kim ki duk

[Stephen Cremin]

For me what's interesting about Kim Ki-duk is that he seems to be pretty
much the only working class film director in Korea.  In interviews, the
director of JOINT SECURITY AREA, Park Chan-wook, has criticised Korean
cinema's focus on middle-class people and that's in part because of the
background of the directors.  While Imamura Shohei has been criticised for
making films about poor people as an outsider, Kim is the real deal.  When
visiting Korea, I've been very conscious of the middle class's fear of the
working class - particularly in issues of sexuality - and perhaps it's
interesting to see Kim's films in that light.

Its likely that ADDRESS UNKNOWN will screen Venice before Toronto.  Venice
certainly blocked press access to the Cannes market screening(s) so as to
control international publicity if they did finally choose the film.  Expect
several major Korean features at this year's fest after Cannes chose none;
they're certainly looking at three or four major titles.  ADDRESS UNKNOWN
did pretty lousy business at the box office in Korea, and the subject won't
get it the distribution deals which made THE ISLE such an international
success.  But Tube Entertainment are backing his next feature, tentatively
titled A MAN CALLED AX.  I don't expect him to give up making films,
whatever the economic circumstances.

For those in the UK awaiting its release, I've heard that THE ISLE has been
pretty butchered by UK censors.  I haven't double-checked that and it's
worth checking the final length on the website of the BBFC.  Miles Wood on
this list will be able to confirm, but I imagine the best source for an
uncut, subtitled, region-free DVD may turn out to be Hong Kong where the
film recently played theatres.  Darcy Paquet's excellent Korean film website
documents the availability of subtitled DVDs, etc:
http://www.koreanfilm.org/

Kim Ki-duk filmography: CROCODILE (1996); WILD ANIMALS (1997); BIRDCAGE INN
(1998); THE ISLE + REAL FICTION (2000); ADDRESS UNKNOWN + A MAN CALLED AX
(2001).

Stephen Cremin


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>From: rgatto at club-internet.fr
>To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
>Subject: kim ki duk
>Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2001 11:49:02 +0200 (MET DST)
>

>
>
>
>It might be interesting to have someone tell us about his interview
>experiences, informal meetings or friendship with Kim Ki Duk. He's quite a
>charming man on first acquaintance, in fact. But his military looks,
>nurtured by the cap he's got fixed  on his head, make him also quite intriguing.
>I got to meet him twice, at the Venice Film Festival (where he got a NETPAQ
>mention for The Isle) and Rotterdam Film Festival. I interviewed him at the
>latter, but I didn't know his work so well and found it hard to get behind
>his fa?de. I found him very tough and adamant, but I feel there is also
>some kind of erratic boy behind all that.
>Anyone is welcome to tell us more about this fascinating director.  I think
>I'll go see his new film. The Isle was already a great experience.
>
>Robin
>
>