Page 58 - Blog 2015 - Korea in Canada

KoREa In Canada
KoREa-Canada Blog 2015

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Similarly, one of the screening days, May 31 , was set aside for a showcase of short films
beginning at 1:30 pm. It offered a rare chance to see the work of the next generation of
aspiring Korean filmmakers, which was of particular interest to me.

There are number of films that were of particular interest to me. The first of my personal
picks was the 2015 film Socialphobia, directed by Suk-jae Hong, screening on opening night.
It tells the story of a group of youths who attempt to solve the murder of
a classmate via social media, in what looks like an exciting attempt to
capture the zeitgeist. a few of the films in the Korean diaspora program
were of interest to me as well, such as Sayu Park and donsa Park’s ‘one
for all’ and ‘all for one’, a documentary that follows the story of a rugby
team playing in osaka that is made up of Japanese members of the
Korean diaspora, and their struggle to succeed in their league.

another, Henin Jung’s approved for adoption is an animated
feature following the real-life story of a Korean man adopted by a
Belgian family. It looks beautiful in its animation as well as compelling
in its narrative.

I was also really looking forward to the Classic and Short Film
showcases as well. The classic film is Sang-ok Shin’s 1961 film Evergreen
Tree(상록수), which follows the story of two college graduates who seek
to modernize a small village under the watchful eyes of the Japanese
empire. This film was preceded by a brief lecture by one of my very own
professors, Korean studies specialist Janet Poole, and should offer an
interesting dramatized look at a slice of Korean history.

I’ve only talked about a few of the films here, but the folks at the Toronto Korean Film
Festival put together an impressive program comprising dozens of films, so there really was
st
something for everyone.on May 1 the festival organizers hosted a fundraising party, which
featured an art exhibition and market, music, video presentations, live performances, screen
printing, a flea market and, best of all, beer! The event was held at BeitZatoun, 612 Markham
St., at 6 pm. and admission was $5. The festival overall was a success and was the largest
one yet and if you missed it this year, never fears! They will most certainly have one next
year with a whole bunch of new, interesting and diverse films.To stay in the know you can
visit http://www.tkff.ca/ for updates about upcoming festivals and films. don’t miss it!

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