This week at the Seoul Cinematheque I watched two films from their great CineVacances program: Francois Truffaut’s THE LAST METRO (1980) and Claude Chabrol’s THE STORY OF WOMEN (1988). The two have a great deal in common, most specifically the fact that they are both set in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Also, both are directed by prominent members of the French New Wave, Francois Truffaut and Cluade Chabrol, and both are films made in the 1980s, many years after both World War II and after the New Wave itself had long passed. Looking back at the films from today’s perspective, one can position both films within the history of representations of the Resistance and within the directorial trajectories of both filmmakers. (more…)

Starting on Friday, the Seoul Cinemathque begins its annual summer program, Cine-Vacances. As usual, the schedule is quite eclectic, with a wide range of films and filmmakers. So far, no information has been posted about subtitles for the foreign films, but even if you limit the list of films to English language only, there is lots of quality work to take in. The complete list is given below, divided between English language and foreign films. Hopefully information about subtitles will be given shortly. The complete schedule is available here. (more…)

I am currently away in Canada and thus unavailable to contribute a regular film column until the end of the month, but an article I wrote on Lee Chang-dong’s 2007 MILYANG/ SECRET SUNSHINE has just been published in the on-line journal JUMP CUT. It is a much longer, more academic piece than I usually contribute here, but may be of interest to those interested in Korean cinema and cinematic style (and, of course, fans of the director). And the journal illustrated the piece well with numerous stills. It is available here.

Currently playing at the Seoul Cinematheque is a 22 film retrospective of probably the most important Japanese director since the classical era: Nagisa Oshima. Best known for his taboo breaking works around obsessive sexuality, Oshima emerged in the 1960s as the most radical figure of the emerging Japanese New Wave. Only some of the films feature English subtitles. The complete list can be viewed here.

Everyone has heard the rumours around the sex industry in Korea, about the massage parlors and juicy bars, but no one I know has ever actually been to one, or at least wanted to admit it. As an insatiably curious person I was dying to know what exactly went on behind the barber pole.  I started asking around among both Koreans and foreigners and most of what I heard I already knew. Finally I heard of a friend of a friend who was an honest to goodness John. I tracked him down and he agreed to sit down for an interview on the subject.  MT (we’ll call him), a lanky, nonchalant guy wearing a white linen blazer and aviator sunglasses indoors, straight out of Miami Vice, stood to greet me when I arrived.

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I’m a bit behind in the times on this one, but I’ve recently discovered the Arthouse Momo cinema at Ewha Women’s University in Seoul (thanks to Jonathan Kelly for the heads up). The theatre has two cinemas and, as the title suggestions, features art house films, both Korean and international. The reason I had basically given up on art houses in Seoul generally (such as Sponghouse, etc) were the lack of subtitles on non-English language films, combined with the difficulty in obtaining screening information easily. With Arthouse Momo, the later problem is solved, as the website, although mostly in Korean, is easy to use and provides a timetable for screenings. Unfortunately, there still seems to be a general lack of subtitles. Currently, there are two Korean films playing that recently won at Cannes, Lee Chang-dong’s POETRY and Hong Sang-soo’s HAHAHA, but no subtitles. So unless your Korean and/or other languages are fluent, you are limited to the English language films. On Sunday, I saw Tom Ford’s 2009 films A SINGLE MAN, which had not gotten a significant theatrical release here. It is fine film with a great performance by Colin Firth, and very much worth seeking out. They are also showing the English language films WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR FATHER (2007) and Roman Polanksi’s latest THE GHOST WRITER (2010), along with the German film NORTHFACE (2008). So, while not perfect, it is a useful resource for those in Seoul. And on the positive side, the theatres are new and high quality. Admission is 9000 won.

Arthouse Momo is located in the Campus Complex of Ewha Women’s University, Line 2, Exit 2 or 3. Once you enter the main gate, the campus complex is up and then on your right. Enter through gate 3 of the complex and turn left, the theatre is down the hall. There are also maps at the gate to find the campus complex, and outside the campus complex in order to find the theatre. First time you may want to get there early, as it can take a few minutes to figure out.