Revivre (Korea)
Opening April 9
Drama. Directed by Im Kwon-taek
Based on Korean author Kim Hoon’s award-winning novel “Hwajang” (a Korean word meaning makeup and cremation), “Revivre” is veteran director Im Kwon-taek’s 102nd film. The film centers on top marketing executive Oh Sang-moo (Ahn Sung-ki), who works at a major cosmetic company. He is attracted to a young, beautiful woman called Choo Eun-joo (Kim Gyu-ri), while his wife is dying of a brain tumor. The film has already been invited to a number of international film festivals, including Venice, Berlin and Toronto, and won critical acclaim.
Foulball (Korea)
Opening April 2
Documentary. Directed by Cho Jung-rae, Kim Bo-kyeong
This 87-minute documentary follows the baseball team the Goyang Wonders, South Korea’s first independent club with no league affiliation, and Kim Sung-keun, a former manager of the team and the current manager of the Hanwha Eagles. In 2011, celebrated director Kim helmed a team made up of baseball players who were undrafted high school and college graduates or released from other professional teams, offering them a chance to continue their careers. Actor Cho Jin-woong takes on the narration.
Twenty (Korea)
Opened March 25
Comedy. Directed by Lee Byung-hun
This coming-of-age film centers on three close friends who are all turning 20 years old. Chi-ho (Kim Woo-bin) is jobless and has no specific plans in life, but is popular with the girls; Dong-woo (Lee Jun-ho) dreams of becoming a comic artist; and Kyung-jae (Kang Ha-neul) is smart when it comes to his schoolwork, but not so much when it comes to relationships.
Whiplash (U.S.)
Opened March 12
Drama. Directed by Damien Chazelle
Based on the director’s real experience in his high school band, “Whiplash” is a story of promising young drummer Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller), who enrolls at a prestigious music conservatory, aspiring to become one of the greatest drummers in the country. At school he meets the tyrannical jazz band conductor Terence Fletcher, played by J.K. Simmons, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role. Fletcher sees potential in Neiman and pushes him to excel.
Kingsman: The Secret Service (U.K., U.S.)
Opened Feb. 11
Action, thriller. Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Based on Mark Millar’s eponymous comic book, the film centers on veteran secret agent Harry Hart (Colin Firth), who selects young, troubled protégé, Eggsy (Taron Egerton), to join his secret organization Kingsman and gives him a chance to become a spy. Samuel L. Jackson stars as the villain Mr. Valentine, who has a scheme to overthrow the world using SIM cards.
