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4 Korean films part of HIFF showcase | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper
Posted on: Sunday, March 12, 2006

4 Korean films part of HIFF showcase

By Jeff Chung

"The Palace," a new show about a high school girl who marries the crown prince, begins a 24-episode run Friday on KBFD.
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K-QUESTION

Of the South Korean films playing at HIFF's Spring Showcase, I most want to see:

  • "The Bow"

  • "Lady Vengeance"

  • "Rules of Dating"

  • "Love Is a Crazy Thing"

    Share your opinion at www .honoluluadvertiser.com. Click on the Island Life link. Polling ends at 11 a.m. Friday. See results next Sunday.

    Last week's poll

    We asked readers how they like their K-drama men. The results: It's a tie! 26 like them strong and yet man enough to cry, and 26 go for men who are sincere. Also, 7 like them pretty, and 15 want them willing to risk all for love.

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    WE HAVE A WINNER!

    The copy of "Stairway to Heaven" for week 6 of KBFD's and The Advertiser's K-drama giveaway goes to JoAnn Young of Kahala.

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    Forget spring cleaning — it's movie time at the Hawaii International Film Festival's 9th Annual Spring Showcase, running from March 31 to April 6.

    Among the 26 films in the lineup are four South Korean productions: "The Bow," "Lady Vengeance," "Rules of Dating" and "Love Is a Crazy Thing."

    Tickets go on sale Thursday for festival members, and March 20 for the general public. See www.hiff.org for details.

    Here's background on the South Korean films.

  • Renowned South Korean director Kim Ki-duk returns to the screen with "The Bow," a continuation in style and structure of his earlier films, "Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall ... and Spring" and "3-Iron." The vicissitudes of love are covered in this triangle between an old fisherman, the girl he rescued (or perhaps kidnapped) and a young man.

  • With "Lady Vengeance," the final installment of his revenge cycle (including "Old Boy"), cult director Park Chan-wook has made his finest movie to date. Geum-ja, or "Lady Vengeance," is a pale beauty who was wrongly imprisoned at age 19 for the murder of a small boy. Fourteen years later, she is released and on the trail of the real killer. Rather than exulting in spectacular violence, this dazzling film is an exploration of the spiritual price of vengeance, however justified it might seem.

  • Busan is the backdrop for "Love Is a Crazy Thing," the story of a young mother hemmed in by debt that her husband can't pay. She secretly works for an illicit telephone service that provides anything from companionship to phone sex for lonely men. As her financial situation worsens, she takes a higher-paying job as a hostess in bars, karaoke rooms and occasionally in cheap motels.

  • "Rules of Dating," one of the most critically acclaimed South Korean films of 2005, is an adult romantic comedy that avoids the cute and trite entrapments of the genre.

    Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD, which televises K-dramas. If you have a K-drama question or comment, call KBFD at 521-8066 or write him at jeffchung@kbfd.com.



    CROWN PRINCE TO WED IN NEW 'PALACE'

    'A FAREWELL TO TEARS'

    EPISODES 49 AND 50

    Tonight at 7:50: Yeon-shim plots revenge for Tae-bok's scam. Sung-jae's family prepares for a formal introduction with Seo-young's family. Sung-mi realizes Hae-sun was behind the noodle-shop idea. Yeo-jin plans to leave the country.

    Tonight at 8: Do-jin and Min-joo marry. Il-ho is stunned when the construction of his U.S. factory is halted. Seo-young and Tae-bok invite Hae-sun to Seo-young and Jung-woo's engagement party.

    'MY GIRL'

    EPISODES 3 AND 4

    Tomorrow at 7:50 p.m.: Yoo-rin agrees to pretend to be the chairman's granddaughter. The chairman's condition improves. Yoo-rin moves in to Gong-chan's house. Jung-woo shows interest in Yoo-rin.

    Tuesday at 7:50 p.m.: Gong-chan introduces Yoo-rin as his cousin to Sae-hyun. His grandfather comes home from the hospital. Gong-chan and Yoo-rin get lost on the way back from the temple.

    'KNOCKED OUT BY LOVE'

    EPISODES 9 AND 10

    Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.: Eun-seok decides to marry Joon-sung, but Bok-gu tries to get her back. Bok-gu lets Joon-sung eavesdrop on his phone conversation with Eun-seok.

    Thursday at 7:50 p.m.: On the morning of the engagement party, Eun-seok goes to see Bok-gu from a distance for the last time. Da-jung is bedridden after overhearing Eun-seok and Bok-gu's conversation.

    'THE PALACE'

    EPISODES 1 AND 2

    A monarchy in modern-day Korea? That's the premise of this new 24-episode series. "The Palace" is a fairy tale about a high school girl who marries the crown prince.

    Yoon Eun-hye plays Chaekyong, a high school senior and tomboy, who suddenly finds herself married to the crown prince of Korea. But is she married to the wrong prince? "The Palace" is a treat for the eyes with beautiful traditional Korean costumes and scenes that takes place in the inner palace. "The Palace" also stars Joo Ji-hoo and Kim Jung-hoon, and will air at 7:50 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (re-airs at noon Saturdays and Sundays).

    Friday at 7:50 p.m.: It's the 14th year of In-hwa, and the emperor's health is deteriorating rapidly. Worried for the future of the royal family, the empress dowager rushes crown prince Yi Shin's wedding.

    Saturday at 7:50 p.m.: Although opposed to marrying the crown prince, Chae-kyong decides to do it to save her family from financial ruin. Yi Yool, the son of deceased former crown prince Hyo-yeol, returns from England in time for Shin's and Chae-kyong's wedding.
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