Search The Archive
Ranging from the classic, rarely seen films of the Golden Age of Korean cinema of the 50s, to the invigorating work emerging at the moment, this new documentary is a concise examination of female representation in Korean movies.
Female audiences flocked to the cinema after the Korean War, eager for the excitement of melodramas and, surprisingly, horror films. It was even reported that during this time, when Korean cinema's first onscreen kiss was shown, in The Hand of Destiny (1956), "housewife audiences gasped".
Featuring interviews with influential female actors, photographers and artists, this film from Kim Soyoung is a fascinating insight into the various themes and motifs employed in Korean cinema, including supernatural elements, female bonding, and lesbianism. The issue of censorship rears its head too, as Korean films, for a time, were banned from international Festivals, and even from local film awards. Featuring footage of classics and more current favourites, including Bitter, but once again (1968) and Take Care of my Cat (MIFF 2002).