As many may know, the Marmot works for Seoul Selection and while I was reading their lastest posting, I thought this information would be of interest to some readers of this blog who live in Seoul, thus the following is partly copied from the Seoul Selection Magazine (Marmot’s Note: It’s not the magazine, but our weekly newsletter):
SpongeHouse Cinecore is screening controversial director Kim Ki-duk’s latest film “Time” with English subtitles from Sep. 8 to 13. “Time,” starring Sung Hyun-ah and Ha Jung-woo, tells the tale of a couple who take to plastic surgery as a means to rekindle their love. Kim is an internationally recognized director whose films have one several awards at major overseas film festivals. His films are noted for their depictions of marginalized members of Korean society and their minimal use of dialogue.
Kim Ki-duk has bemoaned the fate of his films in Korea, where though he might win a “Silver Lion” award in Venice and garnish critical acclaim abroad, Koreans never seem to support his work. As per Kim’s comments in the Chosun Ilbo:
Today feels like the day of Kim Ki-duk’s death. This could well be the last of my films that you will be able to see in Korea and I won’t submit any more of my work to any of Korea’s festivals, including the Pusan International Film Festival.
Kim further explained that,
“Time” (Kim’s newest film) has been “exported” to 30 different countries, Korea among them, but “if the numbers aren’t good, I won’t even export the film to Korea next time.
So why is it that Kim Ki-duk gains international fame and has little to show for it at home?
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring’ was seen by 320,000 in the U.S., ‘3-Iron’ sold more than 200,000 tickets in France and more than 150,000 in Italy and Germany. Is it too much to ask that a similar number come to see my films in Korea?
Kim apologized for the above later since he felt he might have offended the public, the same public that now seems to be running out of “time” but only now is starting to catch on (read the rest of the blog for the story). How timely indeed.
For screening times and directions, click here. The film will be screened on the 4th floor. Admission is 7,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2285-2090.
8 Comments
At least unlike luvvies in the West when they throw a tantie, he isn’t demanding huge taxpayer subsidy for something the public has no desire to endure. Kudos.
US has 7 times the population of Korea.
Assuming the same % for KKD’s niche, he should ask for 21k-45k tickets in Korea.
To the highly esteemed blog owner(s):
If it is not too much of a trouble, would it be possible to have the author’s name written directly beneath the post title?
e.g.
Kim Ki-duk’s ‘Time’ with English Subtitles
by: R. Elgin
Thanks
Kim Ki-duk makes art films. Art films are a minority taste in any country, even oh-so-sophisticated Europe (think of all the trash tabloids and broad humour that get eaten up as entertainment there). I think Sunbin had it right: basing ticket sale projections on the percentage of any country’s population that actually goes in for such things.
I’ve seen several of Kim’s films, and while they’re good and worth watching, I always came away feeling as if something was missing, or too contrived, or whatever. (Actually, too much contrivance seems to be an issue with most art films, as their directors try to out-film-school each other and play to the critics who get all the allusions and film history in-jokes.)
Robert, if you’re reading this:
Per Leo Strauss’s comment, now that there are so many of us Marmots-in-training posting here, moving the byline up to the top of the post might be a good idea (if it’s possible in the template you’re using), so readers know ahead of time who’s rating burgers or going on about a ballet guy no one’s ever heard of.
(Rest his soul, the “ballet guy no one’s ever heard of.” That was in poor taste.)
I was going to write a long diatribe about this guy; but, suffice it to say, this guy is way over-rated and not worth wasting my time on.
Overrated? “섬” was a masterpiece.
Robert, if we go to the screening, are you going to pull a Shelton and act like you don’t know us?