Korean Movies

N. Korea doesn't sustain very much of a film industry, so this overview of Korean movies is strictly limited to those films made in S. Korea. The motion picture industry experienced a major boom in the late 90's, and this success has extended over into the new millennium. With movies featuring lofty production values, groundbreaking and thrilling plotlines, and lots of gifted and entrancing stars, Korean films have garnered international plaudits with zero sign of slacking.

The following listing is meant to be an introduction to the cinema of S. Korea. You may observe that the most recent movie on the listing was brought out in 1998, but that was a calculated decision on our end. I want to get audiences who are not used to foreign pictures involved, and I am estimating that including older Korean movies isn't the easiest manner to go about doing so.

Thirst (2009) - Park Chan-wook helms this tale of a priest who gets turned into a vampire because of a gone-wrong medical experiment. As he endeavours to deal with his condition, he falls for the ill-treated wife of an old friend--with somewhat violent outcomes.

Attack the Gas Station (1999) - A bunch of likeable thugs rob a gas station at the commencement of the picture, and then the gang turn right around and rob it over again the following evening. But this time the manager has hidden the cash, and so the foursome of toughs abduct the employees, pump the gas themselves, and keep the cash. As they fend off bullies, the law, and deadbeat customers, they got more empathetic and discover something about themselves.

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005) - The last film in Park Chan-wook's Vengeance Trilogy, the film follows a mild-mannered woman just released from jail for the murder of a kid. It winds up that she is innocent, and each day spent in jail was a day she was plotting vengeance against the evil man who was actually guilty of the murder. A rich tale of vengeance and high-heel shoes.

You might not have much experience with foreign films. If that is true, expect a slight amount of culture shock when you first experience Korean film for the first time. It is worth it though, because the movies from Korea have a lot to offer.