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Mystery-thriller film The Wailing to appear in 69th Cannes Film Festival

The trailer starts with ominous whistling, and Hwang Jung-min (Himalayas, A Violent Prosecutor) saying, “When you go fishing, do you go knowing what you’ll catch? He just put out the bait. And your daughter bit it.” This new film The Wailing is a reunion project for producer Na Hong-jin and actor Kwak Do-won (The Magicians, Tazza: The Hidden Card), who filmed the enormously successful Yellow Sea in 2010 together.

The Wailing is the tale of a village policeman Jong-gu, played by Kwak, as he tries to track down the reason for all the recent murders as well as their relation to his daughter’s sudden strange illness. Hwang Jung-min plays the role of a local mudang, a traditional Korean shaman, who warns of a danger from the new foreigner in town. Chun Woo-hee (Han Gong-ju) plays the crackpot woman who claims to be a witness to the murders. The odd shrine and black scribbled devil drawing in the trailer suggest a horror thriller movie with a strong element of the supernatural at work alongside a serial killing spree.

Actor Kwak is coming off of several projects where he has played strong villains (e.g. The Magicians), and he has played them so well that I was afraid he would be typecast. So I’m really glad to see that he has been picked up for this role. It will be his first time as the main protagonist, and I am looking forward to how he portrays Jong-goo, the dedicated father and righteous policeman.

This film has been the source of some controversy over its PG-15 rating. Many critics believe that the actual contents of the film are benign enough for under-15-year-olds, but insistence from the producers have contributed to the increased rating. Producer Na explained that he watched his last film Yellow Sea incognito, but was sorry when he saw other audience members cringe due to the violence of the movie. Therefore, although a lower rating may increase the overall viewership, for The Wailing he decided that a raised rating would be needed to clearly warn the audience of possible explicit graphic violence.

This new film will premiere in Korea on May 12, and subsequently be screened on May 18 at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in the non-competitive category.



Via Yonhap News, Joy News

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Thank you for this article tineybeanie. I always love to get more information esp. on Korean films invited for Cannes.

BTW, Namgoong Min directorial debut short film "Light My Fire" will have it's world premier in Cannes Film Festival.

http://sub.festival-cannes.fr/SfcCatalogue/MovieDetail/615c15b2-43b8-4a67-bad5-13ede03c103d

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I haven't seen any (full?)Korean Movie before but the lack of diversity in Korean dramas (recent) is persuading me to give them a try.

How do you guys find them?

I tried watching Veteran but I could not connect with it the way I connect with a drama and stopped watching after half an hour or so. Maybe because of the chaebols that I can no longer tolerate. I am waiting for Dongju. Does anyone know when will the subs be available.

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You have to understand that beyond the romance genre and certain period works, Korean film is an entirely different world from Korean drama. It's true there is more diversity in stories, but of course it has its popular blockbuster culture too.

A lot of the commercially big films might not necessarily be more inspired than a drama, even if obviously better made and acted. Nostalgia, patriotism and masculinity seem to be the focus during the last few years in terms of big films, so you will probably come across a lot of this when looking into big projects.

That said, if you enjoy less urge-indulging stuff than dramas and generally like films, Korean cinema has a lot to offer. It is a very rich in talent and quality industry, if you know where to look. I was into movies way before getting involved with drama for my work and I really do miss them. I definitely recommend you give the industry a go if dramas are getting to you.

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"Korean cinema has a lot to offer. It is a very rich in talent and quality industry, if you know where to look."

Very much agree with you and I'd say I'm a K-movie fan first before K-drama fan.
Korea has amazing talents in the film industry.

I think there is still a big gap between movies and television in Korea than in the West, thanks to some amazing and talented film-makers like Park Chan Wook and Bong Joon Ho etc who helps keep the Korean film industry relevant.

I'd rather watch a BBC series or cable show than go out and watch another super-hero franchise unless I get a free ticket lol.

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I found Veteran a dull run-of-the-mill action crime movie with stereotypical characters and derivative genre conventions, despite it's huge domestic success. I can't blame you for giving up, I too was bored out of my mind watching it. It's the equivalent of a Hollywood blockbuster that tries to wow you with action, one-liners and supposedly twists and turns (that are so conventional they become expected), but offers little depth or character development and has, overall, no staying power or entertainment value for me personally. Don't let this deter you from giving K-movies a try, there are a lot of amazing movies out there, not to mention a lot of talent thriving in the indie scene.

I have to say the posters for this movie are all exquisite and do a great job of drawing you in. The story has potential. I will be watching this when I get the chance.

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Veteran was meant to be a summer action flick. Hwang Jung Min has nothing to prove as a top actor in Chungmuro. I'm guessing he enjoy working with director Ryoo Seung-Wan.
I don't think he is as picky as Ha Jung Woo.

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Yes, I didn't approach the movie as a potentially earth-shattering revelation, I was in the mood for a fun entertaining movie with a decent story. But everything about it was so trite, I don't really understand why this movie in particular was such a riveting success (3rd highest grossing movie of all time in SK), there are movies like this by the dozen. I did enjoy the acting and Yoo Hae Jin's character was a bit more compelling.

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I think Hwang Jung Min is enjoying his box-office success. Ode to my Father was not his best movie but it was his highest grossing movie to date (#2 all time highest in SK).

I really don't mind Hwang Jung Min, Song Kang Ho, Choi Min Shik, Ha Jung Woo, Kim Yoon‑seok etc flexing their star powers every now and then. They've proven themselves as the best leading men of Chungmuro.

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I think the main draw of that film was Yoo Ah In's first time playing the villain. And he did succeed because, wow, what a little sh*t he was.

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There are increasingly more on Netflix.

Seems international distribution channels are taking greater notice of the quality product coming out of Korea.

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May I recommend A Hard Day to you? It's an action-noir that is full of twists and turns but never boring. And it doesn't take itself too seriously. Last I checked it was available via streaming through Netflix.

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Nice to see another recommendation on this movie. I will have to watch it very soon. I heard about it the other day!

Still have a long list of movies (and dramas) to watch. I have watched a few movies that just weren't satisfying.

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If you like romcom movies I recommend - My PS Partner, Love Forecast, Chilling Romance

I watched a horror - Killer Webtoon which was good too

Old kmovie classics - Heartbreak Library, Madeleine, Il Mare

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I second Killer Webtoon!

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This one is kind of an anti-romcom, but I really really liked Temperature of Love / Very Ordinary Couple. It follows Kim Min-Hee and Lee Min-Ki through a breakup. Cute, but surprisingly heartfelt.

Also, I would like to recommend the vengeance trilogy by Park Chan-Wook. I know it's a super common recommendation, but they're extremely good. Lady Vengeance is my favorite.

I love watching Korean movies as well, but I prefer the indies/quieter movies because they feel more real. There are a bunch of movie reviews on this site about some movies that absolutely devastated me, like Bleak Night. I rewatched it a few times in one night just because I couldn't let go. I think there's a link to movie reviews on the sidebar, at least on web view.

The most recent Kmovie (I'm pretty sure it was an indie? Like, 80% sure?) was Han Gong-Ju. I. Was. Wrecked. If you want to cry and scream in equal measure, there's your film. It's even worse when you google it after and realize it's based on real events. :[ (No, really though, watch it. It's a good movie. Definitely recommend.)

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I second Park Chan Wook's Vengeance trilogy if you are ready to experience hard core films as in disturbingly good. I'm still not able to watch all the gorely stuff without ff through some of it.

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I second your Very Ordinary Couple recommendation. Released some time back but one of the more refreshing "romcoms" I've seen.

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For romance, can I also suggest How To Use Guys With Secret Tips? It flew under most people's radar, but it is my all time favourite. The humour is witty, zany and strange, the acting is fantastic (Oh Jung Se has had an incredible boost in his work since this piece), and the points made about gender equality and celebrity life is spot on.

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The Korean film industry, like most entertainment industries, has good movies and bad movies. However, I do think there is more diversity in Korean films than dramas mostly due to there being less restrictions placed on them compared to dramas. However, I love watching Korean movies and I was actually a fan of Korean movies before I started watching dramas.

I would like to recommend all of the movies by director Lee Chang Dong. He's only directed five movies so far but I've found them all to be top quality. He did Green Fish, Peppermint Candy, Oasis, Secret Sunshine, and Poetry, most of them winning some awards internationally. I would say Peppermint Candy is important for its narrative structure being told in reverse chronological order and its portrayal of important events in Korean history from 1980-1999. However, they are all worth a watch in my opinion and important for the message they try to tell.

If you like historical movies, you might also want to try The King and the Clown, directed by Lee Joon Ik starring Kam Woo Sung, Jung Jin Young and Lee Jun Ki which I thought was really well done.

Like others have said, director Park Chan Wook's films are also worth checking out with Joint Security Area being probably his most conventional of his films. My personal favorite of his is Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance.

For romance, I liked The Classic starring Son Ye Jin, Jo Seung Woo and Jo In Sung which was a romantic melodrama.

The indie scene unfortunately doesn't get subbed often which is too bad because there are some gems in there as well. One I watched recently was Set Me Free starring Choi Woo Shik which I thought was a pretty decent character study film.

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Another fan here of director/writer/producer Lee Chang Dong and all of his films, "Poetry" being one of my all time favorite.

The top filmmakers of Chungmuro are multi talented. They not only direct but write and produce their films.

I loved director Lee Joon Ik's "King and the Clown" but wasn't impressed with his latest "The Throne" although I had to watch it for Song Kang Ho. Script was meh. Ended up watching The Good the Bad and the Weird on Netflix which I really enjoy.

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Lee Chang Dong is a very talented filmmaker, especially for someone who didn't study film making beforehand. Have you watched the movies he wrote before directing/writing "Green Fish" (1997) as his directorial debut?

He wrote the screenplays for the movies: "To the Starry Island" (1993) and "A Single Spark" (1995). Park Kwang Soo is the director of both of them.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find "To the Starry Island" anywhere, not even on Korean internet raw or subbed. Fortunately, "A Single Spark" is on YouTube subbed if you search "A Single Spark 1995" and turn on closed captions. It is split into two videos.

Although Lee Chang Dong is not the director, they are still very good movies.

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Thank you for the recommendation. I will definitely look up “A Single Spark 1995” and watch it.
He is an amazing writer and I must admit that I often struggle to understand and relate to his characters but once I get into it I can't stop thinking.

I have only seen 4 and loved them all. I found him through "Secret Sunshine" starring Song Kang Ho and Jeon Do Yeon.

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Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is my favorite of the Vengeance trilogy. Equal parts brutal and heart breaking. And splendid performances to boot. Park Chan Wook can put out some chilling work but there is also a big heart running through his narratives, it feels like to me. I enjoy him so much.

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i agree, the vengeance series was pretty tight. also oldboy (the korean version) is pretty much a classic. the koreans do vengeance movies well over all.

i guess i'm one of the few out there who actually enjoyed 'i'm a cyborg and thats ok.' i liked it much better than most of the conventional romantic movies.

if you don't mind alternative love stories you could also try 'one night only.'

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Very interesting stuff. I need to force myself to make time for Korean movies, because I miss them so much. My backlog is frightening. Will definitely check this one out when available.

I wonder if this is truly horror though. Such stories kind of beg for a twist and I can definitely see a false supernatural baiting thing going on. I mean, it would be an excellent critique of the power prejudice and superstition have in such small communities, if the mudang were behind the killings in order to turn himself into a figure of authority there.

Then again, one could argue that having a monster/ghost/entity after all would actually be a twist due to the expectation of a less supernatural twist. Guessing is the fun in such works. I hope the ending actually delivers on the mystery though.

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Wow! Good for him (NamGoong Min).
Speaking of which,it always surprises me when I hear of all these relatively small( and smaller) movies and first time directors premiering their movies at festivals,at Cannes no less. I always thought it was this prestigious highly competitive event that was hard to get into,so when I hear of these movie showing there,it comes across as a pay-and-register kind of occassion. I may be wrong though. Does anybody know how it really works?

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Its simple when its about Cannes which is biggest film festival in the world because the jury dont care if the film is from Vietnam, Thailand small indie films there which has won the biggest prize there.

Korean cinema is big in Cannes because of the magic year of Korean cinema that was 2003 films like Old Boy, A Bittersweet Life, The Host got alot of acclaim. Got nominated for for the big awards.

The korean films that isnt the action blockbusters have made Chan Park Wook, Kim Ki Duk, Kim Jee-Won(my fav director) Bong Joon Ho world wide names. Cannes are looking for the next smaller great korean film.

To me Korean cinema will always be the best thing about their film,tv culture. Some of the greatest,most thoughprovoking films come from SK, cheesy rom com cant compete with that ever imo.

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The posters are really atmospheric and am loving the stils,gorgeous. I usualy shy away from movies like this because,even when not gory,they still creep me out,more even. But the posters are drawing me in... Oh whom am I kidding? It be 2 years before the movie is subbed and 2 more years before it comes to my side of the pond. Wae? Waeee?

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*who*

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Is this a cross-border production? because the man in the third last still is definitely Jun Kunimura

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Starman's natto alien! I knew, I knew him.

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Thought so. I had to scroll back to the title when his stills appeared, just in case. I guess he is just in as an additional cast just like others foreign casts in movies but the plotlines seem telling otherwise.

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I love watching korean movie even mostly they torture me (cant sleep when I watch horor or ugly crying hehehe). they have wider story.
I dont really like romance story so kdrama hardly get my attention.
these posters look good.. cant wait for this movie

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I also need to get back to watching Korean movies. So many on my list, I'm just waiting for a moment I'm ready for them. Anyways, I heard that there was a lot of anticipation for this one. So, it will go on my list along with the others.

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I find so many film that I love to watch again & again. I love almost all Jung Jae-Young & Hwang Jung Min movies. I 'know' Hwang Jung Min from his first drama & Jung Jae Young from his movie, GLove.

Then I start watching his others movies like Castaway on the moon, Going by the Book, Moss, Confession of Murder, Broken & Someone Special. For Hwang Jung Min, Ode to My Father, DAncing Queen, Private Eyes, A Man who was Superman, Bloody Ties, Black House & The Unjust.

I think I watch almost all korean movies even for some genre that not in my list. it's all because I have so much time... hahaha

I'm looking forward for this movie & hope I can watch this till the end.

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I recommend Kim Hye Ja and Won Bin "Mother/Omoni" the movie release before the big hit "Ajushi" but it was in very different genre.

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Director Na Hong-jin's The Chaser is still my favorite and it introduced me to the talented Ha Jung Woo.

Kwak Do-won and Hwang Jung Min pairing means serious business as in critical acclaim. Opposite of Hwang's summer blockbuster crime action with younger actors.

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Yes, to the Chaser. Scared the bejeeeeesus outta me.
My Dear Enemy, Never Forever, or anything at all that Ha Jung-woo is in, almost.
JSA, Thirst or anything Song Kang Ho is in.
(which could include anything Shin Ha-kyun is in)
Guns n Talks - loved this.
Memories of Murder, War of the Arrows, My Mother the Mermaid or anything Park Ha-il is in.
3 Iron.

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I don't mention Park Hae-ll, Han Suk Guk, Shin Ha Kyun enough but they are so worth fan-girling over.

I miss Ryoo Seung Ryong (War of the Arrows). "The Sound of a Flower" is not as appealing as WotA and I'm not a fan of Jang Dong Gun's acting to want to watch "Night of 7 Years".

Hoping he'd come back to dramaland in a gable show. He would've been great with Jeon Do Yeon.

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The posters are very intriguing, nicely done. Speaking about k-movies, my all time favorite will be all of Won Bin movies: "Taegukgi", "Mother" and "Ahjussi". This guy certainly know how to choose a project.

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This looks good, but these movies also take the longest to get subbed. So I probably won't be able to watch until next year, maybe lol.

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I'm hearing so many good things about this movie. Both the regular movie goers and critics have been gushing about it, saying it's truly one of a kind and there won't be any movie like this for quite a while. I can't wait to watch this!

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To those who already watched it, hope someone can answer me. Three questions:

Why does the shaman throws his guts up when seeing the woman in white towards the end of the movie?

Why does the shaman in the end of the movie takes photographs? What are those other photographs inside the box?

Why does the corpse inside the wrecked truck starts moving when the shaman is casting away the demon from the girl?

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Great movies... I'm in love wit Korean horror movies, it the best.. I'm rating it 10/10

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