Film on N.K. defector wins Grand Prix in Morocco’s film festival

Still cut from the film "The Journals of Musan (2010) [Courtesy of PIFF]

Korean film “The Journals of Musan” won the top prize at the 10th Marrakech International Film Festival held in Morocco last week.

“Musan (2010),” director Park Jung-bum's first feature, won the Grand Prix at the annual fest held from December 3 to 11.

The jury for this year's competition section of the Marrakech film fest, which only accepts first or second-time feature directors, was headed by John Malkovich, the noted actor, producer and director from the United States.

“Musan” was recognized for its portrayal of the difficult lives North Korean defectors lead in South Korea through the eyes of North Korea defector Jeon Sang-chul and his fellow men who also left the communist regime in search of new life.

The story develops as he struggles to find a job and build relationships with people while suffering from poverty and discrimination in a capitalist society.

"Musan" is the third Asian film to win the award at the fest following the Japanese film “Go (2002)” by director Isao Yukisada and Kyrgyzstan film “Saratan (2005)” by director Ernest Abdyjaparov.

"Musan" also won the New Currents Award and International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award at the 15th Pusan International Film Festival in October this year and is the extended version of director Park’s 2008 film “125 JEON Seung Chul” that describes the typical day for the same lead character. It took the special jury prize at the 7th Mise-en-scene’s Short Film Festival two years ago.

Director Park started his film career as co-producer of the film “Templementary (2001) and also served as an assistant director to the award-winning film “Poetry (2010)” led by director Lee Chang-dong which won the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival the same year.

Still cut from the film "The Journals of Musan (2010) [Courtesy of PIFF]

Reporter : Heidi Kim heidikim@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@