The films will be shown as part of the Korean Cinema Spotlight program, from 30/6 to 5/7. Tickets are free to the public at Le Do Cinema (Da Nang).
Over the past two decades, Korean cinema has captivated global audiences with both popular and critically acclaimed films. The success of Parasite at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and the Oscars is a testament to Korean cinema's international standing. To honor this growth, the third Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF) will present 11 iconic films from the 1960s to the present, reflecting the industry's evolution: overcoming challenges, innovation, and global integration.
Among the selections is director Kim Ki Young's The Housemaid (1960), which revolves around a family of four in Seoul. The husband, Kim Dong Sik (played by Kim Jin Kyu), is a piano instructor at a factory, while his wife (Joo Jeung Nyeo) works as a seamstress. Under pressure from work and the birth of their third child, they hire a housemaid, Myung Sook (Lee Eun Sim). Initially diligent and honest, she gradually exhibits strange and dangerous behavior, disrupting the family's harmony.
Although initially released in 1960, The Housemaid gained widespread recognition after being screened at the 1997 Busan International Film Festival. According to News1, The Housemaid has influenced numerous filmmakers, including Bong Joon Ho and American director Martin Scorsese. ScreenRant considers the project a breakthrough for Korean cinema, not only for its dramatic narrative but also for its unique approach to character psychology and social context, focusing on the darker aspects of human nature.
Criterion Collection regards the film as a classic, praising director Kim Ki Young's style. The British Film Institute (BFI) describes it as a bold work, highlighting social conflicts and class issues through a dramatic and somber narrative. In 2024, the project was selected as the best Korean film of all time by 240 Korean film experts, according to the Korean Film Archive (KOFA).
In A Bittersweet Life (2005), Lee Byung Hun portrays Sun Woo, a cold-blooded yet sentimental gangster. After falling for his boss's mistress, he finds himself pursued and targeted. The film premiered at the 58th Cannes Film Festival, where Lee Byung Hun's performance received critical acclaim. The role earned him the Best Actor award at the Baeksang Arts Awards.
Collider considers director Kim Jee Woon's film a classic on par with Park Chan Wook's Oldboy (2003). Both explore crime themes, leaving viewers pondering the protagonist's fate after the film ends.
The festival will also showcase Seopyeonje (1993), Chunhyang (2000), and Chihwaseon (Painted Fire, 2002) by director Im Kwon Taek, winner of the Golden Bear at the 2005 Berlin International Film Festival. Known as the "founding father of modern Korean cinema", Im Kwon Taek has directed over 100 films in his half-century career. His works often explore Korean cultural values, history, and spirit. At Cannes 2002, he shared the Best Director award with Paul Thomas Anderson (Punch-Drunk Love) for Painted Fire.
Other notable films in the program include Aimless Bullet (1961) by director Yu Hyun Mok, The Day a Pig Fell into the Well (1996) by Hong Sang Soo, The Gingko Bed (1996) by Kang Je Kyu, and Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000) by Bong Joon Ho.
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Bae Doona (left) and Lee Sung Jae star in "Barking Dogs Never Bite", the debut film of director Bong Joon Ho. Photo: *Cinema Service* |
This year's Da Nang Asian Film Festival will run for seven days, from 29/6 to 5/7. The competition program features two main categories: Asian Film and Vietnamese Film. Among the 12 Vietnamese films in competition are box office hits like Detective Kien and The Ancestral Home. The jury includes prominent figures like artist Minh Chau, director Phan Gia Nhat Linh, and international experts and critics.
The festival will also host various seminars, notably the "Impact of War Films in Vietnam Since Reunification" conference, featuring numerous experts. This seminar will assess the role of war films in the development of Vietnamese cinema and promote its global image. Additionally, the organizers will honor Vietnamese war films, showcasing 22 films produced after 1975 that reflect the era and the evolution of the nation's cinema.
Que Chi
