The 29th Annual Hawaii International Film Festival, which started yesterday and runs through Oct. 25, includes 10 Korean films. Get tickets ($9-$10) at HIFF's box office, across from Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 Cinemas, or at 548-5905. For more information, go to www.hiff.org.

This is the third installment of film synopses, provided by HIFF:

'A MILLION'

Director: Min-Ho Jo

Director Min-ho Jo ("Les Formidables") offers something brilliantly noir and dramatically stimulating — a story about a reality TV show gone awry, or rather, just as planned in all its hardboiled horror. How far would one go to win $1 million? Eight lucky, or not so lucky, people from different walks of life are chosen to take part in a sensational televised game. They all have come to Perth, Australia, for one thing, to win a million bucks. Soon, however, they discover that the TV program's kooky-eyed producer Jang (charismatic screen personality Park Heui-soon) really meant it when he said it's a survival game, and the contestants start dropping like flies.

'PRIVATE EYE'

Director: Dae-min Park

Kwang-su (Ryu Deok-hwan), an overzealous medical student, finds a body in a field and brings it home to practice surgical skills. When the body turns out to be the missing son of a prominent government official, the student hires private eye Jin-ho (Hwang Jeong-min) to find the killer. In the meantime, the killer strikes again. Hwang's detective, at first glance, appears to be bumbling, but turns out to be a sharp tack with a keen sixth sense. Ryu's meek but ambitious young med student both clashes with and complements the private eye.

'RUNNING TURTLE'

Director: Lee Yeon-woo

A quirky Korean cop drama, and summer hit in South Korea. A series of painful setbacks await Detective Pil-seong (Kim Yoon-seok, "The Chaser," HIFF 2008) when legendary escape artist Gi-tae (Chung Kyung-ho) swoops into town and gets entangled with the detective, who has too much easy money in his not-so-clean hands over-night. An initial showdown is a humiliating defeat for Pil-seong, who makes it his mission to capture the elusive Gi-tae.

'CASTAWAY ON THE MOON'

Director: Hey-jun Lee

A mountain of debt and a failed relationship convince Song Geun to take his own life by jumping off a bridge. He miraculously survives, washing up onto a deserted island in the middle of the Han River, and decides to forge a new life away from society. Overlooking the island lives a woman who hasn't left her room in three years. She watches Song Geun through her camera lens, and they eventually begin to communicate via messages in bottles. Will their alienated living arrangements keep them apart? It's the director's feature film debut.

THIS WEEK’S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES

'STYLE'

Episodes 9 and 10

Tonight at 7:45 p.m.: Gija is shocked to find Suhjung and Minjun living together. Gija tells Minjun to go back to London, but he's defiant. Chairwoman Sohn cuts her support to Style magazine, and sends Gija to Woojin.

Tomorrow at 7:45 p.m.: Minjun makes a tearful apology to Suhjung, who returns on condition that Minjun honor their rules. Gija finds out the culprit behind Suhjung's article.

'DARE TO LOVE'

Episodes 39 and 40

Sunday at 6:45 p.m.: Gum-ran finds out that Poong-ran is Denny's dad's daughter. No one will tell Denny and Bong-sun why everyone's against them. Finally, Denny also finds out why he can't marry Bong-sun. Sul-ran wants to bring Tae-woo home to meet her parents.

Sunday at 7:45 p.m.: Denny's dad finds out about Poong-ran and doesn't leave. Denny breaks up with Bong-sun. Bong-sun doesn't understand why everyone is against their marriage. Yanti accidentally meets with Chan and tells her how she really feels. Sul-ran brings Tae-woo home to meet her parents.

'DREAM'

Episodes 9 and 10

Monday at 7:45 p.m.: So-yeon decides to placate Jang-seok, who has a crush on her, by going on a date with him. Je-il uses Jang-seok's sudden notoriety from his appearance on the TV show "Rising Stars" to book him in a tournament. Meanwhile, Kang Kyung-tak proceeds with his plan to launch an MMA league and effectively end the careers of both Jang-seok and Je-il.

Tuesday at 7:45 p.m.: After effectively banning Jang-seok from competing by launching a unified MMA league, Kang Kyung-tak tries to recruit him. Je-il counters by trying to form a partnership with the Flower Fighter Gym and launching a different league.

'SWALLOW THE SUN'

Episodes 14 and 15

Wednesday at 7:45 p.m.: Jung-woo follows President Jang to Mountain Daesu, where Mi-yeon's grave is. Jung-woo's resentment toward Jang grows as he watches him there. Jung-woo and Suk-tae plan a way to take Mr. Baik down. Jackson sends five skilled gamblers to the grand opening of Daejung Casino.

Thursday at 7:45 p.m.: Jung-woo gets a call from a bar when Soo-hyun passes out after drinking. Jung-woo arrives at the bar and sees Jackson and Jung-hye together. Soo-hyun tells Jung-woo not to come for her even if things like this happen again. Mr. Baik gets angry when he sees Jackson dropping off Jung-hye.