Cafe Noir earns praise at Venice International Film Festival
by javabeans
Cafe Noir is notable for being the debut film for its director, film critic Jung Sung-il. It is also now notable for drawing praise at its world premiere screening at the recent Venice International Film Festival (as the only selection from Asia).
Cafe Noir was described by one of the festival’s executive committee members as showcasing a unique form, while a selection committee member praised it as “a film that you don’t often see from a new director.” A section director said, “When one discovers the hidden political message, which is sprinkled throughout the film, it would be difficult to suppress your astonishment at this film.”
The movie stars Shin Ha-kyun (Thirst) as a man who is addicted to sad love, Moon Jung-hee (My Sweet Seoul) as the woman who “loves him to death,” and Kim Hye-na (Yoga School) as the woman who loves him “more than life” (isn’t that the same thing?). Jung Yumi (Chaw, Que Sera Sera) and “Hongdae uljjang” singer Yozoh are two women who hurt him, whom he decides to meet again in order to get over his pain.
Cafe Noir will also screen at the upcoming Pusan International Film Festival in October, which will be its first showing to Korean audiences. After all that praise (and mention of a hidden message), this is one I really want to see! I suppose critiquing films for a living gives one particular insight into knowing what does and doesn’t work for a film.
Via Newsen
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Tags: film festivals, Jung Yumi, Kim Hye-na, Moon Jung-hee, Shin Ha-kyun, Yozoh
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1 Nea
September 21, 2009 at 11:45 PM
Sounds worth watching. My indie antenna has sprouted. Do I smell cult classic contender? If and when you see it, please critique for us!
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2 mishane
September 22, 2009 at 6:29 AM
I actually want to see this now. I'm not a big fan of overly romantic movies but this doesn't sound like that. Is it all black and white? Not that I would have a problem with that, in fact I'd love it.
Also, is the Noir from the film title dealing with 'noir'-elements in the love story telling or the black/white elements? I'm intrigued.
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3 mishane
September 22, 2009 at 6:38 AM
Also I find it interesting that a film critic is directing a movie. It could either be a great success or a great failure. I mean, as a critic, you know what's good or bad in a movie so you would know how to make it, but then again, if directing were that easy, then we'd all be directors right? I mean, we're all critics in our own way.
It's kind of like a food critic opening his/her own restaurant. Just because you know how food should taste, doesn't mean you know how to make it.
But since he got his movie into the film festival, I'm assuming (and hoping!) for a good movie!
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4 jjen
September 22, 2009 at 7:16 AM
Well, although a food critic might not know how to cook right away, by having an understanding of how the food should taste he has some slight advantage I'd say. Knowing what ingredients are required to obtain a certain flavor is half the work of being a good cook.
Although the subtext sounds a little melodramatic, the hidden meanings have got my interest. I too am eagerly awaiting your critique of this film!
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5 onie80
September 22, 2009 at 8:40 AM
i have a (stupid) question:
why do international festivals like so much sad movies "san maria", "mother", the movie with that lady that won at cannes(she played a women with AIDS i think)..
can someone explain?
I mean those movies are great don't get me wrong...but why is it so much about psychologic stuff?
thanks
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6 Sonam
September 22, 2009 at 11:46 AM
SHK is a cool actor. He always picks interesting projects. Save The Green Planet was crazy amazing. This one sounds just as intriguing.
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7 elisa
September 22, 2009 at 1:33 PM
omg yozoh in a movie. excited.
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8 belleza
September 22, 2009 at 9:56 PM
"When one discovers the hidden political message"
In other words, if you love somebody more than life, it's time for Universal Healthcare!! Yes we can, people. ;)
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9 reluctantbutaddicted
September 23, 2009 at 5:48 AM
I think I have slight correction to this story in that this Korean film was not the only selection from Asia in the Venice Int'l Film Festival, if that's what the opening sentence implied. Bui Thac Chuyen's Adrift (Choi Voi) from Vietnam was invited, screened, and won the Critic's Choice Award at Venice this year.
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10 yvhsien
September 23, 2009 at 9:09 AM
@mishane
Great insight. Critics are also prone to biasness and opinions based on their own point of view and experience. What a certain critique feels is a success may be deemed a failure by another, no?
I am going to try to watch this since the critiques gave it a thumbs-up.
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11 Drama4♥
October 2, 2009 at 10:37 AM
I'm looking forward to it. One of the must-watch Korean movie.
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