Movie reviews

THE WARSAW KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL

According to the brochure, the festival focused on the Korean new wave.

상의원 (THE ROYAL TAILOR)

Watchable. The director, Lee Won-suk, has a great sense of humour. He announced his work saying: "The film may seem boring but please bear with it as I'll be counting you and watching who's leaving." The first part of the film is also witty but in a silly way. The more dramatic second part is much better. Apparently the casting was very quick which is remarkable hence all the roles were cast and acted with virtuosity. As it was a historical movie, movements were minimal but emotions were expressed clearly. So-yi and the queen's dresses were strikingly beautiful and the scenes of each of them entering the courtyard are well worth seeing. The film director "got the royal robe after the shooting and wears it after a shower". Having said that, I have to add I don't like crowds, they're confusing to me and this film was just packed with characters I couldn't identify.

Lee Won-suk is a fan of Sorrentino, Wes Anderson and old Polish films by Polanski. And it wasn't me who asked him this question. Others were curious of it too.

The lecture on new Korean cinema by Andrzej Pitrus was skippable. The professor said only obvious things, like that you won't recognize landmarks in movies shot in Korea.