Course “Korean Cinema: a Walk around Korean History”

From the 8th of April to the 1st of June 2019

South Korean cinema has been invisible throughout its recent history that separated the Korean peninsula into North and South and the years of dictatorship. What has happened to Korean films since 1999? We will get to know about the development cinematography has experimented from the end of the 20th century and the international projection its directors have.

Also if students are interested the course “Korean Cinema: a Walk around Korean History” is complemented with 6 screenings at Filmoteca de Catalunya of a selection of Korean films, with free access for registered students. There will be a presentation given by CineAsia and a film-forum after the screening. The 6 films will be chosen from the following proposals, which will be screened in their original version with subtitles in Spanish and Catalan, are the following The Housemaidby Kim Ki-young, 1960,Aimless Bullet by Yoo Hyun-mok, 1961, The Surrogate Woman by Im Kwon-taek, 1987, Barking Dogs never Bite, by Bong Joon-ho, 2000, Il Mare de Lee Hyun-seung, 2000, My Sassy Girl by Kwak Jae-young, 2001, Oasis by Lee Chang-dong, 2002, Burningby Lee Chang-dong 2018, La doncella by Park Chan-wook, 2016, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance by Park Chan-wook, 2005; Shiriby Kang Je-kyu, 1999; The Spy Gone North by Yoon Jong-bin, 2018.

SESSION 1

Monday 8th of April 2019 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm

Presentation. Structure of the course. Ten keys to see Korean films: Introduction to Korea and Korean films: evolution of Korean society, politics and economy. General vision, how has it progressed, which are its influences, genres, position in the world, importance in Korean economy.

SESSION 2

Monday 15th of April 2019 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm

Korean films before and after the War: from the birth of cinema to ghe Golden Age of Korean films. How do films reach the Korean peninsula? Japanese occupation. First films. The arrival of sound. Korean War. One of the fundaments for the knowledge of the Korean people is to deepen into the war analysis that separated Korean into 2: North Korea and South Korea. We will approach the characteristic features of Korean cinema before and after the war. The golden age of Korean cinema.

SESSION 3

Monday 29th of April 2019 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm

The decline, censorship and commercial Korean cinema: (1970-1980-1990). From the censorship and commercial cinema of the 70’s and 80’s we move on to a new economic leap. Political opening (1993 first democratic elections). Opening of exhibition halls. Development of chaebols. Audience share. Creation of the Pusan Festival (1996). In general: establishment of a “Korean film industry”.

SESSION 4

Monday 6th of May 2019 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm

The New Wave of Korean cinema (1999-2018). South Korean cinema has been invisible throughout history for conflicts and wars. What has happened with Korean cinema from 1999?

SESSION 5

Monday 13th of May 2019 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm

Genres in Korean cinema. Commerciality vs auteur cinema. Genres in general: introduction. Korean melodrama: romantic comedy and drama are the genres par excellence. Action, thriller, horror, martial arts, war films. The genre mix in Korean cinema, as well as the mix in society (for example, in its gastronomy).

SESSIÓN 6

Monday 20th of May 2019 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm

Great names of Korean cinema. Part I (1950-1998). Korean cinema before the turn of the century has been hidden due to political and military changes the Korean peninsula had to face. We will analyse the work of 5 key names to understand classic Korean cinema: Kim Ki-young, Sing Sang-ok, Lee Man-hee, Im Kwok-taek, Park Kwang-soo.

SESSION 7 and 8

Monday 27th of May and 3rd of June 2019 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm

Great names of Korean cinema. Part II (1999-2018). After the screening of the film The Isle by Kim Ki-duk at the Venice Film Festival, Korean cinema begins to soak into the West. Since then, its directors have been around international festivals all over the world showing its cinema. We will analyse the work of 5 of them: Kim Ki-duk, Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook, Lee Chang-dong and Kim Ji-woon.

SESSION 9

Monday 10th of June 2009 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm

Korean Series: the success formula that succeeds all over the world. Doramas or Korean series make up a industry of its own. New or acclaimed directors and actors and actresses appear in cinematographic productions and in the market of series. A market that is not only limited to Korea, but is exported to the whole world.

SESSION 10

Monday 17th of June 2019 from 7.00pm to 9.00pm

Current and future situation of Korean cinema. Korean cinema currently has a share that is over 50%. A share that has been maintained from the beginning of the century. What’s the future of Korean cinema? New market expansion. Box Office and independent cinema.

Film series in collaboration with Filmoteca de Catalunya:

The course is complemented with a selection of Asian films that are screened at the Filmoteca de Catalunya, the last Thrusdays of the month (2 sessions per month) at 5.00pm, between the months of April and May 2019. Students will have free access to sessions, which will count on a presentation by CineAsia, as well as a film-forum or debate, at the end of session. Scheduled films (to be confirmed by the Filmoteca depending on availability):

The Housemaid/Aimless Bullet: Thursday 18th of April at 5.00pm at Filmoteca de Catalunya

Barking Dogs Never Bite/The Surrogate Woman: Thursday 25th of April at 5.00 h at Filmoteca de Catalunya

My Sassy Girl/Il Mare: Thursday 23rd of May at 5.00pm at Filmoteca de Catalunya

Oasis/Burning: Thursday 30th of May at 5.00pm at Filmoteca de Catalunya

La doncella/Sympathy for Lady Vengeace: Thursday 20th of June at 5.00pm at Filmoteca de Catalunya

The Spy Gone North/Shiri: Thursday 27th of June at 5.00pm at Filmoteca de Catalunya

Teachers:

Gloria Fernández

Enrique Garcelán

Victor Muñoz

Eduard Terrades Vicens