Gangnam 1970 (Korea)
Opening Jan. 21
Action, Drama. Directed by Yoo Ha
The final installment of director Yoo Ha’s “street series” trilogy, this noir action flick is set against the backdrop of an exploding real estate market in Seoul’s Gangnam district in the 1970s, a turbulent era under the dictatorship of military strongman Park Chung-hee. When two childhood friends, Kim Jong-dae (Lee Min-ho) and Baek Yong-ki (Kim Rae-won), are forced to become enemies, misunderstanding, revenge and conspiracy ensues.
Chronicle of a Blood Merchant (Korea)
Opened Jan. 14
Drama. Directed by Ha Jung-woo
Based on renowned Chinese author Yu Hua’s 1995 novel of the same name, “Chronicle of a Blood Merchant” is set in a small village in Korea in the 1950s and 1960s. Heo Sam-gwan (Ha Jung-woo), a poor but good-hearted man, falls in love at first sight with Heo Ok-ran (Ha Ji-won), the most beautiful girl in the village. In order to win Ok-ran’s heart, Sam-gwan sells his blood and buys food and gifts for her. Sam-gwan makes a brave marriage proposal, and they settle down and have three boys. But one day a rumor surfaces that the eldest boy has a different father.
Casa Amor: Exclusive for Ladies (Korea)
Opened Jan. 8
Comedy. Directed by Jung Bum-shik
Baik Bo-hee (Jo Yeo-jeong) is a beautiful, successful career woman at a large toy company. That is, until she makes an irrevocable mistake that leads to her dismissal. Rubbing salt into the wound, Bo-hee’s husband Koo Gang-sung (Kim Tae-woo) leaves her. One day, she becomes friends with her neighbor Nan-hee (Clara) who owns a sex shop that is on the verge of bankruptcy. Bo-hee, with her superb marketing instincts, jumps into business with Nan-hee to save the shop by promoting better products and creating a refined ambience.
Criminal Designer (Korea)
Opened Dec. 24
Crime, Action. Directed by Kim Hong-sun
Ji-hyeok (Kim Woo-bin), a skilled safecracker, teams up with hacker Jong-bae (Lee Hyun-woo) and engineer Gu-in (Ko Chang-seok) to rob jewelry stores for a living. One day they are hired by mob boss Jo (Kim Yeong-cheol) to steal 150 billion won ($135.75 million) hidden at the Incheon customs department. If they don’t complete the mission in 40 minutes, their lives will be at risk.
Ode to My Father (Korea)
Opened Dec. 17
Drama. Directed by Yoon Je-kyoon
“Ode to My Father” is the story of Deok-soo (Hwang Jung-min), a man who lived through Korea’s tumultuous 1950s and 1960s. When the Korean War breaks out, Deok-soo is separated from his younger sister and his mother and becomes the breadwinner of the family. From a young age, he takes all kinds of difficult and odd jobs to provide for his mother and siblings. In search of opportunities, he travels the globe, working as a coal miner in Germany, where he falls in love with a migrant nurse called Young-ja (Kim Yun-jin).
