered as horror to me. Who was that version of teacake? I can barely remember

But yeah I put the warnings on those movies because I they are next level confrontational.

Speaking of things I can't find, one of the most famous Kdramas, Goblin, still eludes me. It's not on anything I already access, paid or otherwise. It may well disappoint me when I finally find it but now that I'm at the "know your history" part of the K studies I need to see it.

 

[KimMH]

Well I recommend Canola if you want a good K movie that isn't an action flick.

Yeah I never had an appetite for violence, or any kind of horror for that matter. I remember when I first saw the TNG ep Time's Arrow I was absolutely creeped the fuck out over all those alien beings under San Francisco. I found it unbearable to watch because it registered as horror to me. Who was that version of teacake? I can barely remember

But yeah I put the warnings on those movies because I they are next level confrontational.

Speaking of things I can't find, one of the most famous Kdramas, Goblin, still eludes me. It's not on anything I already access, paid or otherwise. It may well disappoint me when I finally find it but now that I'm at the "know your history" part of the K studies I need to see it.

Wishing you luck in locating it!

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

And now for.. a documentary!

The Lovers and the Despot 2016

In the 50's and 60's in South Korea there was a beautiful actress who would star in over 130 South Korean films. She married a famous director and they went on to adopt two children and work on many films together. Then due to him cheating on her they divorced and he had two more children with his much younger actress lover. This was, especially for the times, very dramatic and heart breaking..

BUT NO IT WASN'T, IT WAS JUST NORMAL LIFE BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED NEXT WILL MADE ALL THAT LOOK LIKE A PICNIC.

Kim Jong-Il, heir to North Korea, was a big film buff and getting very frustrated at how North Korean films just didn't have the entertainment and artistic value of, well, every other country's movie industry. Something about stuffing them full of the same propaganda story over and over. So in 1978 he decided to fix this by kidnapping the actress and her ex-husband director, holding them against their will in North Korea for 8 years, brutally punishing the director for his escape attempts and forcing them to make movies. They made at least 6 films for Kim Jong-Il until they were able to escape.

This documentary interviews the actress, her children and varying political and journalism figures of the time. Films from the director and the actress are often used to illustrate the story to great effect. It's a fascinating look at a truly bizarre episode in these people's lives. The actress and the director stayed together after their ordeal until his death in 2006.

Stay tuned for my review of their North Korean films!

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[KimMH]

And now for.. a documentary!

The Lovers and the Despot 2016

In the 50's and 60's in South Korea there was a beautiful actress who would star in over 130 South Korean films. She married a famous director and they went on to adopt two children and work on many films together. Then due to him cheating on her they divorced and he had two more children with his much younger actress lover. This was, especially for the times, very dramatic and heart breaking..

BUT NO IT WASN'T, IT WAS JUST NORMAL LIFE BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED NEXT WILL MADE ALL THAT LOOK LIKE A PICNIC.

Kim Jong-Il, heir to North Korea, was a big film buff and getting very frustrated at how North Korean films just didn't have the entertainment and artistic value of, well, every other country's movie industry. Something about stuffing them full of the same propaganda story over and over. So in 1978 he decided to fix this by kidnapping the actress and her ex-husband director, holding them against their will in North Korea for 8 years, brutally punishing the director for his escape attempts and forcing them to make movies. They made at least 6 films for Kim Il-Sung until they were able to escape.

This documentary interviews the actress, her children and varying political and journalism figures of the time. Films from the director and the actress are often used to illustrate the story to great effect. It's a fascinating look at a truly bizarre episode in these people's lives. The actress and the director stayed together after their ordeal until his death in 2006.

Stay tuned for my review of their North Korean films!

What

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

What

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abduction_of_Shin_Sang-ok_and_Choi_Eun-hee

I was glad to find this doco! It plays the tapes (what they let us hear lol) of Kim Jong-Il talking to them and the clips from their films are really well done.

They are just two people who happened to be famous of the thousands of Koreans North Korea has abducted, as well as many Japanese and other random folk.

If you want to read a great book I highly recommend The Reluctant Communist: My Desertion, Court-Martial, and Forty-Year Imprisonment in North Korea by Charles Jenkins.

Charles Jenkins deserted his post on the border and walked into North Korea during the Korean war thinking he would get sent back to the US and dishonorably discharged. A simple man of little education this seemed like a good idea at the time. Instead he was kept by North Korea for 40 years along with a handful of other deserters. He was in some of the films the couple abductee made, playing an evil american. North Korea married him off to a Japanese woman they had abducted from her rural island home in Japan. It's a cracking yarn and a very unique story. During his time there he met several european abductees and was able to confirm them being alive to their families, who had had no idea this had been their fate. One of the most interesting books I've ever read, it's told in his simple narrative style, nothing overly dramatized, his voice comes through clearly.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

And now for a very different documentary..

Nocturne 2019

This documentary follows a family for 10 years, during which the documentary maker Jeong Gwan-Jo lived with them for periods of time. The family consists of a mom and her two musical sons, the older of whom is autistic and very dependent on her. This child is the greater musical talent of the two and she devotes her life to caring for him and developing his future as an accomplished pianist and clarinetist. Her younger son resents this entire set up and feels neglected and less loved, long into adulthood. He's had to give way to his younger brother's greater needs and dreads his mother's insistence that he will be his brother's caretaker when she dies.

This is a powerful and nuanced film with no pat answers or glorious triumph to fix everything at the end, though good things do happen to all of them eventually. It delves into motherhood, disability, sibling relationships, hopes and how easy it is to fail each other, and for the world to fail us. You worry for all of them watching this. I would love to know how they felt about the finished piece, if they resent how they are portrayed. It's a great documentary and one of those times I regret that I'll never get anyone I know to ever watch it and talk about it! Instead I post here, into the void..

This is the only work of the writer and director I could find listed. This film did make it to a couple film festivals but has had virtually no attention which is a real shame.

I did find one article interviewing Jeong:

https://www.salemfilmfest.com/blog-library/blog-bite-gwanjo-jeong-director-of-nocturne