Eight Korean films invited to Rotterdam fest

SEOUL, Jan. 22 (Yonhap) -- Eight Korean films have been invited to the 2010 International Film Festival Rotterdam set to open in the Dutch city next week, including Park Chan-ok's "Paju," earlier named as the festival opener.

According to the event's Web site, "Moscow" by Whang Cheol-mean and "Mother" by
Bong Joon-ho will be screened in its Spectrum section dedicated to established
filmmakers worldwide. Moscow tells the story of two former school friends who
reunite years later on opposite ends of the social ladder. Mother presents a
poignant drama about a mother who goes to extremes to save her mentally ill son,
accused of being a murderer.
In its Bright Future section on novice filmmakers, the Jan. 27-Feb. 7 festival
will present "Elbowroom" by Ham Kyoung-rock, "Cafe Noir" by
critic-turned-director Jung Sung-il, "Eighteen" by Jang Kung-jae, "Possessed" by
Lee Young-ju and "Running Turtle" by Lee Yeon-woo.
The festival earlier announced that "Paju" will open the event, with festival
director Rutger Wolfson praising it as a "triumph of resilience and a powerful
female voice from Asia, ambitious and intimate at the same time."
The second feature by female director Park portraits modern Korean society
through the eyes of a young woman, set in the industrial border town of Paju from
which the film takes its name -- a longtime military garrison and now developing
urban hub located close to the inter-Korean border.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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