Welcome to the thirteenth edition of the Korean Film Newsletter. This letter is distributed every 2-3 months to inform the reader of the latest events in the industry. An archive of past newsletters is available at http://www.koreanfilm.org. If you wish to be removed from this mailing list, or if you have any questions, send an email message to darcy@koreanfilm.org.
New at Koreanfilm.org: (a) reviews of Hi, Dharma (2001), Volcano High (2001), My Beautiful Girl, Mari (2002); (b) a bibliography of Korean cinema; (c) "It Hurts," an analytical essay of Kim Ki-duk's The Isle by Larisa and Leonid Alekseychuk; (d) an article about "Netizen Funds."
NEW RELEASES (Dec 2001 - March 2002)
Out of Justice ["Yigeoshi beobida"] Directed by Min Byung-jin. Screenplay by Kim Moon-sung. A string of dead bodies with tarot cards present a particularly tough and divisive case for a group of detectives. Starring Kim Min-jong, Shin Eun-kyung, Im Won-hee, Joo Hyun. Cinematography by Suh Jung-min. Produced and distributed by AFDF Korea. Rating: 18+. 109 min. December 21. (http://www.thisislaw.co.kr)
My Beautiful Girl, Mari ["Mari-iyagi"] Directed by Lee Sung-gang. Screenplay by Kang Soo-jung, Suh Mi-ae, Lee Sung-gang. A young boy lives in a seaside village with his mother and grandmother. One day he finds a mysterious marble with the image of a beautiful girl inside, and he begins to fall into a world of fantasy. Featuring the voices of Lee Byung-heon, Ahn Sung-ki, and Bae Jong-ok. Produced by Siz Entertainment. Distributed by Big Blue Film. Rating: general audiences. 84 min. January 11. (http://www.mymari.com)
Bad Guy ["Nappeun namja"] Written and directed by Kim Ki-duk. One day a gang leader sees a beautiful young college student on the street who glares at him contemptuously. He tries forcing her to kiss him, and then hatches a plan to turn her into a prostitute. Starring Cho Je-hyun, Seo Won, Kim Yoon-tae. Cinematography by Hwang Chul-hyun. Produced by LJ Film. Distributed by CJ Entertainment. Rating: 18+. 100 min. January 11. (http://www.badguy.co.kr)
A.f.r.i.k.a. ["Apeurika"] Directed by Shin Seung-soo. Screenplay by Song Min-ho. Two young women fed up with work and school leave on a road trip. When they find a pair of revolvers in the glove compartment of their stolen car, however, their plans start to spin out of control. Starring Lee Yo-won, Kim Min-sun, Jo Eun-ji, Lee Young-jin. Cinematography by Jang Jun-young. Produced by Shin Seung-soo Productions. Distributed by IM Pictures. Rating: 15+. 106 min. January 11. (http://www.afrikagirl.co.kr)
Public Enemy ["Gong-gong-ui jeok"] Directed by Kang Woo-suk. Screenplay by Baek Seung-jae, Jung Yoon-seop, Kim Hyun-jung, Chae Yoon-seok. A wealthy fund manager murders his parents in gruesome fashion. When an ill-mannered, violent cop begins to suspect him of the crime, a chaotic game of cat-and-mouse ensues. Starring Sol Kyung-gu, Lee Sung-jae. Cinematography by Kim Sung-bok. Produced and distributed by Cinema Service. Rating: 18+. 138 min. January 25. (http://www.00enemy.com)
Looking for Bruce Lee ["Yi So-ryong Chajarat!"] Written and directed by Kang Ron. A string of deaths occur in Seoul's Hongik University area, all in some way related to images or videos of Bruce Lee. The members of the punk band Crying Nut decide to solve the mystery. An independent film/ portrait of Seoul starring Han Kyung-rok, Lee Sang-hyuk, Lee Sang-myun, Park Yoon-shik. Cinematography by Lee Byung-ho. Produced by Drug Films. Distributed by Indiestory. Rating: 15+. 74 min. January 26. (http://www.cryingbrucelee.com)
2009 Lost Memories ["Yi-cheon-gu Loseuteu Memoriseu"] Written and directed by Lee Si-myung. In an alternate vision of history, Korea is a province of Great Japan in 2009 where everyone speaks Japanese and much of Korean culture has faded into the past. When a Korean-Japanese cop begins to investigate the workings of a terrorist group of Korean nationalists, he begins to learn about the true history behind his country. Starring Jang Dong-gun, Nakamura Toru, Suh Jin-ho. Cinematography by Park Hyun-chul. Produced by Indecom. Distributed by CJ Entertainment. Rating: 12+. 135 min. February 1. (http://www.lostmemories.co.kr)
Saulabi ["Ssaulabi"] Directed by Moon Jong-geum. Screenplay by Lee Hwan-kyung. 400 years after the dissolution of the Paekche kingdom in Korea, a group of Paekche descendents live in Japan. As they study the art of swordplay, one of them falls in love with a noble Japanese lady who is betrothed to another man. Starring Choi Jae-sung, Enoki Takaaki, Lee Sang-hoon, Umemiya Masako. Cinematography by Kang Won-myung. Produced by Morning Calm Film. Distributed by Buena Vista International Korea. Rating: 15+. 103 min. February 22. (http://www.saulabi.com)
Turn It Up ["Teon It Eop"] Directed by Kang Yong-gyu. Screenplay by Hong Sung-young, Kang Yong-gyu, Kim Hyo-yeon. A love triangle among a crowd of high school hip-hop dancers leads to a dancing showdown. Starring Nam Sang-kyo, Won So-yeon, Moon Sun-beom. Cinematography by Song Haeng-ki. Produced by Pam Art Master. Rating: 12+. 89 min. February 23. (http://www.turnitup.co.kr)
No Blood No Tears ["Pido Nunmuldo Eopshi"] Directed by Ryu Seung-wan. Screenplay by Jung Jin-wan and Ryu Seung-wan. The ill-treated mistress of a gang boss becomes friendly with an older woman who drives a taxi. Eventually the two hatch a plan to steal a bagful of money, taking some revenge in the process. A 'pulp noir' film starring Jeon Do-yeon, Lee Hye-young, Jung Jae-young, Ryu Seung-beom, Shin Ku, Jung Du-hong, etc. Cinematography by Choi Young-hwan. Produced by Fun & Happiness. Distributed by Cinema Service. Rating: 18+. 116 min. March 1. (http://www.noblood.co.kr)
The Bird Who Stops in the Air ["Saeneun Pyegokseoneul Geurinda"] Directed by Jeon Soo-il. Screenplay by Lee Jung-ae and Jeon Soo-il. A film professor in a regional university feels oppressed by life and a troubled relationship with his students. His lifelong interest in birds becomes ever stronger with his wish to fly away from his present situation. Starring Sol Kyung-gu, Kim So-hee. Cinematography by Kim Dae-sun, Hwang Chul-hyun. Produced by Dongnyuk Film. Distributed by Mirovision, Cineworld. Rating: 18+. 106 min. March 1.
L'Abri ["Beoseu, Jeongnyujang"] Literal title: "Bus Stop." Directed by Lee Mi-yeon. Screenplay by Lee Jae-chan. A 32-year old Korean language teacher who works in a learning institute feels withdrawn from life, not able to communicate with anyone. When a 17-year old student with problems of her own enters his class, she sees in him someone she can relate to. Starring Kim Tae-woo, Kim Min-jung, Lee Dae-yeon. Cinematography by Park Ki-woong. Produced by Myung Film. Distributed by CJ Entertainment. Rating: 15+. 95 min. March 8. (http://bus.myungfilm.com)
My Beautiful Days ["Seumulnet"] Directed by Im Jong-jae. Screenplay by Choi Hong-seok. A man in his twenties is nearing the end of his part-time military service at a government office, when he runs into his former girlfriend. Feeling suffocated by a loveless affair with an older woman, the man feels happy to reacquaint himself with his old girlfriend, until he meets her younger sister... Starring Kim Hyun-sung, Byun Eun-jung, Kim Min-sun, Pang Eun-jin, Myung Kye-nam. Cinematography by Ham Soon-ho. Produced by Park Chul-soo Films. Distributed by Film Bank. Rating: 18+. 91 min. March 16. (http://www.we24.co.kr)
COMING SOON
Oasis Lee Chang-dong's anxiously-awaited follow-up to the critically acclaimed Peppermint Candy began shooting in mid-December, and is expected to be ready by summer. Referred to by the director as a dark, twisted melodrama, the film tells the story of a social outcast convicted of driving drunk who falls in love with a woman who has cerebral palsy. The film will reunite actors Sol Kyung-gu and Moon So-ri, the two leads from Peppermint Candy, and will also feature a cameo role by young director Ryu Seung-wan (Die Bad).
Champion Following the record-breaking success of his movie Friend, director Kwak Kyung-taek turns to another true story for his next project. Champion covers the life of Korean boxer Kim Dukgoo, who died in the ring during a match in Las Vegas with Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini. Kwak says he especially wants to portray the motivation that led a man from a poor community to become one of the top boxers in the world. Actor Yoo Oh-sung, one of the two leads from Friend, will portray Kim Dukgoo after having undergone several months of intense physical training. After shooting in both Los Angeles and Korea, the film is scheduled for a release in late June/early July.
The White Room* Lim Chang-jae is one of Korea's best-known experimental filmmakers, and recently he has started shooting his first commercially-funded feature. The White Room is a horror film about the ghost of a fetus who dies before being born, and it will star rising actress Lee Eun-ju (Virgin Stripped Bare by her Bachelors) as well as Jung Jun-ho (My Boss My Hero). The film is scheduled to be released in June or July.
R U Ready? A big-budget adventure fantasy in the style of Indiana Jones, this film revolves around the recollections of six people who get on the same bus at an amusement park. Shot on an HD digital camera in the same manner as the latest Star Wars film, R U Ready? also features a large amount of location shooting in Thailand. With largely unknown actors in the main roles, the film's biggest star is its screenwriter Goh Eun-nim, who received a great deal of press coverage after she wrote Bungee Jumping of Their Own. A release date is tentatively scheduled for July.
Make it Big! A comic action film starring white-hot actor Song Seung-hun, who has become hugely sought after throughout Asia after the success of his TV drama Autumn Story (a.k.a. "Endless Love"). The story of three friends who come across a huge stash of money, the film scheduled to be released in May.
* official English title not yet available
NOTES
Rising success of Korean cinema in 2001
The Korean Film Commission has published end-of-the-year statistics for the year 2001, which show that over 46% of the tickets sold last year in Seoul were for Korean movies, up from 32% in 2000. For the nation as a whole, the market share is estimated at a stunning 49%, making Korean cinema one of the strongest local industries in the world. The top five grossing movies from 2001 were all Korean (note that Harry Potter comes in at #5 nationwide if you include figures from 2002).
A total of 52 Korean movies were released in 2001, down from 58 the year before. Although a greater number of movies were produced in 2001, it is becoming more difficult to get films into theaters, since hit films are taking up a bigger percentage of the screens.
The overwhelming success of Korean cinema has had several effects. More and more money is flowing into the industry, and the average budget of local films is steadily rising. The success of local films at home has also attracted notice abroad, helping Korean filmmakers to sell their films overseas. At the same time, however, this success has led the government to consider weakening the nation's screen quota system, which guarantees screen time for local films. When the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced that it was considering a reduction in the quota, a group of influential people from the film industry held a rally in protest, vowing action if the quota is weakened. Currently the issue remains at a standstill, with no change in the quota yet announced.
Hollywood taking notice of Korean films
In recent months, Hollywood studios have begun to take a major interest in the Korean film industry. One of the key areas in which this is taking place is in the purchase of remake rights, with top hits My Sassy Girl (DreamWorks), My Wife is a Gangster (Miramax) and Hi, Dharma (MGM) all having been sold to Hollywood studios. Many of the deals include a significant fee, plus a percentage of any future revenue earned by the remakes.
Additionally, Columbia Tristar has announced that it will be fully financing the new $10 million project by Cinema Service founder Kang Woo-suk, in return for worldwide distribution rights. The film, titled Silmi Island, will be based on a historical event involving an assassination attempt on former president Park Chung-hee. It will be produced by Hanmac Films and shot in Korea using local actors. The film is expected to start shooting in the summer and be ready around May 2003; Columbia's influence will likely help it to penetrate foreign markets.
This type of cooperation between Hollywood and Korean studios is seen as likely to continue. More remake deals are reportedly in the works, and Columbia is expected to pursue similar partnerships for future films.
Korean and Japanese film industries grow closer
As the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup draws nearer, cooperation between the Korean and Japanese film industries is reaching new heights. A number of co-productions featuring actors from both countries are scheduled for release in the coming months. One of these, Seoul by director Nagasawa Masahiko, features Choi Min-soo and Japanese actor Nagase Tomoya in a story about a Japanese detective trying to catch a gang leader in Seoul. The movie, which was released in Japan on February 9, is scheduled for a release in Korea on March 22. Another anticipated film which screened at the Berlin Film Festival in February is KT by director Sakamoto Junji, a film based on the real-life kidnapping of dissident leader Kim Dae-Jung in Tokyo in 1973. Kim would eventually go on to be elected president of Korea in 1998. The film, which delves into the political intrigue behind the event, is scheduled for a joint release in Korea and Japan just before the World Cup.
In addition to such co-productions, there will also be a host of hit films crossing the East Sea in the coming months. In Japan, Friend is scheduled to be released on over 100 screens on April 6, while My Wife is a Gangster is also expected to have a wide release later this year. In Korea, meanwhile, box office hits Battle Royale, Ghost in the Shell, and the biggest Japanese film of all time, Spirited Away, are all scheduled for release in the coming months.
CJ Entertainment goes public
CJ Entertainment, one of Korea's two biggest film companies, has become the first company in the film industry to have an initial public offering on the stock market. On February 5, CJ Entertainment sold 30% of its shares on Korea's KOSDAQ exchange, seeing its share price double during the day from an initial 12,000 won to 24,000 won per share. In the weeks to follow the price rose to a high of 32,000 won per share, before settling back down at around 25,000 won. Investors were reportedly encouraged by the strong growth of the film industry, as well as the large amount of money held by CJ Entertainment's parent company, Cheil Jedang.
The current stock prices give CJ Entertainment a total market value of about $285 million. More detailed information can be found by going to http://english.kosdaq.or.kr/ and searching for CJ Entertainment (49370).
Top films of 2001?
The editors of the nation's top film magazines have revealed their picks for the best films of 2001. Utilizing critics polls, each magazine ended up choosing a different film as the best of the year, with Take Care of My Cat, Sorum, and Flower Island each chosen once. Results are listed below.
FILM 2.0 (weekly): 1. Take Care of My Cat; 2. Waikiki Brothers; 3. One Fine Spring Day; 4. Failan; 5. Sorum.
CINE21 (weekly): 1. Sorum; 2. Take Care of My Cat; 3. One Fine Spring Day; 4. Failan; 5. (tie) Waikiki Brothers, Address Unknown.
KINO (monthly): 1. Flower Island; 2. Take Care of My Cat; 3. Sorum; 4. Waikiki Brothers; 5. Nabi ("The Butterfly").
My own picks, together with opinions from some other readers, can be found at http://www.koreanfilm.org/htdocs/dcforum/DCForumID1/607.html
ANNOUNCEMENTS, ETC.
Awards at international film festivals
Park Kiyong's black and white digital feature Camel(s) has been awarded the Regard d'Or (Grand Prix) at the Fribourg International Film Festival held in Switzerland. The minimalist film about a middle-aged man and woman who have an affair was also given an award for Best Screenplay. Meanwhile, Song Ilgon's Flower Island was awarded the FIPRESCI Award and also given a Special Mention by the festival jury. The Fribourg festival, devoted to films from Asia, Africa, and South America, ran from March 10-17.
Horror film Sorum (2001) by debut director Yoon Jong-chan took home three awards from the Oporto International Film Festival in Portugal, better known as Fantasporto. Awards included Best Actress for Chang Jin-young, Best Director for Yoon Jong-chan, and the festival's Special Jury Award. This is the second year in a row that a Korean film has won multiple awards, following The Isle in 2001. Fantasporto ran from February 22 - March 2.
At the fourth edition of the Deauville Asian Film Festival in France, Failan (2001) won four prizes including an award for Best Picture. Other prizes include Best Actor for Choi Min-shik, Best Director for Song Hye-sung, and the festival's Audience Award. This year's festival took place from March 7-10, and featured 7 films in competition and 33 films in all, including a four-film retrospective of veteran Korean director Shin Sang-ok. Previous Best Picture winners include Joint Security Area in 2001 and Nowhere to Hide in 2000.
Park Chan-wook's smash hit Joint Security Area was named by Japanese journalists as Best Foreign Language Film at the 44th Blue Ribbon Awards, a domestic awards ceremony held in Tokyo. The film beat out competition by Stephen Spielberg's A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amelie and Wong Kar-wai's In the Mood for Love to claim the award. JSA was highly successful in its Japanese release, grossing $9 million, compared to Shiri's $2 million in 2000.
Smash comedy My Sassy Girl was named the recipient of the Grand Prix at the 13th Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival, held in Hokkaido, Japan. This year's festival ran from February 14-18.
Take Care of My Cat by debut director Jeong Jae-eun was specially mentioned by the VPRO Tiger Awards jury at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, held this year from January 23 - February 3.
O'clock, a 3D animated film made as a graduation project by Kim Hyuk-bum, Yun Yeo-dong, Yang Sung-in and Lim Seung-ryong at the Kaywon School of Art and Design won a Special Jury Award from the Week with the Masters Animation Celebration held biannually by Toonz Animation India.
New books about Korean cinema
Information about this and other books on Korean cinema can be found at http://www.koreanfilm.org/books.html
IM KWON-TAEK: THE MAKING OF A KOREAN NATIONAL CINEMA (2002), ed. David E. James and Kyung Hyun Kim. Wayne State University Press: January 2002, 288pp. Available in paperback (ISBN 0814328695) and hardcover (ISBN 0814328687).
This collection of essays about the work of Im Kwon-taek serves to inform the reader about one of Korea's most important filmmakers, as well as to highlight the development of Korean cinema through the 40 years in which he has been making films. The book features ten essays in all (listed below), as well as a complete filmography and a list of political and cultural events in Korea from 1870-2000.
Essays included in the book:
1. Korean Cinema and Im Kwon-Taek: An Overview
2. Im Kwon-Taek: Korean National Cinema and Buddhism
3. The Female Body and Enunciation in Adada and Surrogate Mother
4. The Politics of Gender, Aestheticism and Cultural Nationalism in Sopyonje
5. Sopyonje: Its Cultural and Historical Meaning
6. Sopyonje and the Inner Domain of National Culture
7. Fly High, Run Far: Kaebyok and Tonghak Ideology
8. Is This How War is Remembered?: Deceptive Sex and the Re-masculinized Nation in The Taebaek Mountains
9. In Defense of Continuity: Discourses on Tradition and the Mother in Festival
10. An Interview with Im Kwon-Taek
New releases with English subtitles
The following are the latest releases of Korean films with English subtitles. Note that subtitles are sometimes available in one format (e.g. DVD) but not in others (Video CD, videocassette). For ordering information, more details and a full list of subtitled Korean films available for purchase, visit http://www.koreanfilm.org/subtitles.html or my wife's online DVD store at http://www.yeondvd.com.
Musa (2001). A region-3 DVD from CJ Entertainment in Korea.
Seaside Village (1965). An all-region DVD from Bitwin in Korea.
School Excursion (1969). An all-region DVD from Bitwin in Korea.
Flower Island (2001). An all-region DVD from SRE Corporation in Korea.
The Marines Who Never Returned (1963). An all-region DVD from Bitwin in Korea.
My Wife is a Gangster (2001). A region-3 DVD from Bear Entertainment in Korea.
Christmas in August (1998). An all-region DVD from SRE Corporation in Korea.
Failan (2001). A region-3 DVD from Premier DVD in Korea.
Sorum (2001). A region-3 DVD from Premier DVD in Korea.
Die Bad (2000). A region 3 DVD from Starmax in Korea.
The Fox With Nine Tails (1994). An all-region DVD from Bitwin in Korea.
Address Unknown (2001). An all-region DVD from Atlanta Contents Group.
Guns & Talks (2001). A region-3 DVD from Metro DVD in Korea.
Paradise Villa (2001). An all-region DVD from Cinexus in Korea.
Kilimanjaro (2000). A region 3 DVD from CJ Entertainment in Korea.
Friend (2001). An all-region DVD from Mega Star in Hong Kong.
Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000). A region-3 DVD from Universe Laser in Hong Kong.
I Wish I Had a Wife (2001). A region-3 DVD from Edko in Hong Kong.
Nowhere to Hide (1999). An all-region DVD from Panorama in Hong Kong.
One Fine Spring Day (2001). A region-3 DVD from Universe Laser in Hong Kong.
Ditto (2000). An all-region DVD from Mei Ah in Hong Kong.
Shiri (1999). A region-1 DVD from Columbia Tristar in USA.
Lies (2000). A region-1 DVD from Fox Lorber in USA.
Friend (2001). A video CD from Mega Star in Hong Kong.
Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000). A video CD from Universe Laser in Hong Kong.
Siren (2000). A video CD from Era Home Entertainment in Hong Kong.
I Wish I Had a Wife (2001). A video CD from Edko in Hong Kong.
Ditto (2000). A video CD from Mei Ah in Hong Kong.
One Fine Spring Day (2001). A video CD from Universe Laser in Hong Kong.
Shiri (1999). A VHS video from Columbia Tristar in USA.
Coming soon: Joint Security Area (late April).
Korean film releases abroad
After being delayed due to the terrorist attacks in New York, the terrorist-themed blockbuster Shiri was released in the U.S. by Samuel Goldwyn on February 8 in six cities. Receiving a wide spectrum of critical reviews, from the very positive to the very negative, the film struggled at the box-office but nonetheless expanded to 11 cities in early March. Currently the film remains in two theaters and has grossed a total of $94,000.
Meanwhile, My Sassy Girl has become a runaway hit in Hong Kong, landing at the top of the box-office for two weeks in a row. In 19 days time, it earned over HK$10 million (US$1.2 million), breaking the record set by Shiri (1999) to become the best grossing Korean film released in Hong Kong. January was a month filled with Korean films, with 5 films released: JSA (3 Jan), The Quiet Family (10 Jan), Friend (17 Jan), The Siren (24 Jan) and Summer Time (24 Jan). However, box office for all of them fell short of expectations. The success at the box office for My Sassy Girl is expected to lead to big releases of other Korean films in the coming months: My Wife is a Gangster is scheduled for 4 April while Guns & Talks and Hi, Dharma are also tentatively slotted for April.
In other Hong Kong news, CJ Entertainment became the first Korean distributor to ever release a local film directly into a foreign country with JSA in January. Two more direct releases are scheduled for Hong Kong this year: Musa and 2009 Lost Memories. The company is expected to release in other southeast Asian nations as well.
Finally, in Japan two Korean films were released on March 16: La Belle (2000) by Gaga Communications (website at http://www.gaga.ne.jp/la_belle/) and Plum Blossom (2000) by Albatross Film (http://www.albatros-film.com/sinsaku/private/private.html). Friend will be released on April 6 (http://www.chingu.jp/).
International sales
Note that sales to a given country do not necessarily guarantee a release. This is not a comprehensive list; I am merely passing along what I have heard.
UNITED STATES: The King (2001); My Sassy Girl (2001, remake rights); Hi, Dharma (2001, remake rights).
JAPAN: Take Care of My Cat (2001); Volcano High (2001); Kick the Moon (2001); Guns & Talks (2001); My Wife Is a Gangster (2001); The Way Home (2002).
HONG KONG: Take Care of My Cat (2001); Volcano High (2001); Hi, Dharma! (2001); Bad Guy (2002); Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (pre-sales); Public Enemy (2002); The Last Witness (2001); My Beautiful Girl, Mari (2002); Wanee and Junah (2001).
TAIWAN: My Sassy Girl (2001); Joint Security Area (2000); The Isle (2000).
CHINA: The Way Home (2002); 2009 Lost Memories (2002); Yesterday (pre-sales).
SINGAPORE: Yellow Hair 2, a.k.a. "Running Blue" (2001); Summer Time (2001).
MALAYSIA: Bichunmoo (2000, video rights).
INDONESIA: 2009 Lost Memories (2002).
THAILAND: 2009 Lost Memories (2002); Volcano High (2001); My Sassy Girl; Yesterday (pre-sales).
SCANDINAVIA: Bichunmoo (2000); Take Care of My Cat (2001); Bad Guy (2002).
BENELUX: Musa (2001).
GERMANY: Joint Security Area (2000); Bad Guy (2002); 2009 Lost Memories (2002); Shiri (1999).
SPAIN: Musa (2001).
UNITED KINGDOM: Bad Guy (2002).
GREECE: Bad Guy (2002).
EX-SOVIET REPUBLICS: Bad Guy (2002); 2009 Lost Memories (2002); Volcano High (2001).
ISRAEL: Take Care of My Cat (2001, TV rights); Public Enemy (2002, TV rights).
Special thanks to Yeon Hyeon-sook (YeonDVD.com), Ryan Law and Stephen Cremin (Asian Film Library Bulletin) for their help in compiling this newsletter.
March 21, 2002
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