VIRGIN STRIPPED BARE BY HER BACHELORS
Oh! Soojung
The multi-award winning The Day a Pig Fell Into the Well and its follow-up The Power of Kangwon Province, have established Hang San-Soo as the reigning Korean poet laureate of the ins, outs and self-deceptions of contemporary relationships, not to mention the tricks and traps of storytelling. This third feature is his funny Valentine to present day mating rituals, centred on the day when personable, 24 year-old video production assistant Soojung steels herself to surrender her virginity to gallery owner Jaehoon.
Despite its provocative title this new film from iconoclastic Korean director Hong Sangsoo is a mature, slyly humorous study of romance. Heavily influenced by the playful tomes of early Godard. Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors has the driving energy, icy black and white cinematography and rethinking of narrative so characteristic of this master. Winner of a Special Jury Prize at the Tokyo Film Festival.