Friday, March 18, 2011

Kwak Jae Yong 곽재용 : behind those romantic comedy Korean movies!!!

My fascination with Korean Cinema started when I first saw "The Classic." I also watched "My Sassy Girl" and "Windstruck" consecutively. Little did I know, that all of those films I had watched was directed by one person. The person all behind these amazing films was Director Kwak Jae Yong or Director Kwak Jae Young. It is because of him that I appreciated watching films in a different perspective. To date, I had watched almost all of his films. I would like to share this "kilig" experience by citing his filmography. Kudos to Kwak Jae Yong! May he continue to make awesome romantic comedy films! 
곽재용
Kwak Jae-yong (born 22 May 1959) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. He studied physics at Kyunghee University. He achieved success with his debut film Watercolor Painting in a Rainy Day in 1989, but the failure of his next two movies led to eight years of unemployment before a comeback with the smash-hit film My Sassy Girl in 2001. He is known for his limitless fondness of love stories set in a mix of different genres.

In every single film he does, director KWAK’s main interest is “love.” Not just any love but pure, innocent and platonic feeling of love. He successfully captured the heart of the audience by showing comical and lovable characters and their touching love story in MY SASSY GIRL. In THE CLASSIC, by showing two different but connected love stories of two generations, he pulled out the memories of first loves everyone had or wants to have. Now, he is one of the best directors who can express love story in a way that both young and old generations can feel emotionally attached.

FILMOGRAPHY:

Watercolor Painting in a Rainy Day (1989) - director & writer
Autumn Trip (1992) - director & writer
Watercolor Painting in a Rainy Day 2 (1993) - director & writer
My Sassy Girl (2001) - director & writer
The Romantic President (2002) - writer
The Classic (2003) - director & writer
Windstruck (2004) - director & writer
Ark (2004) - story
My Girl and I (2005) - writer
Daisy (2006) - writer
My Mighty Princess (2007) - director & writer
Cyborg She (2008) - director & writer
All About Women (2008) - writer
The Piano in a Factory (2010) - collaborating director / executive producer

He also did cameo appearance in these films:
All About Women (2008) as Korean man in a restaurant
My Sassy Girl (2001) as Covered Cart Bar Customer 

My Sassy Girl (2001)
Based on a series of true stories posted by Ho-sik Kim on the Internet describing his relationship with his girlfriend. These were later transformed into a best-selling book and the movie follows the book closely.

As the film opens we are introduced to Kyun-woo, a kind-hearted but at times naive college student who seems to keep getting into trouble. On his way home one night he encounters a beautiful but completely smashed young woman who causes a scene in the subway, calls him "honey", and then passes out. With the eyes of the other subway passengers upon him, he has little choice but to take responsibility for her. Thus begins his relationship with the at-times charming, at-times violent damsel who steals his heart.
Much of the film is structured around the bizarre antics of Kyun-woo's newfound girlfriend. After she passes out yet again, Kyun-woo looks at her blissful face and promises to himself that he will save her, and right whatever it is that troubles her. This proves to be much more of a challenge than he expects.


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The Romantic President (2002)

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The Classic (2003)
Synopsis
Ji-hae and Soo-kyoung are friends attending the same university and both have a crush on Sang-min who is in their drama club. The more clamorous and outgoing of the two, Soo-kyoung, asks Ji-hae to do her a favor - write a love letter to Sang-min. Ji-hae pours out her own feelings for him on paper, but sadly in her friend's name. Touched by the letter, Sang-min is attracted to Soo-kyoung, and Ji-hae, feeling uncomfortable and even guilty, tries to avoid him. And yet by coincidence or by fate she keeps running into him.

Ji-hae has lived alone with her mom since her childhood, when her dad unexpectedly passed away. Her mom is now on a trip abroad, and to wile away her solitude she starts cleaning the attic. There Ji-hae finds a secret box, in which her mom kept the memorabilia of her first love story of some decades past.

Summer in 1968...
Joon-ha is visiting his uncle's home in the countryside during his summer vacation. There he meets Joo-hee and falls in love at first sight. One day, the lovely Joo-hee secretly asks Joon-ha to escort her to a haunted house in the village. Happy and excited to be at her service, Joon-ha meets her at their promised spot. But in an unexpected storm, the two lose their boat and barely manage to return home at a very late hour. Joo-hee gets into big trouble for this incident and is sent back to Seoul. Having parted with Joo-hee without a word of farewell, Joon-ha spends the rest of the summer heavy-hearted.

With summer vacation being over Joon-ha also returns to Seoul. At school, his classmate Tae-su asks him to write a love letter to send to a girl. And who would it be but Joo-hee, Joon-ha's dream girl. Unable to confess his own summer love story, Joon-ha reluctantly complies with his friend's request.

International Film Festivals
2003 Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival ,
2006 Chennai International Film Festival, Country Focus -Korea
2004 Philadelphia International Film Festival, New Korean Cinema
2003 Cairo International Film Festival ,



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Windstruck (2004)

When police officer Kyungjin met with Myungwoo accidentally in a crime, she found that this responsible teacher was a really nice guy. At that night, Kyungjin got into a fight with a bunch of high school kids and got trouble in a big gun fight between rival drug dealers. Myungwoo tried to help her but then something happened that forces them stayed together all day long. They got closer to each other and Myungwoo was not able to repulse the strange but pure nature. He fell in love with her. One day, when Kyungjin was chasing a notorious criminal, Myungwoo helped her again, however, not knowing that what would happen that day changed their relationship forever.



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Ark (2004)


The population of the planet Alcyone is split in two; the cultures of the Ceveans and the Storrions are locked in eternal war, destroying their home. Led by their priestess Amiel, the Ceveans constructed the Ark in an attempt to flee their world, but the Ark was ceased by the Storrions, enslaving some of the Ceveans and banishing the rest to the wastelands. The priestess Amiel vanished. Too late the Storrions realized that they needed the priestess to move the Ark and so they keep searching the wastelands for a sign of her... Building on the techniques of "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" and enriching them with a unique storyline, this South Korean animation draws you into the world of Alcyone to witness the struggle between Ceveans and Storrions and a world in ruins. 


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My Girl & I (2005)

Parang-juuibo (aka "My Girl and I")is the 2005 Korean remake to the Japanese movie "Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World." Su-ho (Tae-Hyun Cha), a simple teenager, and Su-eun (Hye-Gyo Song), a pretty and popular girl, start dating. Their love for each other seems eternal. By leaving messages to each other on the phone, and through their many times together, their love grows stronger. Until a tragic event occurs.

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Daisy (2006)


Source http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr

Synopsis

An elite Interpol agent Jeong-woo and a ruthless hitman Park-yi, both stationed in Amsterdam and are in love with the same young woman, Hye-young. Hye-Young is a simple sidewalk artist, with dreams of one day holding a real exhibition in a real gallery. Her pure love will draw these deadly men into a spectacular showdown in the process, revealing Hye-Young¡¯s hidden past.


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My Mighty Princess (2007)


Source http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr

Synopsis

KANG So-hwi, a beautiful martial arts prodigy, is about to embark on a journey into adulthood. But her journey is like no other. Her super-human strength and martial arts prowess scares away her fellow undergrads and even the boy she has fallen for. Devastated, So-hwi decides to give up martial arts and takes a different path. Her father, a martial artist himself, is afraid of losing an heiress to the family’s martial artistry, and missions So-hwi’s old buddy Il-young to persuade her to stay in the field. Meanwhile, the evil Heuk-bong provokes a war to conquer the martial arts world with the legendary Fine Blade he stole in the past, killing every swordsman one after another. So-hwi’s father comes to a showdown with Heuk-bong, but the battle leaves him fatally injured. On the brink of her father’s death, So-hwi picks up a sword again with a burning desire for revenge.


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Cyborg She (2006)

Source http://www.koreatimes.co.kr

Original Japanese title : "僕の彼女はサイボ-グ" (Boku No Kanojo Wa Saibogu)
"Cyborg She" is a coproduction between South Korea and Japan
Alternative titles : "Cyborg Girl", "My Girlfriend is A Cyborg"
Synopsis
Lonely geek Jiro (Koide) is no longer so lonely when a female cyborg (Ayase) crashes his birthday party. She has traveled back in time from the year 2133, to help him and all of humanity. She also has his ex-girlfriend's pretty looks. Jiro starts falling for the lovely robot and experiences a series of strange events brought on by her superhuman strength.



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All About Women / Not All Women Are Bad (2008)

A series of intertwining stories focus on the lives and transformations of three women. NOT ALL WOMEN ARE BAD, a comedy on modern metropolitan life that is being done from an unforeseeable perspective, is set against the backdrop of the rapidly developing city of Beijing. It takes a look at three women of different professions and backgrounds, and presents a contemporary comedy from the way they deal with love. In this chic comedy, Zhou Xun transforms from gentle to captivating, playing 12 roles in the movie including a doctor, a patient, a reporter, and more. Kwai Lun-mei transforms from innocent to rock-and-roll, while Kitty Zhang from girl-next-door to rich coquette.


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The Piano in a Factory (2010)


The Piano in a Factory 
Executive Director – Kwak Jae-yong
Producer - Jessica Kam-Engle
Producer - Choi Kwang-suk
Director’s Biography – Zhang Meng
Role: Artist: Chen Guilin Wang Qian-yuan Shu Xian Qin Hailu, Amanda Xiao Ju (mother) Jang Shin-yeong Xiao Yuan (daughter) Liu Xing-yu Big Liu Zhou Kwei Brother Ji Luo Er-yang Fat Head Liu Qian Wang Kangmei Tian-yu Lightening Fingers Guo Yong-zhen Mr. Wang Wang Zao-lai Brother-in-law Xu Jiang-yu
Synopsis (various lengths)
Plot:
To fight for custody of his daughter who loves playing the piano, a steel factory worker decides to make a piano from scratch soliciting the help of a bunch of unaccomplished fellow workers. Can they do it? Will he win his daughter back after all he has done for her?
synopsis:
The wife who has left the family suddenly comes back into Mr. Chen’s life, asking for a divorce and custody of their daughter. Refusing to choose sides, the daughter decides to live with the parent who can get her a piano. Chen tries to borrow money, and even attempts to steal a piano from a school music room, but all efforts fail. Without any other means, Chen decides to make the piano from scratch. He persuades a group of unaccomplished - but loyal - friends to help him cobble together a piano in a derelict factory from a little scrap steel and a lot of ingenuity. After overcoming many hurdles, Chen’s piano project takes shape while his wife fights vigorously with the courts for custody of their daughter. Unexpectedly, Chen ends the project and let his girl go to her mom so she can get a better life. But his troupe of factory misfits decides to forge ahead with the project. Though crude in design and tune, the factory piano is finally finished - awaiting its first and final performance.
Director’s Biography – Zhang Meng
Born in Fa Ku Xian, Liao Ning Province, China in 1975, Zhang Meng (张猛) graduated from China Central Academy of Drama in 1999, majoring in stage art. As a director at Chang Chun Film Studio, he has worked in film and television screen-writing and directing for years. In 2007, he made his directorial debut with the feature Lucky Dog which earned him the Asian New Talent Award at the 10th Shanghai International Film Festival and the Best New Director Award at the Chinese Media Awards 2009. The film was ranked the 14th Best Film in China by the Film Critics Awards in 2009, and he was ranked the 7th Best Director. Zhang also directed his first documentary Mr. Zhang and His Dog in 2008. In 2010, he wrote and directed the feature film The Piano in a Factory.

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Make more amzing films Director Kwak Jae Yong!!! =D 
Make more amzing films Director Kwak Jae Yong!!! =D
Make more amzing films Director Kwak Jae Yong!!! =D
Make more amzing films Director Kwak Jae Yong!!! =D
Make more amzing films Director Kwak Jae Yong!!! =D
Make more amzing films Director Kwak Jae Yong!!! =D


If you know other Kwak Jae Yong creations not listed here, please feel free to post, add and comment!!!
If you know other Kwak Jae Yong creations not listed here, please feel free to post, add and comment!!!
If you know other Kwak Jae Yong creations not listed here, please feel free to post, add and comment!!!
If you know other Kwak Jae Yong creations not listed here, please feel free to post, add and comment!!!
If you know other Kwak Jae Yong creations not listed here, please feel free to post, add and comment!!!

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