ACF 707: "Good Morning President" to close out New York Korean Film Festival

Good Morning President
Written and directed by JANG Jin
With Lee Soon-jae, Jang Dong-gun,
Koh Doo-sim, and Im Ha-ryong
South Korea, 2009, 131 min.

Final Screening at BAM, Sunday, October 3rd at 9:15 PM

This will be the third, and final, film shown on Sunday, October 3rd, the last day of the New York Korean Film Festival, which is presented by The Korea Society. NYKFF used to take place in August, and I think the change to September/October has been a wise one.

Also this year marks the festival's move to classier digs at MoMA and BAM, much the same way New York Asian Film Festival 2010 moved up to Lincoln Center as its primary venue.

I think these changes bode well for the success of NYKFF, both now and in the future. I certainly hope so, because Korean Cinema deserves a truly great annual showcase here in New York.

For information about all the remaining NYKFF films, is available here.

Film Description:
Good Morning President is a delicious rumination about power and decision-making, set largely in the head of state's kitchen. Jang's film about three successive Korean presidents is as winning as the best of Frank Capra, but while the pacing and domestic relationships may seem as American as apple pie, the settings and political relationships are as Korean as kimchee.

The older President Kim Jung-ho has to come to grips with his winning the lottery at the end of his term. Next in office is the younger President Cha Ji-wook who faces dilemmas both in foreign policy and on a personal level as a potential organ donor to a dying man. Next in line, female President Han Kyuong-ja faces the crisis of divorce.

ACF mini-review:
The three stories are nicely intertwined, so the film doesn't feel choppy or particularly segmented. While both serious and touching at times, the film also provides bouts of good humor. Overall, highly enjoyable entertainment.

ACF Rating: 3 out of 4 stars, solidly recommended.

ACF 704: "Woochi" at NYKFF - two remaining screenings

Woochi
Written and directed by Choi Dong-hoon
With Gang Dong-won, Kim Yoon-suk, Lim Soojung, Yoo Hae-jin
South Korea, 2009, 135 min.
New York Premiere

Remaining Screenings:
Thursday, September 30: 7:30 PM at MoMA
Saturday, October 2: 9:15 PM at BAM

The New York Korean Festival, presented by the Korea Society, continues through October 3rd. In addition to tomorrow nights showing at MoMA of Woochi, which will also screen at BAM on October 2nd, the full schedule, including tonight's films, can be found by clicking here.

Summary:
In Choi's whizz-bang time-traveling comic fantasy, the title character, a Taoist wizard trapped in an enchanted scroll since 1509, is freed in 2009 to capture a gaggle of evil goblins. Woochi is directed with such verve and panache, you might start believing in magicians and monsters.


ACF mini-review:
An Archgod's pipe, three bumbling Taoist priests, and a bunch of pre-maturely freed goblins (who can take human form) join Woochi the trickster wizard and Master Hwadam in this fanciful hybrid of a film about the battle between good and evil. It's part period-piece and part contemporary, but 100% fun. There's some fine wire-work that reminded me of the best Hong Kong films are renowned for offering. The CGI also is top notch, and it's used in service of the story, not overdone as can sometimes be the case to the ruin of a film.

Woochi is a wondrously silly and often hilarious bit of entertainment.

ACF rating: 3 out of 4 stars, solidly recommended.