[New Year Special] "Escape from External Hard Drive Odor" Im In-nyeon, Korean Films Worth Waiting For

(From left) Han Jae-rim, Park Chan-wook, Koreeda Hirokazu, Eom Tae-hwa / Photo by Showbox, Sports Today DB, Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] What was expected to disappear within a month at most, COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus Infection), has continued for over two years. Due to the pandemic's impact, the atmosphere in theaters was not good, and each distributor hesitated to release their carefully completed films.

The Korean film industry experienced a bumper harvest. In 2014, "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" (director Kim Han-min) attracted 17.61 million viewers, becoming the highest-grossing film, and the series "Along with the Gods" (director Kim Yong-hwa) achieved the first-ever "double 20 million" milestone. Films reaching 10 million viewers, which were considered possible only with divine help, came out one after another.

The layered K-movies attracted global attention. Director Bong Joon-ho enjoyed glory by winning top awards at the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Awards with "Parasite," and actress Youn Yuh-jung was delighted to receive the first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for "Minari" (director Lee Isaac Chung). The world's perspective on Korean films changed. Although these were individual achievements, they also provided great motivation to domestic filmmakers.

However, after the 2020 Academy Awards ceremony, the global film industry froze, and Korean films actively produced until then remained dormant on the external hard drives of each distributor. In January last year, only about 30% of the new films that were expected to be notable met audiences, reflecting the poor theater situation.

Hoping for improvement this year, we selected films stored on the external hard drives of major distributors that have completed filming and post-production, and are must-see works for the Year of the Black Tiger (Im In Year, 壬寅年) 2022.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

'Emergency Declaration' That Captivated Cannes

The highly anticipated film "Emergency Declaration" (director Han Jae-rim), with a production cost of 24.5 billion KRW, is ready for takeoff. It was screened as the only Korean film in the non-competition section at the 74th Cannes International Film Festival in July last year.

The film realistically depicts a disaster on an aircraft, and big-name actors who rarely gather in one project, such as Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Jeon Do-yeon, and Im Si-wan, completed a Korean-style blockbuster. The realistic disaster situation evoked empathy and received favorable reviews at Cannes. It was scheduled to be released during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday but was postponed considering the spread of COVID-19.

"Emergency Declaration" is considered the most anticipated film this year. Cannes confirmed that a new film suitable for enjoying in theaters has been born. Good results are expected after its release.

Photo by CJ ENM

Hirokazu Kore-eda’s First Korean Film

Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s first Korean film, tentatively titled "Broker," tells the story of people surrounding a baby box, a place where those who cannot raise a child anonymously leave their babies. The director has been preparing this with domestic production staff for five years, and actors Song Kang-ho, Kang Dong-won, and Bae Doona were cast, with filming completed last year.

"Broker" is highly likely to be invited to this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Previously, director Hirokazu Kore-eda was invited five times to the Cannes competition section, winning the Jury Prize for "Like Father, Like Son" and the Palme d'Or for "Shoplifters."

'Alien+In'/Photo by Showbox

Will Park Chan-wook and Um Tae-hwa Enter the Lumi?re?

Veteran director Park Chan-wook, a regular at Cannes, and Um Tae-hwa, who gained attention with "Hidden Time" (2016), are expected to head to this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Director Park Chan-wook finished filming "Decision to Leave," co-written with writer Jung Seo-kyung, and spent a considerable amount of time on post-production. Although it was likely to be submitted to Cannes last year, he chose not to and further refined the film.

The story begins with a detective investigating a death in the mountains who, after meeting the deceased’s wife, feels both suspicion and interest. The cast includes Tang Wei, Park Hae-il, Go Kyung-pyo, Park Yong-woo, and Lee Jung-hyun. There is much interest in what kind of film Park and Tang will present.

Director Um Tae-hwa aims to submit the disaster film "Concrete Utopia" to Cannes. Based on Kim Soong-nyung’s 2014 webtoon "Cheerful Outcast," it depicts the survivors of Hwanggung Apartments, the only remaining building in Seoul after a massive earthquake turned the city into ruins.

Actors Lee Byung-hun, Park Seo-joon, and Park Bo-young star, with filming completed. Since Lee Byung-hun was invited as a presenter at last year’s Cannes closing ceremony and Park Seo-joon received a call from Marvel, the film is expected to attract worldwide attention. Distribution is handled by Lotte Entertainment.

Photo by CJ ENM, Asiana International Short Film Festival

Star Directors with 10 Million Viewers Make a Grand Appearance

Distributor NEW will present director Ryu Seung-wan’s next work "Smuggling," following "Veteran" (2015) and "Mogadishu" (2020). Set in a peaceful small seaside village in the 1970s, it is a crime action film about two women caught up in smuggling, starring Kim Hye-soo and Yum Jung-ah, raising expectations. Sequels to the previously popular "The Witch" and "Honest Candidate," as well as director Kang Hyoung-chul’s "High Five," are also attracting attention.

Director Kim Han-min, who recorded the highest box office in Korean film history with "The Admiral: Roaring Currents," simultaneously filmed the Yi Sun-sin trilogy "Hansan" and "Noryang: Sea of Death," which will be released sequentially. "Hansan" deals with the first full-scale battle against the Japanese army after the outbreak of the Imjin War, with Park Hae-il playing Yi Sun-sin.

Star directors with 10 million viewers are making a grand appearance. Director Yoon Je-kyun, who attracted 10 million viewers with "Haeundae" (2009) and "Ode to My Father" (2014), is bringing the 15 billion KRW blockbuster "Hero," adapted from the musical of the same name, to the screen. Director Choi Dong-hoon, known for the 10 million viewer films "The Thieves" (2012) and "Assassination" (2015), is releasing his new film "Alien+Human" after six years, drawing attention to whether they will revitalize the film industry.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.