South Korea
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Following the incredible success of Netflix’s 2018 romantic comedy To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and its two sequels, XO, Kitty arrives to chronicle the romantic misadventures of the… Read More
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The latest science fiction thriller from Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho, Jung_E is destined forever to be remembered for featuring the final screen performance by actress Kang Soo-yeon, who… Read More
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When a long dormant volcano threatens to destroy half of the Han Peninsula, the biggest stars in Korean cinema are assembled to save the day. Combining the collective blockbuster attractions… Read More
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It’s that time of year once again, when I commit to my 10 favourite films of the past 12 months, and Phil gets upset because he hasn’t heard of any… Read More
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Your wedding day should be one of the happiest days of your life, yet it can also be one of the most stressful. From the months of planning, to interfering… Read More
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Adapted from the controversial bestselling novel, this is the story of an ordinary Korean woman in her thirties enduring the myriad obstacles, confrontations, and prejudices that infringe on her daily… Read More
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An elderly couple rekindles the romantic spark in their decades-long relationship after both are diagnosed with dementia in Lee Chang-geun’s emotionally wayward weepie. Strong performances from veteran leads Lee Soon-jae… Read More
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Asia has not always been at the forefront of the fight for gender equality. Even in Asian cinema, too often it’s the men who wrestle with world-changing events, while the… Read More
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A deadly gas attack leaves thousands stranded in skyscrapers across Seoul in Exit, the debut feature by writer-director Lee Sang-geun. The action comedy weaves a hugely convoluted scenario, and audiences… Read More
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Body-swap comedies seem tailor-made for Korean cinema, where society is so fiercely regimented by a hierarchy based on age and seniority. Seeing a high school student stand up to adults… Read More
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Cinema is filled with stories about journeys, and none more so than the long, slow march towards death that each of us must travel. Ageing and mortality are inevitable facts… Read More
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Anyone bemoaning the lack of mixed martial arts in William Friedkin’s horror classic The Exorcist may very well rejoice at the prospect of director Kim Joo-hwan’s The Divine Fury, a… Read More
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The incredible success of 2016’s Train to Busan continues to influence the South Korean film industry, with a number of zombie movies and creature features released since then in the… Read More
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Bong Joon-ho’s wonderful urban satire arrives in Hong Kong, fresh from its Palme d’Or win at Cannes. Download the podcast Read More
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South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho made history at the Cannes Film Festival last month when his new movie, Parasite , became the first from his homeland to win the Palme… Read More
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K-pop artists Jung Eun-ji (from the girl band Apink) and Lee Sung-yeol (of boy band Infinite) make their big screen debuts in first-time director You Sun-dong’s supernatural thriller. They form… Read More
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In Birthday, South Korean heavyweights Sul Kyung-gu and Jeon Do-yeon deliver a masterclass in on-screen bereavement as parents grieving after their son’s death in the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster. Viewers… Read More
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Mental disability has long been stigmatised in South Korea, where sufferers can be hidden away by embarrassed family members and shunted to the margins by an unsympathetic society. In director… Read More
The James Marsh film review archive 