MORE and more films will be screened in local cinemas this September, coinciding with Filipinos’ celebration of the Philippine Film Industry Month (PFIM).
On Tuesday, the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the Philippines introduced the “Korean Film Festival (KFF) 2024,” with the theme “Chingu Kita.”
It will feature five South Korean films, which will be screened for free from September 25 to 29 in selected cinemas, including:
- Cinema 3 of SM Mall of Asia
- Cinema 3 of SM City Davao
- Cinema 4 of SM City Baguio
- Cinema 4 of SM Seaside City Cebu
As part of the festival, the KFF 2024 will also hold a special discussion called “Meet the Chingus,” featuring members of the Korean and Philippine film industry, at Cinematheque Centre Manila and UPFI Film Center Videotheque.
Curious? Here are the five Korean movies you should look forward to at the film festival:
’Smugglers’
Set in the 1970s in a small and peaceful village, “Smugglers” tells the story of how several haenyeo, or female divers, got involved in a smuggling scheme when their livelihood was threatened by the opening of a chemical factory in their village.
The trailer showed female divers harvesting smuggled goods from the ocean instead of a variety of sea life like mollusks.
Directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, the 2023 action-crime movie featured Kim Hye-su, Yun Jung-ah, Zo In-sung, Park Jeong-min, Kim Jong-soo, and Go Min-si.
‘Love Reset’
Viewers will surely feel butterflies in their stomachs with “Love Reset,” a 2023 romantic comedy helmed by Nam Dae-joong.
The film tells the story of a couple who is about to end their marriage but loses their memories after being caught in a car accident. The couple slowly fall in love with each other anew, but their families plan to help them recall their memories to finalize their divorce.
“Love Reset” starred Kang Ha-neul and Jung So-min.
‘Inseparable Bros’
Cinephiles will also be treated with another heart-warming film that centers on how an individual can find a family in other people despite not having the same bloodline.
“Inseparable Bros” is a 2019 comedy-drama film that revolves around two men who treat each other as real brothers, even though they are not blood-related. One is wheelchair-bound but smart, while the other is physically fit but has a mental age of five.
Actors Shin Ha-kyun and Lee Kwang-soo topbilled the movie. It was helmed by Yook Sang-hyo.
‘Our Season’
Another film highlighting family love is “Our Season,” a 2023 fantasy-drama film that Yook also directed.
The movie follows a mother who comes down from heaven to reunite with her daughter during her three-day vacation on Earth. Accompanied by a guide from the afterlife, the mother takes this miraculous opportunity to look after her daughter.
“Our Season” starred Shin Min-a, Kim Hae-sook, and Kang Ki-young.
‘Picnic’
Missing your childhood? You might be reminded of it through “Picnic,” a 2024 drama film that unearths forgotten memories and revisits childhood friendship.
The movie centers on an elderly woman who returns to her hometown village after six decades, where she meets her childhood friend and the man who had a crush on her. There, she relives the memories from when she was 16.
“Picnic” was headlined by Sung Byoung-sook, Lee Hang-na, and Hwang Hyo-eun.
