Screening Dates: 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th August 2010
Tel: +44 (0)20 7004 2606
Web: http://www.koreanfilm.co.uk/

Celebrating one of South Korea’s most controversial and provocative filmmakers, Jang Sun-woo, the Korean Cultural Centre UK will be screening three of his most important works. Also there will be aspecial screening of the Tony Rayns directed documentary The Jang Sun-woo Variations, an in-depthand revealing film dissecting each film of the director’s and his lasting influence on the Korean filmindustry and society. 

Considered a rebel in his home country and routinely censored Jang Sun-woo’s films delves into thesocial insecurities he sees in Korean society particularly with attitudes towards sex. At the heart of thefilmmaking has and always will be an activist, previously being jailed before being involved in filmsJang Sun-woo still looks to make an undeniable statement, spitting in the face of authority.

5 th August
The first film is A Petal centres on a young, mentally fragile girl who forms an unsettling bond with adrunken labourer. As the film progresses the story of how the girl has ended up in this sorry state isshockingly revealed. The film tackles the Kwangju up-rising that is still one of South Korea’s darkestmoments.

12 th August
The Road to Racetrack continues the season, after fives years studying in France the simply named“R” returns to Korea and is reunited with his lover in France, “J”. R wishes to rekindle theirrelationship but J is reluctant. A film about obligations, running from them or feeling unfairly tied tothem is told in a realistic and sometimes disturbing way.

19 th August
The third film is an incredible documentary, The Jang Sun-woo Variations directed and introduced byfilm critic Tony Rayns. The film dissects each of Jang Sun-woo’s works from his earliest film SeoulJesus to his current projects at the time of filming. Everyone key player in Jang Sun-woo’s films areinterviewed to help in delving into the mind of this very controversial director with the crowning jewelbeing extensive discussions with Jang Sun-woo himself. With so much controversial behind his films Tony Rayns also talks to the average Korean on the street to find how Jang Sun-woo’s films haveaffected the general public.

The final film is one rarely seen in the UK, Lovers in Woomukbaemi. A different type of film comparedto Jang Sun-woo’s previously screened in this retrospective, Lovers has far more of a comedic touchto the subject. Situated in a small town in South Korean it centres on a clothes factory manager andthe triangular relationship between himself, his insatiably jealous and violent wife and one of hisemployees. Each character helps to represent that thoughts, feelings and humour of the lower classat the time. A hugely funny film yet not any less important than any of Jang Sun-woo’s other films.