East Asian cinema
Cinema of China Cinema of Hong Kong Cinema of Taiwan Cinema of Japan Cinema of Korea Cinema of Mongolia

Korean cinema encompasses the motion picture industries of North Korea and South Korea. East Asian cinema is a term used to refer to the Film industry and films produced in and/or by natives of East Asia. The Chinese-language cinema has three distinct historical threads Cinema of Hong Kong, Cinema of China, and Cinema of Taiwan. The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the Cinema of China The history of Chinese-language cinema has three separate threads of development Cinema of Hong Kong, Cinema of China and Cinema of Taiwan. The cinema of Japan (日本映画 The Cinema of Mongolia has been strongly influenced by the Cinema of Russia, which differentiates it from cinematic developments in the rest of Asia North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː As with all aspects of Korean life during the past century, the film industry has often been at the mercy of political events, from Japanese occupation to civil war to domestic governmental interference. Korea under Japanese rule refers to the period between 1910 and 1945 when Korea was forcibly annexed by the Japanese Empire. The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the While both countries have relatively robust film industries today, only South Korean films have achieved wide international acclaim. North Korean films tend to portray communist or revolutionary themes.

South Korean films are commonly said to have enjoyed a "Golden age" during the late 1950s and 1960s, but the poor quality of most films, as well as government control leaves this term very questionable. Even in the 1970s most Korean films had become generally considered to be of low quality. A slow rebirth of the domestic film industry led to South Korea, by 2005, being one of a very few nations to watch more domestic than imported films in theatres. ^[1]. South Korean films generally differ from Hollywood films by their exploration of domestic social issues and their often unpredictable plotting.

Contents 1 Early period (until 1926) 2 The Golden Era of Silent Films (1926-1930) 3 The later silent era (1930-1935) 4 Early sound era (1935-1945) 5 Divided Korea -- South Korea 5.1 Liberty (1945-1950) and War (1950-1955) eras 5.2 Golden Age (1955-1973) 5.3 "Revitalizing Government" era (1973-1979) 5.4 Recovery (1980-1996) 5.5 Breakthrough 5.6 Festival success 5.7 New wave films 6 Divided Korea ― North Korea 6.1 1940s and 1950s 6.2 1960s and 1970s 6.3 1980 - Present 7 All-time box office records 8 Cited references 9 See also 10 References 10.1 Pre-Divided Korea & South Korea 10.2 North Korea 11 External links

Early period (until 1926)

According to the October 19, 1897 issue of The Times, "Motion pictures have finally been introduced into Joseon, a country located in the Far East. Events 202 BCE - The Battle of Zama results in the defeat of Carthage and Hannibal. Year 1897 ( MDCCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The Times is a daily national Newspaper published in the United Kingdom since 1785 when it was known as The Daily Universal Register. At the beginning of October 1897, motion pictures were screened for the public in Jingogae, Bukcheon, in a shabby barrack that was borrowed from its Chinese owner for three days. The works screened included short films and actuality films produced by France's Pathe Pictures. This article deals with the Pathé movie company For their music business see Pathé Records. "^[2] There are reports of another showing of a film to the public in 1898 near Namdaemun in Seoul. Sungnyemun or more commonly known as Namdaemun is a historic gate located in the heart of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea.

American traveler and lecturer Burton Holmes was the first to film in Korea as part of his innovative travelogue programs. Burton Holmes ( January 8, 1870 Chicago &ndash July 22, 1958 Los Angeles) was an American traveler photographer and filmmaker ^[3] In addition to displaying his films abroad, he showed them to the Korean royal family in 1899. ^[4] An announcement in the contemporary newspaper, Hwangseong sinmun, names another early public screening on June 23, 1903. Events 1180 - First Battle of Uji, starting the Genpei War in Japan 1305 - The Flemish Year 1903 ( MCMIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting Advertised by the Dongdaemun Electric Company, the price for admission to the viewing of scenic photography was 10 jeon. ^[2]

Korea's first movie theater, Tongdaemun Motion Picture Studio (Tongdaemun hwaldong sajinso), opened in 1903. ^[5] The Dansung-sa Theater opened in Seoul in November 1907 and is still in operation today. Before the creation of a domestic film industry, films imported from Europe and the United States were shown in Korean theaters. Some of the imported films of the era most popular with Korean audiences were D. W. Griffith's Broken Blossoms (1919) and Way Down East (1920), Douglas Fairbanks in Robin Hood (1922), and Fritz Lang's Nibelungen films, Siegfried and Kriemhilds Rache (both 1924). David Llewelyn Wark "D W" Griffith (January 22 1875 &ndash July 23 1948 was a premier pioneering Academy Award -winning American Film director. Broken Blossoms is a 1919 silent film film directed by D W Griffith and starring Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess Way Down East ( 1920) is a American Drama Silent film directed by D Douglas Fairbanks ( May 23 1883 – December 12 1939) was an American Actor, Screenwriter, director Robin Hood ( 1922) was the first Motion picture ever to make a Hollywood premiere held at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre on October Friedrich Christian Anton "Fritz" Lang ( December 5, 1890 &ndash August 2, 1976) was an Austrian German - American Die Nibelungen is a Duology of silent Fantasy films created by Austrian director Fritz Lang in 1924: Die Nibelungen is a Duology of silent Fantasy films created by Austrian director Fritz Lang in 1924:

Not merely a theater-operator, as the first film producer in Korea, Dansung-sa's owner, Park Sung-pil, took an active part in supporting early Korean cinema. He financed the first Korean domestic film, Loyal Revenge (의리적구토 - Uirijeok Guto), as well as the first Korean documentary film, Scenes of Kyoungsoung City and showed both at his theater on October 27, 1919. Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross. Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Uirijeok Guto was used as a kino drama, a live theatrical production against the backdrop of film projected on stage.

For the next few years, film production in Korea consisted of the kino dramas and documentaries. As with the first showing of a film in Korea, the first feature film produced in Korea also appears to be unclear. Some name a filming of Chunhyang-Jeon (춘향전) in 1921 (released in 1922) as the first Korean feature film. The traditional story, Chunhyang, was to become Korea's most-filmed story. It was possibly the first Korean feature film, and was certainly the first Korean sound film, color film and widescreen film. A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image as opposed to a Silent film. A widescreen image is a film computer or television image with a wider and shorter aspect ratio than the standard Academy frame developed during the Classical Im Kwon-taek's 2000 pansori version of Chunhyang brought the number of films based on Chunyang to 14. Im Kwon-taek (born May 2 1936) is one of South Korea 's most renowned film directors Pansori (also spelled p'ansori) is a genre of Korean music. It is a vocal and percussional music performed by one sorikkun (소리꾼 a singer ^[6] Other sources, however, name Yun Baek-nam's Ulha ui Mengse ("Plighted Love Under the Moon"), released in April, 1923, as the first Korean feature film. ^[7][8]

The Golden Era of Silent Films (1926-1930)

Korean film studios at this time were Japanese-operated. A hat merchant known as Yodo Orajo established a film company called Choson Kinema Productions. After appearing in the Choson Kinema's 1926 production Nongjungjo (농중조), the young actor, Na Woon-gyu, was given a chance to write, direct and star in his own film. NongJungJo (농중조 is a 1926 Korean film Future writing/directing/acting star Na Woon-gyu appeared in this film just before his breakthrough in Na Woon-gyu ( October 27, 1902 &ndash August 9, 1937) was a Korean actor screenwriter and director Though a few films of some quality had been produced in the year before its production, the release of Na's film, Arirang (아리랑) (1926) is generally considered the film which started the era of high-quality silent film in Korea. Arirang is a 1926 Korean film One of the earliest feature films to be made in the country it is named after the traditional song Arirang, which

Like the folksong "Arirang", on which its title was based, Na Woon-gyu's Arirang did not have an overtly political theme. Na Woon-gyu ( October 27, 1902 &ndash August 9, 1937) was a Korean actor screenwriter and director Arirang is a 1926 Korean film One of the earliest feature films to be made in the country it is named after the traditional song Arirang, which This article is about the folk song See Arirang (disambiguation for other meanings However hidden or subtle messages could be magnified through the common use of a live narrator at the theater. A newspaper article of 1908 shows that this tradition of byeonsa (변사, or benshi in Japanese) appeared in Korea almost from the beginning of the showing of film in the country. Benshi (弁士 in Japanese) or Katsudō-Benshi (活動弁士 were Japanese performers who provided live narration for Silent films As in Japan, this became an integral part to the showing of silent films, especially for imported films, where the byeonsa provided an economical and entertaining alternative to translating intertitles. In Motion pictures an intertitle (also known as a title card) is a piece of filmed printed text edited into the midst of (i One interesting aspect of the byeonsa tradition in Korea is that, when Japanese authorities were not present, they could inject satire and criticism of the occupation into the film narrative, giving the film a political subtext invisible to government censors. ^[9] Some of the more popular byeonsa were better-paid than the film actors. ^[10]

The immense success of Arirang inspired a burst of activity in the Korean film industry in the late 1920s, causing this period to be known as "The Golden Era of Silent Films. " More than seventy films were produced at this time, and the quality of film improved as well as the quantity. ^[11]

Na Un-gyu followed Arirang with popular and critically respected films like Punguna (풍운아) (1926) and Deuljwi (들쥐) (1927). Punguna (풍운아 (Soldier of Fortune is a 1926 Korean film The silent, black and white film was written directed edited by and starred Deuljwi (들쥐 (Field Mouse is a 1927 Korean film written directed edited by and starring Na Woon-gyu (1902-1937 He formed Na Un-gyu Productions with Park Sung-pil for the purpose of producing films by Koreans for Koreans. Though this company was short-lived, it produced important films like Jalitgeola (잘 있거라) (1927), Beongeoli Sam-ryong (벙어리 삼룡) (1929), and Salangeul chajaseo (사랑을 찾아서) (1929). Jalitgeola (잘 있거라 (Farewell is a 1927 Korean film The silent black and white film was written directed produced edited by and starred Beongeoli Sam-ryong (벙어리 삼룡 (Deaf Sam-ryong is a 1929 Korean film written directed produced by and starring Na Woon-gyu (1902-1937 Salangeul chajaseo (사랑을 찾아서 (In Search of Love is a 1929 Korean film written directed produced edited by and starring Na Woon-gyu

Another important director of this period was Shim Hun, who directed only one film, Mondongi Tultte (먼동이 틀 때) (At Daybreak). Though the reviews for this film were as strong as those for Arirang, Shim died at the age of 35 while directing his second film, based on his own novel, Sangroksu (상록수) (The Evergreens). The novel was later filmed by director Shin Sang-ok in 1961 and by Im Kwon-taek in 1978. Shin Sang-ok ( October 18, 1926 &ndash April 11, 2006) was a prolific South Korean Film producer and director Im Kwon-taek (born May 2 1936) is one of South Korea 's most renowned film directors ^[12]

The later silent era (1930-1935)

The first half of the 1930s saw a dramatic decline in the domestic film industry in Korea. Due largely to censorship and oppression from the occupying authorities, the number of films produced at this time dropped down to only two or three per year, and many leading filmmakers fled Korea for the more robust film industry in Shanghai at this time. Perhaps the most important film of this era is Imjaeobtneun naleutbae (Ferryboat with no Ferryman) (1932), directed by Lee Gyu-hwan (1904-1981), and starring Na Woon-gyu. Imjaeobtneun naleutbae (임자없는 나룻배 ("The Ownerless Ferry Boat" is a 1932 Korean film starring Na Woon-gyu. Because of increasing governmental censorship, this has been called the last pre-liberation film to present a significant nationalistic message. ^[13][14]

Early sound era (1935-1945)

Korea's first sound film was Lee Myeong-woo's 1935 Chunhyang-Jeon (춘향전). ^[15] The sound technique was reportedly poor, but Korean audiences appreciated hearing their own language in the cinema.

The number of films produced increased during the latter part of the decade. Na Woon-gyu began making a larger number of films again with significant works like Kanggeonneo maeul (1935), and Oh Mong-nyeo (1937), before his premature death in 1937. Kanggeonneo maeul (강 건너 마을 ( The Town Across the River) is a 1935 Korean film directed by Na Woon-gyu. Oh Mong-nyeo (오몽녀 is a 1937 Korean film the last film directed by Na Woon-gyu.

Coming as they did during the mid- to late-1930s, sound films in Korea faced much harsher censorship from the occupying forces than did the silent films before them. Korea under Japanese rule refers to the period between 1910 and 1945 when Korea was forcibly annexed by the Japanese Empire. Also, the loss of the byeonsa narrators with the coming of sound film meant that anti-authority messages could no longer be sneaked around the censors in this way.

The showing of American and European films decreased at this time, and were replaced by Japanese films. Korean-made films became a propaganda tool for the government of the Japanese occupation. Starting in 1938, all film-making in Korea was done by the Japanese, and by 1942 the use of Korean language in film was banned. ^[16]

Divided Korea -- South Korea

Liberty (1945-1950) and War (1950-1955) eras

With the surrender of Japan in 1945, Korean cinema enjoyed a burst of liberty-- and liberty itself, understandably, became the major theme of films at this time. Choi In-gyu's Viva Freedom! (자유만세 - Jayu manse!), about Korean freedom-fighters during the waning days of the Japanese occupation, is considered the major film of this era. Viva Freedom! (자유만세 Jayu Manse, aka Hurrah! For Freedom) is a 1946 Korean film directed by Choi In-kyu.

The rebirth of Korean cinema which seemed to be coming had to wait, however. First the country was divided into North and South, and then civil war was to break out in 1950. Though film production did not completely cease during the war years, only five or six films were produced each year from 1950 to 1953. Much worse for Korea's film legacy, the vast majority of Korea's film history was lost in this devastating war.

Golden Age (1955-1973)

With the armistice of 1953, South Korean president Syngman Rhee made an effort to help rejuvenate the local film industry by making it exempt from taxation. Syngman Rhee or Yi Seungman ( March 26, 1875 – July 19, 1965) was the first president of South Korea. The rebirth that almost occurred after 1945 can be said to have truly begun with director Lee Kyu-hwan's tremendously successful remake of Chunhyang-jon in 1955. Within two months 10% of Seoul's population-- over 200,000 people-- had seen the movie, giving the re-establishment of the film industry further impetus. [1], [2]

1955 also saw the release of Yang san Province (양산도 - Yangsan do) by the renowned director, Kim Ki-young, marking the beginning of a career that would remain productive until his death in 1998. Yangsan Province ( 양산도 - Yangsando) aka The Sunlit Path is a 1955 South Korean film directed by Kim Ki-young (1 October 1922 After a "Golden Age" during the 1960s the 1970s were a low-point in the history of Korean cinema because of governmental censorship and a decrease

With Korean cinema for the first time working under something similar to conditions in other countries, both the quality and quantity of film-making had increased rapidly by the end of the 1950s. South Korean films, such as Lee Byeong-il's 1956 comedy Sijibganeun nal (시집가는 날) (The Wedding Day), had begun winning international awards. In dramatic contrast to the beginning of the 1950s, when only 5 movies were made per year, 111 films were produced in South Korea in 1959. [3], [4]

Korean cinema enjoyed a brief period of unprecedented freedom during the 1960-1961 year interval between the administrations of Rhee and Park Chung Hee. Park Chung-hee ( November 14, 1917 – October 26, 1979) was a former ROK Army general and the autocratic dictator of the Republic This year saw the production of Kim Ki-young's The Housemaid (하녀 - Hanyeo), and Yu Hyun-mok's Aimless Bullet (오발탄 - Obaltan), both of which have been listed among the best Korean films ever made. The Housemaid (하녀 Hanyeo) is a 1960 black-and-white Korean film. Yu Hyun-mok (born July 2, 1925) is a South Korean film director Obaltan ( 오발탄) aka The Aimless Bullet and Stray Bullet is a 1960 Korean film ^[17]

With the ascension of Park Chung Hee to the presidency in 1962, government control over the film industry increased substantially. Park Chung-hee ( November 14, 1917 – October 26, 1979) was a former ROK Army general and the autocratic dictator of the Republic Under the Motion Picture Law of 1963, a series of increasingly restrictive measures were placed on the film industry. The number of films produced and imported were limited under a strict quota system. Screen Quotas is a legislated policy that enforces a minimum number of screening days of domestic films in the theater each year to protect the nation’s films The new regulations dropped the number of domestic film-production companies from 71 to 16 within a year. Government censorship at this time also became very strict, focusing mainly on any hint of pro-communist messages or obscenity.

Despite these repressive governmental policies, however, a consistently large and devoted theater-going audience, and many quality films continued to give South Korea a healthy cinematic culture throughout the 1960s. ^[18] Also, the Grand Bell Awards were established in 1962. The Grand Bell Awards (대종상 영화제 - daejongsang yeonghwajae) are film awards presented in South Korea. Called Korea's equivalent to the Academy Awards, they are the country's longest-running film award. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film.

"Revitalizing Government" era (1973-1979)

Governmental control over the film industry reached its height in the mid- and late-1970s, nearly destroying the vibrant film culture that had been established in the preceding decade and a half. Many consider this one of the lowest periods in the history of Korean cinema. While there had been governmental censorship in the 1960s, beginning in 1973, Park's "Revitalizing Government" began forcing filmmakers to include actual government ideology in their films. ^[19] Writing in 1981, the International Film Guide said of South Korean cinema, "No country has a stricter code of film censorship than South Korea-- with the possible exception of the North Koreans and some other Communist bloc countries. "^[20]

These propaganda-laden movies (or "policy films") proved unpopular with audiences who had become accustomed to seeing real-life social issues in the quality films of the 1950s and 1960s. In addition to dealing with government interference in the making of their films, Korean filmmakers began losing their audience to television-ownership, which grew suddenly beginning in the late 1960s. Movie-theater attendance dropped by about a third, from 173,043,272 in 1969 to 65,518,581 in 1979. ^[21] Nevertheless, talented filmmakers like Im Kwon-taek and Kim Ki-young were able to survive this era and occasionally even produce works of value. Im Kwon-taek (born May 2 1936) is one of South Korea 's most renowned film directors Kim Ki-young (1 October 1922 After a "Golden Age" during the 1960s the 1970s were a low-point in the history of Korean cinema because of governmental censorship and a decrease

Recovery (1980-1996)

After a turbulent year from 1979-1980, which included the assassination of president Park Chung Hee, the Coup d'état of December Twelfth, and the Gwangju massacre, South Korea began taking greater steps towards an open democracy. Park Chung-hee ( November 14, 1917 – October 26, 1979) was a former ROK Army general and the autocratic dictator of the Republic The Coup d'état of December Twelfth ( Hangul: 12/12 군사반란 or the "12/12 Incident" was a military Coup d'état which took place on The Gwangju Democratization Movement ( Hangul: 광주 민주화운동 refers to a popular uprising in the city of Gwangju, Though theater attendance remained low throughout the 1980s, the government's gradual relaxation of censorship and control over the film industry enabled the production of more adventurous and interesting movies. During this decade, South Korean film began reaching an international audience for the first time, in large part through the recognition of director Im Kwon-taek's work. Im Kwon-taek (born May 2 1936) is one of South Korea 's most renowned film directors After his 1981 film, Mandala won the Grand Prix at the Hawaii Film Festival, Im became the first Korean director in years to have his films shown at European film festivals. Mandala (만다라 is a 1981 South Korean film about Buddhist monks in Korea ^[22] In 1988, president Roh Tae-woo began the gradual elimination of the government censorship of political expression in films. Roh Tae-woo (born December 4, 1932 in Daegu, South Korea) is a former ROK Army general and politician Directors were quick to begin re-exploring social and political themes in their films.

During this period, however, the audience for domestic films reached a low-point, due in no small part to the opening of the market to films from overseas, especially the United States and Hong Kong. By 1993, only 16% of the films seen by South Korean audiences were made domestically. The local film industry persevered through this lean period, and it was at this time that events were set in place for the impressive success Korean cinema was to enjoy during the next decade. [5], [6]

Breakthrough

From the late 1990s, until recently, South Korea was one of the few countries where Hollywood productions did not enjoy a dominant share of the domestic market. In February 2006, Korean movie workers staged mass rallies to protest a quota cut resulting from a deal with the United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Today, according to Kim Hyun, "South Korea’s movie industry, like that of most countries, is grossly overshadowed by Hollywood. The nation exported US$2 million-worth of movies to the United States last year and imported $35. 9 million-worth" (source : Yonhap [7]).

The 1999 film Shiri about a North Korean spy preparing a coup in Seoul was the first in Korean history to sell more than 2 million tickets in Seoul alone. Shiri (쉬리 Swiri) is a 1999 Korean Film written and directed by Kang Je-gyu. North Korea is the commonly used short form name for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK) a State located in East Asia, Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea. Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea. This helped Shiri to surpass box office hits such as Titanic, The Matrix and Star Wars. Titanic is a 1997 Disaster film directed written co-produced and co-edited by James Cameron about the sinking of the RMS ''Titanic'' The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction - martial arts - Action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski and Star Wars is an epic Space opera franchise initially conceived by George Lucas during the 1970s and significantly expanded The success of Shiri motivated other Korean films with large budgets for Korean circumstances.

In 2000 the film JSA (Joint Security Area) was a huge success and even surpassed the benchmark set by Shiri. Joint Security Area ( 2000) is a South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. One year later, the film Friend managed the same. In South Korea the romantic comedy My Sassy Girl outsold The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter which ran at the same time. My Sassy Girl (엽기적인 그녀 literally That Bizarre Girl) is a 2001 South Korean Romantic comedy film in which the lead protagonist's The Lord of the Rings is an epic Harry Potter is a series of seven Fantasy novels written by British author J As of 2004 new films continue to outperform older releases, and many Korean productions are more popular than Hollywood films. Both Silmido and Taegukgi were watched by over 10 million people per film, which is a quarter of the Korean population. Silmido is a 2003 South Korean Film directed by Kang Woo-suk. Taegukgi Hwinallimyo ( is a 2004 South Korean War film directed by Kang Je-gyu. Silmido is a film based on a true story about a secret special force. The other is a blockbuster movie about Korean War directed by the director of Shiri. The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the

This success attracted the attention of Hollywood. Films such as Shiri are now distributed in the USA. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In 2001, Miramax even bought the rights to an Americanized remake of the successful Korean action comedy movie, My Wife is a Gangster. My Wife is a Gangster (조폭 마누라 Jopog Manura) is a 2001 South Korean film directed by Cho Jin-gyu it's about a female gang boss who Recently, popular Korean movies such as Il Mare (remade as The Lake House), Oldboy, My Sassy Girl, and JSA have also been bought by Hollywood firms for remake as well. Il Mare (시월애 Siworae) is a South Korean film made in 2000, starring Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Jung-Jae. The Lake House is a 2006 American romantic drama Film Remake of the Korean motion picture Il Mare Oldboy ( Hangul: 올드보이 the phonetic Transliteration of "old boy" is a 2003 South Korean film directed by Park My Sassy Girl (엽기적인 그녀 literally That Bizarre Girl) is a 2001 South Korean Romantic comedy film in which the lead protagonist's Joint Security Area ( 2000) is a South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook.

The 2003 psychological horror A Tale of Two Sisters was successful as well, leading Dreamworks to pay $2 million (US) for the rights to a remake, topping the $1 million (US) paid for the Japanese movie The Ring. A Tale of Two Sisters (장화 홍련 Janghwa Hongryeon literally 'Rose Flower Red Lotus' is a 2003 South Korean psychological DreamWorks LLC, also known as DreamWorks Pictures, DreamWorks SKG, or DreamWorks Studios, is a major American Film studio The Uninvited is an upcoming American Remake of the 2003 South Korean horror film A Tale of Two Sisters

Many Korean films reflect how much the Korean people long for reunification and suffer from the division of the peninsula. Many of the films underline feelings, which causes Korean films to be likened to French films. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Korean film industry, however, now produces all genres with widely varying themes.

Festival success

Korean film first garnered serious international recognition in 2002 at the Venice Film Festival, where the film Oasis won the second prize award. The Venice Film Festival is the oldest Film festival in the world Oasis ( Hangul: 오아시스 ( 2002) is South Korea Lee Chang-dong 's third feature film and the last one he directed before his stint The film not only revealed much about traditional Korean culture, but also highlighted the plight of handicapped Koreans and the general public's inability to understand and accept them. In the story an isolated young woman with cerebral palsy falls in love with a simple minded man who has recently completed a term in prison for the hit and run accident that killed her father. Cerebral palsy ( CP) is an Umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non- contagious conditions that cause Physical disability Quite possibly Korea's most symbolic and rich film to date, "Oasis" remains the turning point for Korean avante garde film.

Oldboy is the second great victory for Korean film when it came in second place in the Cannes Film Festival, second to Fahrenheit 9/11. Oldboy ( Hangul: 올드보이 the phonetic Transliteration of "old boy" is a 2003 South Korean film directed by Park The Cannes Film Festival (le Festival de Cannes founded in 1946 is one of the world's oldest most influential and prestigious Film festivals alongside Venice, Fahrenheit 9/11 is an award-winning 2004 Documentary Film by American filmmaker Michael Moore which takes a critical look The story traces the life of a man who is put into solitary confinement by someone he does not know. He lives there for many years until he is released to find out the bizarre reason for his cruel entrapment. Dark and gloomy, Oldboy experiments with the themes of psychological madness and sexual distortions.

In February 2004, Kim Ki Duk won the award for best director at the 54th annual Berlin Film Festival, for a film about a teenage prostitute, Samaritan Girl. Kim Ki-duk is a Korean Filmmaker noted for his Idiosyncratic " Art-house " cinematic works The Berlin International Film Festival, also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading Film festivals and most reputable media events held in Berlin Samaritan Girl ( Samaria) is a 2004 South Korean film written and directed by Kim Ki-duk. In addition, he won the Silver Lion award at the Venice Film Festival for his 2004 movie, 3-Iron. The Venice Film Festival is the oldest Film festival in the world 3-Iron (or 빈집 ( Bin-jip) meaning Empty Houses in Korean is a 2004 Korean film directed by Kim Ki-duk.

New wave films

There are three important dates in new wave Korean films: first in 1992, Marriage Story was financed by Samsung, marking the first non-government funded film. Marriage Story ( 결혼이야기 - Kyeolhon iyagi) is a 1992 South Korean film In 1999, Shiri was released and led to Korean films taking over 50% of the local market. Shiri (쉬리 Swiri) is a 1999 Korean Film written and directed by Kang Je-gyu. Ultimately, My Sassy Girl became the most popular and exportable Korean film in history. My Sassy Girl (엽기적인 그녀 literally That Bizarre Girl) is a 2001 South Korean Romantic comedy film in which the lead protagonist's Each has brought new strength to the unique creation of a Korean film industry that no longer copies Hollywood verbatim. Supporting the Korean film industry have been strong government controls against copying and bootlegging and piracy, which have allowed the film industry to bring out many films, and make a profit and still have very strong DVD and aftermarket sales. In addition, a government-enforced screen quota system since 1967 has limited the number of days per year non-domestic movies can be shown on any one movie screen in South Korea. Recently, this practice has come under fire from non-Korean film distributors as unfair. Fast low cost films with likeable stars, tied to current events, and at affordable prices that speak in a natural vernacular with state of the art cinematography and music have all pushed films ahead.

New wave Korean films came as a result of competition in the film industry, directors trained outside of the USA (in France, Spain, the Netherlands, China and other European nations), and new models of scripts that included more Korean situations, and spoke in contemporary vernacular, and used younger actors, younger scriptwriters, and less formulaic Hollywood clichés or 90 minute frames. The impact of the Busan Film Festival and Jeonju Film Festival in screening year after year hundreds of new European, Canadian, South American, Chinese and even Japanese films rewrote the basic templates towards originality.

Divided Korea ― North Korea

Because of the isolated nature of the country, information-- particularly unbiased information-- on North Korean cinema is difficult to find. Outsider appraisal of North Korean cinema is often condescending, but of dubious worth given the difficult relationship the country has with the rest of the world, and the lack of access outsiders have to the country and its films. Statements from official North Korean sources, on the other hand, include extravagant claims like, "In recent years our film art has created an unprecedented sensation in the world's filmdom. . . The revolutionary people of the world are unstinting in their praise of this feature film and other monumental works, calling them 'the first-class films by international standards,' 'the most wonderful movies ever produced' and 'immortal revolutionary and popular films. '"^[23]

The number of films produced in North Korea is difficult to determine. In 1992, Asiaweek reported that the country produced about 80 films annually,^[24] and a BBC report in 2001 indicated that North Korea was then producing about 60 films a year. Asiaweek, the English edition was a News magazine focusing on Asia, published weekly by Asiaweek Limited a subsidiary of Time Inc ^[25] In spite of these claims, Johannes Schönherr, an attendee of the 2000 Pyongyang Film Festival of Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries, found little evidence for actual films or titles. He notes that the country offered only one domestic feature and one documentary at their most high-profile film festival, and suggests that the high number of reported films includes short films and cartoons, and short installments of long-running series. He also cites a 1998 North Korean pamphlet containing a list of films which had been made in the country up to 1998. This gives a total of 259 titles, and indicates that the 1980s were the most prolific decade with about 15 to 20 films made yearly. ^[26]

North Korea's principal producer of feature films is the Korean Film Studio, a state-run studio of about 10 million square feet (930,000 m²) founded in 1947 and located outside of Pyongyang. Pyongyang (pʰjʌŋjaŋ is the Capital and largest City of North Korea, located on the Taedong River, at. Other North Korean film studios include the Korean Documentary Film Studio (founded in 1946), the April 25 Film Studio of the Korean People's Army (founded in 1959 and previously known as the February 8 Cinema Studio) and the Korean Science and Educational Film Studio (founded in 1953 and also known as the April 26 Children's Film Production House, and Science Educational Korea, or SEK. SEK Studio (from "Scientific Educational Korea" is a North Korean animation studio based in Pyongyang. )^[27] These studios produce feature films, documentaries, animated films, children's films and science films. The bouncing ball animation (below consists of these 6 frames According to a report from 1992, the Korean Feature Film Studio produced about forty films per year, while the other studios together accounted for another forty. ^[24]

In addition to animation for the North Korean domestic market, SEK has become a resource for international animation, including some well-known American animated films. Production costs in North Korea are very low, and the quality of animators is well perceived. Disney's The Lion King (1994) and Pocahontas (1995) are two films which were worked on by SEK. The Lion King is a 1994 American animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, released in theaters on June 15 1994 Pocahontas is the thirty-third Animated feature in the Disney animated features canon. Presumably work on these films was subcontracted, rather than sourced by Disney directly, to avoid violating the Trading with the Enemy Act. The Trading with the Enemy Act, sometimes abbreviated as TWEA, is a United States federal law,, enacted in 1917 to restrict trade with countries hostile to the [8] Empress Chung is a 2005 animated feature film which was a co-production between the North and South Korea. Empress Chung ( is a 2005 North and South Korean Animated film directed by Nelson Shin.

North Korean leader Kim Il-sung believed in the message of the saying attributed (probably falsely) to Lenin: "Cinema is the most important of all arts. Kim Il-sung ( 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in early "^[27] Accordingly, since the country's division, North Korean films have often been used as vehicles for instilling government ideology into the people. A common theme is martyrdom for the nation. The film Fate of a Self-defence Corps Member, based on a novel written by Kim Il-sung during the fight against the Japanese occupation reflects this theme, as does the highly-regarded film, Sea of Blood (피바다 - Pibada) (1969). Kim Il-sung ( 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in early [9] The latter film comes from a novel telling the story of a woman farmer who becomes a national heroine by fighting the Japanese.

Another favorite theme is the happiness of the current society. This theme can be seen reflected in titles of feature films like A Family of Workers, A Flowering Village, Rolling Mill Workers, When Apples Are Picked and Girls at a Port. All of these films were awarded the People's Prize before 1974.

1940s and 1950s

IMDB lists only 41 films produced in North Korea. [10] Two of these were released in the years between the liberation from Japan and the outbreak of the Korean War, Our Construction (Uri Geonseol) (1946) and My Homeland (내 고향 - Nae gohyang) (1949). Five were released during the war, including Righteous War (1950), Boy Partisans (1951) and Again to the Front (1952). These titles suggest that film was used for ideological purposes from the beginning of North Korea's existence as a separate entity.

Judging from the IMDB's entries, the 1950s were a relatively productive time for North Korean cinema. 10 of the 41 films listed for the country were produced during this decade. Post war titles seem to reflect a toning down in the militaristic themes, and a turning to more optimistic stories. Titles like The Road of Happiness (1956) and Love the Future (1959) indicate that films were being used to rally the country into rebuilding after the devastation of the war.

1960s and 1970s

IMDB lists only two films for North Korea for the entire decade of the 1960s: A Spinner (1964) and Boidchi annun dchonson (1965). One of the most highly-regarded films in North Korea, Sea of Blood, was produced in 1969. The entrance hall to the Korean Feature Film Studio contains a mural of current "Dear Leader," Kim Jong-il supervising the production of this film. Kim Jong-il (also written as Kim Jong Il) (born 16 February 1941 Vyatskoye, Soviet Union; official biographies state 16 February 1942 Baekdu This is a two-part, black and white film. The first part is 125 minutes in duration, and the second is 126 minutes.

Kim Il-sung made a famous call for juche art in 1966, saying, "Our art should develop in a revolutionary way, reflecting the Socialist content with the national form. The Juche Idea (주체사상 Juche Sasang) is the official state Ideology of North Korea and the Political system based on it "^[28] In a 1973 treatise on film entitled Theory of Cinematic Art, Kim Jong-il further developed this idea of juche art into the cinema, claiming that it is cinema's duty to help develop the people into "true communists," and as a means "to completely eradicate capitalist elements. " [11] The ideology-heavy nature of North Korean cinema during the 1970s can be seen in titles such as The People Sing of the Fatherly Leader and The Rays of Juche Spread All Over the World.

Part of this ideological usage of the arts was a treating of the same subjects repeatedly through various art forms. Consequently, the most prominent films of the era took their stories and titles from pre-existing novels, ballets or operas. the film Sea of Blood was also an opera and a symphony, as well as the name of an opera company. Future Minister of Culture, Choe Ik-kyu's The Flower Girl (꽃파는 처녀 - Kkotpaneun Cheonyeo) (1972, 130 min. ) [12] later was remade as a dance. This film won a special prize and special medal at the 18th International Film Festival, and is one of the more well-known North Korean films of the 1970s.

Unsung Heroes, a 20-part spy film about the Korean War, was released between 1978 and 1981; it achieved notice outside of North Korea two decades later mainly because United States Forces Korea defector Charles Robert Jenkins played a role as a villain and the husband of one of the main characters. Unsung Heroes, also known as Unknown Heroes or more literally as Nameless Heroes, is a North Korean film series about a The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the United States Forces Korea ( USFK) refers to the ground air and naval divisions of the United States Armed Forces stationed in South Korea. Charles Robert Jenkins (born February 18, 1940) is a former United States Army soldier who lived in North Korea from 1965 to 2004 after ^[29]

1980 - Present

With 14 listings, the 1980s is the best-represented decade for North Korea at IMDB. A possible turning to less didactic subjects is indicated with a 1986 production of the popular stories like Chunhyang-jon (1980 - 155 min. ) and Hong kil dong (홍길동) (1986 - 115 min. ). [13]Probably the most well-known North Korean film internationally is the science-fiction giant-monster epic, Pulgasari (불가사리) (1985), directed by kidnapped South-Korean director Shin Sang-ok. Pulgasari (or Pulgasary) is a North Korean Japanese co-produced Feature film produced in 1985, a giant-monster Shin Sang-ok ( October 18, 1926 &ndash April 11, 2006) was a prolific South Korean Film producer and director Multi-part films promoting the Juche ideology, including Star of Korea and The Sun of the Nation were also produced in the 1980s. The Juche Idea (주체사상 Juche Sasang) is the official state Ideology of North Korea and the Political system based on it North Korean animation produced for domestic consumption is reportedly less politically dogmatic during this period, resulting in a large adult audience. The art of Korean Animation, Han-guk Manhwa Aenimeisyeon (한국 만화 애니메이션 in Korean has gone from small hand held Flip [14]

IMDB lists only four North Korean films made in the 1990s. The Nation and Destiny (민족과 운명 - Minjokgwa ummyeong) is a 56-part series of movies produced from 1992-1999, on Korean subjects and people like General Choi Duk Shin (parts 1-4) and composer Yun I-sang (parts 5, 14-16). Isang Yun (also spelled Yun I-sang; 17 September 1917 - 3 November 1995 was a Korean German Composer originally from Korea [15]

The 2000s appear to be reasonably productive for North Korean cinema, having five listings so far. In a sign of thawing relations, the animated film, Empress Chung (2005), is a co-production of South and North Korea. The bouncing ball animation (below consists of these 6 frames Empress Chung ( is a 2005 North and South Korean Animated film directed by Nelson Shin. This film is said to be the first released simultaneously in both countries. Another recent North/South co-production is the 3-D animated television series Lazy Cat Dinga.

The Journal of a Schoolgirl is the first film from the state to be sold to a Western distributor (the French company Pretty Pictures) in several. The Schoolgirl's Diary (or The Journal of a Schoolgirl) is a 2006 North Korean film directed by Jang In-hak. [16]

All-time box office records

The numbers indicate amount of tickets sold, not financial gross (as of December 23, 2007). Events 962 - Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops stormed the city Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Data from Koreanfilm.org and Film 2.0.

1. 괴물 (The Host) - 13,019,740 (2006)
2. 왕의 남자 (The King and The Clown) - 12,302,831 (2005)
3. 태극기 휘날리며 (Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of war) - 11,746,135 (2004)
4. 실미도 (Silmido) - 11,074,000 (2003)
5. 디 워 (D-War) - 8,420,000 (2007)
6. 친구 (Friend) - 8,134,500 (2001)
7. 웰컴 투 동막골 (Welcome To Dongmakgol) - 8,008,622 (2005)
8. 화려한 휴가 (May 18) - 7,280,000 (2007)
9. 타짜 (Tazza: The High Rollers) - 6,847,777 (2006)
10. 미녀는 괴로워 (200 Pounds Beauty) - 6,619,498 (2006)
11. 쉬리 (Shiri) - 6,210,000 (1999)
12. 투사부일체 (My Boss, My Teacher) - 6,105,431 (2006)
13. 공동경비구역 JSA (Joint Security Area) - 5,830,000 (2000)
14. 가문의 위기 (Marrying The Mafia 2) - 5,635,266 (2005)
15. 말아톤 (Marathon) - 5,148,022 (2005)
16. 살인의 추억 (Memories of Murder) - 5,101,645 (2003)
17. 가문의 영광 (Marrying the Mafia) - 5,021,001 (2002)
18. 엽기적인 그녀 (My Sassy Girl) - 4,852,845 (2001)
19. 동갑내기 과외하기 (My Tutor Friend) - 4,809,871 (2003)
20. 신라의 달밤 (Kick The Moon) - 4,353,800 (2001)
21. 조폭 마누라 (My Wife is a Gangster) - 4,180,900 (2001)
22. 태풍 (Typhoon) - 4,094,395 (2005)
23. 집으로 (The Way Home) - 4,091,000 (2002)
24. 색즉시공 (Sex is Zero) - 4,089,900 (2002)
25. 공공의 적 2 (Another Public Enemy) - 3,911,356 (2005)
26. 한반도 (Hanbando) - 3,880,808 (2006)
27. 달마야 놀자 (Hi, Dharma) - 3,746,000 (2001)
28. 친절한 금자씨 (Sympathy for Lady Vengeance) - 3,648,808 (2005)
29. 가문의 영광 3 (Marrying the Mafia 3) - 3,464,516 (2006)
30. 스캔들 - 조선남녀상열지사 (Untold Scandal) - 3,345,268 (2003)
31. 두사부일체 (My Boss, My Hero) - 3,302,000 (2001)
32. 올드보이 (Oldboy) - 3,260,000 (2003)
33. 그놈 목소리 (Voice of a Murderer) - 3,245,865 (2007)
34. 어린신부 (My Little Bride) - 3,149,500 (2004)
35. 우리들의 행복한 시간 (Maundy Thursday) - 3,149,500 (2004)
36. 오! 브라더스 (Oh! Brothers) - 3,125,256 (2003)
37. 말죽거리 잔혹사 (Once Upon a Time in High School) - 3,115,767 (2004)
38. 장화, 홍련 (A Tale of Two Sisters) - 3,110,000 (2003)
39. 마파도 (Mapado) - 3,090,467 (2004)
40. 광복절 특사 (Jail Breakers) - 3,073,919 (2002)
41. 너는 내 운명 (You Are My Sunshine) - 3,051,134 (2005)
42. 식객 (Le Grand Chef) - 3,028,713 (2007)

Cited references

See also

• Asian cinema
• Contemporary culture of South Korea
• East Asian cinema
• Korean animation
• K-Horror
• Korean literature
• List of Korean language films
• List of North Korean films
• List of South Korean films
• World cinema

References

Pre-Divided Korea & South Korea

• Bowyer, Justin (2004). Asian cinema refers to the film industries and films produced in the continent of Asia. The contemporary culture of South Korea developed from the traditional Culture of Korea, but since the 1948 Division of Korea, it has developed separately East Asian cinema is a term used to refer to the Film industry and films produced in and/or by natives of East Asia. The art of Korean Animation, Han-guk Manhwa Aenimeisyeon (한국 만화 애니메이션 in Korean has gone from small hand held Flip K-Horror is the term given to Horror films made in Korea. The term literally means "Korean Horror Korean literature is the body of Literature produced in Korea or by Korean writers This is a partial list of Korean language films 0-9.ing (2003 100 Days with Mr This is chronological list of Films produced in the country of North Korea which came into existence officially in September 1948 This is a list of Films by year produced in the country of South Korea which came into existence officially in September 1948 World cinema is a term used primarily in English language speaking countries to refer to the Films and film industries of non-English speaking countries 24 Frames: The Cinema of Japan and Korea. London: Wallflower Press. ISBN 1-904764-11-8.  
• Han, Man-yong (1983). Korean Dance Theater and Cinema. Si Sa Yong O Sa Pub. ISBN 0-89209-017-0.  
• Lee, Young-il (1988). The History of Korean Cinema. Motion Picture Promotion Corporation. ISBN 89-88095-12-X.  
• Leong, Anthony (2003). Korean Cinema: The New Hong Kong. Black Dot Publications. ISBN 1-55395-461-0.  
• Maliangkay, Roald H. (2005). Classifying Performances: The Art of Korean Film Narrators (English). Image & Narrative. Retrieved on 2008-03-13. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II.
• McHugh, Kathleen; Albermann, Nancy (2005). South Korean Golden Age Melodrama: Gender, Genre, And National Cinema (Contemporary Approaches to Film and Television). Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-3253-6.  
• Min, Eungjun; Joo Jinsook and Kwak HanJu (2003). Korean Film : History, Resistance, and Democratic Imagination. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers. ISBN 0-275-95811-6.  
• Pok Hwan-mo On Korean Documentary Film
• Wade, James (1983). "The Cinema in Korea: A Robust Invalid", Korean Dance, Theater & Cinema. Seoul: Si-sa-yong-o-sa Publishers. ISBN 0-892090-17-0.  

North Korea

• Great Achievements in Literature and Art (English). Korean News (2004-6-18). Retrieved on 2008-03-13. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II.
• (1974) Korean Review (in English). Pyongyang, North Korea: Foreign Languages Publishing House.  
• Malakunas, Karl (2005-04-04). Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. It ain't Hollywood, but North Korean cinema only has room for one star (English). thingsasian.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-13. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II.
• Malakunas, Karl (June 1993). North Korea: Literature, Music, and Film (English). country-data.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-13. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II.
• Schönherr, Johannes (2007). "14. A Permanent State of War: A Short History of North Korean Cinema", in Matthew Edwards: Film Out of Bounds; Essays and Interviews on Non-Mainstream Cinema Worldwide (in English). Jefferson, North Carolina, and London: McFarland & Company, Inc. , pp. 135-204. ISBN 978-0-7864-2970-7.  
• Seo, Cheong-nam (2002). Seo Cheong-nam ui Pukhan yonghwa tamsa. (in Korean). Seoul, Korea: Saenggak ui Namu. ISBN 89-8498-186-9.  

External links

General Information

• Asia Society: The Cinema Scene - Asia Society's regular podcast program containing news, reviews and interviews related to Asian Film
• KOFIC Korean Film Council (English)
• Koreanfilm.org Movie reviews, news, actor info and more from Korea
• HanCinema The Korean Movie and Drama Database
• Tracking the Blue Dragon Dumplings The Korea Society Film Journal
• KFC Cinema Kung Fu Cult Cinema (includes Korean film news & reviews)
• LoveAsianFilm.com Asian film and DVD reviews
• Twitch News on Strange Little Films From Around the World (including Korea)

Film Festivals

• Los Angeles Korean International Film Festival
• New York Korean International Film Festival
• San Francisco Korean American Film Festival
• Korean movies, actor and actress database - KoreanMovieDB.COM

Movie Reviews & Commentaries

• The Stop Button
• MediaCircus
• Life as Fiction
• spcnet.tv
• Cinema Coreana
• Cinema South

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