honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, February 20, 2009

Low-budget movie among South Korea's top 10 box office hits

By Jeff Chung

It's not very often that a movie breaks into South Korea's top 10 box office hits of all time.

But the low-budget film "Speedy Scandal" (aka "Scandal Makers") has knocked "Welcome to Dongmakgol" from the No. 7 slot with admissions at 7.85 million as of last week. With tickets sales still strong, it could do the same to the No. 6 box office hit "Friends."

The film was released in early December, but quickly surprised the industry with fast- paced tickets sales during the holiday season.

Produced by Ahn Byung Ki ("Phone"), and written and directed by Hyung Chul Kang, "Speedy Scandal" stars Cha Tae Hyun as Nam Hyun Soo, a celebrity with a popular radio show, and Park Bo Yeong as Hwang Jung Nam, a teen mother who sends letters to Hyun Soo's radio show about how she longs to meet her father for the first time.

The story boosts the radio show, but later Jung Nam claims Hyun Soo is her father and she and her 7-year-old son Ki Dong (Hwang Seok Hyun) invade Hyun Soo's home and station.

The refreshing comedy is long overdue and has been well-received by audiences in South Korea. The film has also been released for a three-week screening with English subtitles in Los Angeles this month. Fans in Hawai'i will get their chance to see the film at the Hawaii International Film Festival in October.

You can get more information at www.speedscandal.co.kr or visit www.hiff.org for ticket information later in the year.

THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES

'The Family of Honor'

Episodes 23 and 24

Tonight at 7:45 pm: Gang-suk kisses Dan-ah and asks if she would spend the night with him. Hyun-gyu persuades Hye-joo not to get married. Soo-yong is questioned by Jin-ah's ex-boyfriend if he would marry her. Joo-jeong's lover contacts her after 18 years. Tomorrow at 7:45 p.m. Both Soo-young and Tae-young go to Jin-ah's and Mal-soon's place for the first time, on different occasions. The men of Ha family prepare breakfast for losing in a game of Yut. Chun-gab tells Gang-suk to prepare for a hostile takeover of Daeseong.

'Glass Castle'

Episodes 22 and 23

Sunday at 6:45 p.m. After a confrontation with her husband, Yu-ran goes to ask her father-in-law to let her get a divorce. He doesn't allow it and tells her she needs to believe her husband. She decides to go along, but doesn't believe either her father-in-law or her husband. Min-joo acts like she came back from her honeymoon and goes to see her family. Sunday at 7:45 p.m. Joon-song and Min-joo finally go on their honeymoon. Yu-ran's still conflicted about what Kyu-song and her father-in-law have said. Suk-jin feels bad for Joon-hee and tries to convince her to let go of the past.

'Terroir'

Episodes 9 and 10

Monday at 7:45 p.m. Tae-min finally finds out that the Mouton Meyer he lost in Paris is in Woo-ju's possession. But as he has humiliated Woo-ju in front of his grandfather, he cannot fire her and actually extends himself to her. Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. Tae-min's grandfather collapses and is hospitalized after Joy tells him the truth about how Tae-min's parents passed away. Mr. Yang decides to challenge Tae-min by opening a wine restaurant in Terroir's vicinity.

'Celebrity Lover'

Episodes 7 and 8

Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. The president of Mari's agency finds out that Mari and Chul-su have been living together and he tells them not to see each other when an article is published about Mari's ghostwriter. Thursday at 7:45 p.m. Mari's agent forbids Chul-su and Mari from seeing each other again, but Chul-su chooses to continue as Mari's live-in tutor. Eun-yong finds out that Chul-su is living with Mari and feels insecure. Mari decides to leave her agency.