Going to the movies has become my new hobby these days. Recalling my childhood, I was a kid who enjoyed visiting theaters. I even stayed in the cinema all day, watching three films in a row sometimes. As I grew up, I had fewer chances as I spent the entire day in school and cram school. On top of everything else, the pandemic put some distance between me and the screen. I chose Netflix in my room rather than heading out to a sealed theater.

A few months ago, I received a gift card for AMC, and that worked as a turning point. I started going to the cinema again and found it enjoyable to watch unreleased films in Korea. There are too many good works in the world to limit myself to only watching domestic films. So, I would like to share a story about the film beyond Americans this week as the third episode of K-Girl in SD.

KOREAN FILM INDUSTRY: CRISIS OR REVIVAL?

Film industry professionals are expressing concern about the crisis facing Korean films. With various changes in our society, such as the rise in the price of movie tickets and the emergence of Over-the-top (OTT) media services, the number of people stepping into theaters has decreased, and a number of tentpole movies couldn’t break even.

Fortunately, the world is still paying attention to Korean films. “12.12: The Day,” a Korean modern history movie released in December, has attracted more than 12 million moviegoers in Korea so far and has been nominated in six categories at the Asian Film Awards, which will be held in Hong Kong this March. The movie also surpassed a million dollars at the American box office. This is an interesting phenomenon where the unfamiliar modern history of a foreign country has captivated people worldwide.

*For your information: “12.12: The Day” is about what happened in the 9 hours during the night of the military revolt that occurred on Dec. 12, 1979, in South Korea.

Korean diaspora narratives are also eye-catching content. “Past Lives,” directed by Korean/Canadian director Celine Song, won the best picture of 2023 at NSFC (National Society of Film Critics Award). It is a love story of a man and woman who were best friends in Korea and met again in New York about 20 years later after the girl moved to the U.S.

“Minari,” an autobiographical film by director Isaac Chung, tells the story of a Korean immigrant family in Arkansas. It depicts the quiet resilience of a family navigating the challenges after immigration. The movie received the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, and Youn Yuh-jung was awarded Best Supporting Actress at the 2021 Oscars, becoming the first Korean to achieve this honor.

SDAFF: SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL

If you would like to discover more great pictures, there is good news for San Diegans. Every year, the Pacific Arts Movement hosts the San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF), where you can explore various unique films representing different cultures, from Asian Americans to international cinema.

The festival was started in 2000 and “has grown to become the largest exhibition of Asian cinema in the western United States,” as explained on the website. Last year, it was held for 10 days in November, presenting more than 160 films from over 30 countries and languages.

If Korean culture is unfamiliar to you, you might recognize only “Parasite” when talking about Korean films. Korea featured 11 films in the last festival, and I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to introduce a few of them.

• Concrete Utopia (Directed by Um Tae-hwa, 2023)

Apocalypse in Seoul. The city has been destroyed, except for one apartment building. Survivors legislate new rules to protect the community, and the building seems like a utopia – the only safe place in the world. However, conflicts arise with residents’ existential crises…

Director Um Tae-hwa stated that audiences can connect with the characters because the movie explores universal emotions, even though the backdrops would be unfamiliar overseas. As he pointed out, many reviewers have noted that it is meaningful to observe the facial expressions and emotions of the characters.

• Sleep (Directed by Jason Yu, 2023)

“Someone’s inside.” A happy honeymoon life changes in a second after Hyunsoo (the husband) starts to exhibit abnormal behavior while he sleeps. Soojin (the wife) feels the threat of Hyunsoo’s dystropy, and the story begins to thrill…

Bong Joon-ho praised the movie as the most unique horror he has watched in the last 10 years. Director Jason Yu, known as Bong Joon-ho’s protégé due to his work in director Bong’s team, made his debut with “Sleep.” The movie unfolds horror in ordinary days in an unconventional way, allowing audiences to interpret the story in their ways.

VARIATION IN CONTENT: OVER THE TOP, OVER THE NATION

Not only in Korea but theaters worldwide are facing hardships after the pandemic. At the same time, filmmakers are settling into new platforms and circumstances. Some films were released on OTT platforms instead of theaters during lockdowns, and movie directors ventured into creating original series for these platforms. For example, Hwang Dong-hyuk, the director of “Squid Game,” is originally a film director with many masterpieces.

How content influences are gradually diversifying. Short videos help people discover their preferred genres of work and break down barriers to accessing new films. Fresh and unique reviews shared on various social media platforms connect people from different cultures and guide them to understand each other. It has become easier to feel and learn by appreciating numerous works than ever before.

SDAFF can serve as a medium that provides people with the chance to enjoy new perspectives. If you haven’t been interested in foreign films but wish to explore something new, this year’s SDAFF might offer a refreshing opportunity. Who would have known that the world you haven’t encountered until now could turn out to be the perfect match for you?

Kyungmin Min is an international intern from Korea.