Kim Ki-duk on DVD

[Lino]

Grimfarrow won't be happy about this...

[chaddoli]

a bit off topic, but is The Bow (Hwal) getting a US release?

[Grimfarrow]

Grimfarrow won't be happy about this...

Why not? I already know this - the film's Cannes Marketplace debut has been widely advertised in Screendaily (heck, any film can have a Cannes MArketplace debut - if you have the cash). And plus, the guy who reports this, Grady at Kaiju Shakedown, is a friend of mine.

Just because I don't like the director doesn't mean his films don't *sell*.

[che-etienne]

I'm tired of hearing you ask that Chadd so I'll just copy you my Korean copy to a region free disc and bring it back for you.

[chaddoli]

I'm tired of hearing you ask that Chadd so I'll just copy you my Korean copy to a region free disc and bring it back for you.

thanks.....i asked because i would like to see this in a theater....sorry for annoying you....?

[che-etienne]

Was a joke. I just remember you saying that before on another thread a few months ago.

[Lino]

Korean fans are making a petition to urge Ki-duk to release his new film domestically, if you can believe it

[Scharphedin2]

This thread seems to be nothing but tangents to the actual topic, so I apologize for going slightly off topic (TIME does look intriguing to me, and I look forward to hearing what people think of it).

Personally, I have only seen SPRING; SUMMER, AUTUMN, WINTER... AND SPRING. Generally, I thought it a good film. Recently, I picked up THE ISLE and BAD GUY, but have not yet had a chance to view them in their entirety.

Different reviewers/critics have had wildly differing opinions on this director. I would be interested in hearing some thoughts in general, as well as specific thoughts on his (rapidly expanding body of) work.

[che-etienne]

I've only seen two of his films, but I would definitely recommend Samaria.

[Lino]

Different reviewers/critics have had wildly differing opinions on this director. I would be interested in hearing some thoughts in general, as well as specific thoughts on his (rapidly expanding body of) work.

I'm feeling very lazy today so instead of providing you with a personal view of him and his movies, I'm directing you to a link that pretty much sums up what I think of Ki-duk right now.

Korean fans are making a petition to urge Ki-duk to release his new film domestically, if you can believe it

And it seems that it has worked!

Time will open the Karlovy Vary Film Festival with Kim in attendance:

The 41st Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will open with the film Time by renowned Korean director Kim Ki-duk, who will present its world premiere in person on June 30. In his 13th film, one of the most original filmmakers of modern times tells the story of a young couple deeply in love, who test their relationship with fatal methods - changing their own appearances to refresh their passion.

"It is an honour for us that this year´s Karlovy Vary festival will start off with the world premiere of a new film by Kim Ki-duk, Time. A special bond has come about between our festival and this distinctive filmmaker. It´s also to the credit of the Karlovy Vary Festival that the work of Kim Ki-duk has been discovered for the public at large. He has been our guest twice already and the screening of each of his films has been attended by great expectations on the part of the audiences. I am very happy that we will be able to meet those expectations this year as well“, said festival president Jiří Bartoška.

Kim Ki-duk also attests to the close relationship that has come into being between the festival and himself: “Out of so many international film festivals, Karlovy Vary is definitely the one with the purest and most candid atmosphere for film enthusiasts. It is a great honour as well as a delight that after my films having been shown in the retrospective and competitive categories, my newest film Time will be launching the festival this year."

From Twitch:

It's back to the bad old days for director Kim Ki-Duk. After a string of much loved films that broke with the harsh, ranting polemics of his older work in favor of gentler meditations on life and love Kim is back to his old tricks with Time, a film that shows he hasn't lost his angry edge and sets the stage for repeated accusations that the man is, essentially, a misanthrope who sees little in the world and people around him that doesn't inspire contempt. This is Kim in his Von Trier mode, brash and as subtle as a hammer blow to the head.

Read on...

Already available for pre-ordering.

Edit: Watched it today from the DVD and once again he has managed to move me and leave an indelible impression on my mind and soul with yet another strange love story, acted out by another pair of restless souls.

What can I say? I loved it. And in typical Ki-duk way, I will not say another word, apart from "watch it".

I have to write this. Let it all out for a bit. It's very rare when a director is able to move me with each and every film he makes. Thank God for Ki-duk for doing just that in such a profound way.

I just finished watching 3-Iron and this last Saturday, I watched Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring. Still playing catching-up with his work. And with the wonderful thought in mind that I'm sure I will be moved again and again with his magical stories and way of filmmaking with the films that I've yet to watch.

Where to begin? First of all, I don't think that he is a master or a genius in the usual sense of these words. For me, he transcends that. His films are unlike anything in cinema and any kind of name tag you'd want to put on him, would be unfair. He is very good at what he does and at times excellent and in this resides his strength as a filmmaker. One thing you can't deny -- he knows where to put the camera and it's always a pleasure to see that, particularly today when less and less directors care about that.

And what can one say about his characters? Well, speaking from my own experience, they are closer to home than most I've seen and observed through my years of film-going. I remember once talking with a close friend about communication and how words sometimes seem to get in the way, causing more trouble than good. I said that it would be wonderful if people that were very close to one another, be it friends or lovers, should be able to completely communicate by way of telepathy or just by looking at each other. And this coming from someone who loves words and their endless combination of ideas on a sentence or paragraph. Ki-duk seems to understand this from a gut-level and that's why I don't mind that his main characters are mostly silent. Somehow, they seem to get themselves understood one way or the other.

I guess that's why I love his storytelling so much. He uses images and gestures and facial expressions to convey his feelings and ideas to a point where words seem almost like intruders in the story. I always feel like the magic spell is being broken when someone speaks. It's that fragile.

And Magic is really the right word to apply when writing about his films. He always manages to leave you puzzled at the end of each one, thus bringing the whole piece to a higher realm of understanding. And if this isn't sleight of hand, what is?

[yoshimori]

Thank God for Ki-duk ...

Family name is Kim, as in Mr Kim. Perhaps you know that. I can't tell.

I remember the (horrible) (pretty boy) director of the AFI Film Festival a few years back got fired partly for introducing the director of Emperor and the Assassin as "Mr. Kaige". For him, in LA, as a supposed expert on film, that was a major error.

[franco]

Thank God for Ki-duk ...

Family name is Kim, as in Mr Kim. Perhaps you know that. I can't tell.

I am pretty sure that Myra/Annie is aware of this. As you would probably agree, it's sometimes more appropriate to address Chinese and Korean artists by their first names (or full names), otherwise there are too many Kims and Wongs and Chens and Parks out there.

I also share the love for these silent communications, whose profundity simply cannot be matched with words. Yet whenever words are spoken, they are always semiotic and precise in their intensity.

[Michael Kerpan]

I am pretty sure that Myra/Annie is aware of this. As you would probably agree, it's sometimes more appropriate to address Chinese and Korean artists by their first names (or full names), otherwise there are too many Kims and Wongs and Chens and Parks out there.

I don't think it is appropriate to refer to these directors on a first name basis -- unless they are personal friends. ;~}

He should be introduced in discussions as KIM KI-duk -- afterwards Kim will do -- unless one is talking about multiple Kims. PARK Chan-wook, PARK Chan-ok, PARK Kwang-su -- none are properly referred to by their first names alone.

[yoshimori]

As you would probably agree, it's sometimes more appropriate to address Chinese and Korean artists by their first names (or full names), otherwise there are too many Kims and Wongs and Chens and Parks out there.

Hmm. I know three Koreans pretty well and I don't remember any of them referring to some other Korean he or she didn't personally know by the generational-and-given names. But maybe I haven't been paying attention.

It's very common, I believe, in Thailand to talk about Mr Joe and Miss Susie - I think last names are relatively new to Thailand, but I'm not 100% sure about that. But my Chinese friends smile when they hear us silly Americans talk about the basketball player as "Ming" or the director as "Kar-Wai".

[franco]

Good points! You caught me making some absolutely idiotic observations that even I felt wrong typing them. Shame on me as someone who spent his first 18 years in Taiwan.

Nevertheless, I do remember hearing and reading full names more frequently than any of their substrings in Chinese-languaged discussions. I agree with Michael that in English, it seems adequate and appropriate to refer to directors in their last names after introduction.

[filmnoir1]

I see that you have all watched Kim Ki-duk's more well known films but I would highly recommend that you see his other films such as Samaritan Girl which tackles the issues of patriarchy and prostituiton, Address Unknown which is his most overtly political film. This film critiques the cultural imperialism of the US, going so far as to make a case for US need to conquer minds and physical bodies. His other films such as Real Fiction, and the Coast Guard also prove to be rewarding in considering the effects of postmodern thought and practice on individual experiences in the techno-modern world in which we exist.

[Lino]

Tartan Video in the UK is releasing 2 Ki-duk's titles.

Address Unknown in June

The Coast Guard in July

DVD Beaver

DVD Beaver

[yoshimori]

I'll chime in that, though there are a couple of missteps and it could've been even more pushed towards absurdity, I quite liked this little movie. I laughed out loud several times in the screening I attended. Though it's nothing to write home about technically, idea-wise, this is, for me, Kim's best film.

[Lino]

DVDTalk reviews the R3 edition of Time.

[franco]

The Bow is coming to UK from Tartan!

[zombeaner]

The Bow is coming to UK from Tartan!

With an absolutely horrid cover

[Jeff]

Tartan have announced a R1 version as well.

[marty]

I saw a DVD of his new film Time at a city store that stocks Asian DVDs and CDs. It must be a R3 version. Also has English subs and retails at just A$17.

[Lino]

Yep, just like Woody Allen -- one film a year. Keep them coming! More info and trailer: Kim Ki-duk's Prison Drama "Breath".

A first review is up. Mind the spoilers: Press Screening of Kim Ki-duk's "Breath"

Sounds wonderful, though. Can't wait for the DVD.

[filmnoir1]

I have seen all of Kim's films except for his first, and in each film I find something new and awe inspiring about him as a filmmaker. I too, anxiously await a release of this film. It seems to me that he is going back to deal with themes which he began in 3-Iron. Ideas of fantasy merging with reality, and the role of women in society as persons who may help heal and love men who do not love themselves or anyone else.

One of the great things about Time was that the film is truly about the idea of editing, whether it be the editing of a film or a person wishing to edit their appearance.