ID :
92971
Thu, 12/03/2009 - 12:15
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/92971
The shortlink copeid
(Movie Review) `Potato` the latest `commercial indie` hit
(ATTN: photos available)
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- Known as the "toughest guy" back in high school, Baek-i
(Lee Gyu-hoe) returns to his hometown in the northeastern Gangwon region,
reuniting with friends who are still hung up on a fight they lost to a rival gang
20 years earlier.
Jin-han (Yoo Oh-sung), who once led the rival gang, has now become one of the
richest men in the small countryside town, making headlines after donating a
scholarship fund to the high school that he was expelled from.
Nearing 40, Baek-i finds himself entangled in a plot to avenge his friends -- all
of whom are still brimming with "teenage spirit" -- after they get beaten up by
members of Jin-han's gang.
Some men just never grow up.
A feature debut by commercial advertising producer Jeon Yong-taek, "Potato
Symphony" comes across as an autobiographical tale involving the director's own
friends, his hometown and all its intertwined agonies.
"I wanted to talk about men who are still lost about what to do with their lives
as they are reaching middle-age," the director said after the movie's preview
Wednesday. "To them, winning a fight they lost back in high school could be like
a search for a new goal and hope in life."
Male-centered and at times bordering on childish, "Potato???" is likely to have a
hard time attracting female audiences.
Still, the film's humor and warmth manage to hold audiences' attention and keep
them laughing from the opening scene, proving itself to be another potentially
successful indie film.
Several low-budget independent movies, including "Old Partner," "Breathless" and
"Daytime Drinking," have achieved commercial success this year, proving that new
genres and a strong story can attract larger audiences than big name directors
and money.
"Potato's" characters treat their teenage dream of vengeance with utmost
solemnity, but their serious demeanors coupled with thick regional accents
provoke uproarious laughter from audiences.
Jeon and the entire cast and crew of "Potato" all hail from the mountainous
Gangwon Province, where the film is set, lending a unique and authentic regional
ambiance that is the movie's strongest merit.
The title of the film symbolizes Gangwon, the director explained, a province
famous for its potatoes and sweet potatoes cultivated throughout the region.
"Potato???" received the highest honor at the 4th French-Korean Film Festival,
held in Paris last month, lauded for its "humorous inspection into the lingering
childish aspirations of men."
Director Jeon, who studied cinema at the University of Paris VIII, wrote the
scenario for "Potato???" in 2001, which was selected by the Korea Film Council in
2006. The council supported filming of the movie with 500 million won ($430,000).
The movie, with a running time of 107 minutes, will hit the local theaters Dec. 10.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- Known as the "toughest guy" back in high school, Baek-i
(Lee Gyu-hoe) returns to his hometown in the northeastern Gangwon region,
reuniting with friends who are still hung up on a fight they lost to a rival gang
20 years earlier.
Jin-han (Yoo Oh-sung), who once led the rival gang, has now become one of the
richest men in the small countryside town, making headlines after donating a
scholarship fund to the high school that he was expelled from.
Nearing 40, Baek-i finds himself entangled in a plot to avenge his friends -- all
of whom are still brimming with "teenage spirit" -- after they get beaten up by
members of Jin-han's gang.
Some men just never grow up.
A feature debut by commercial advertising producer Jeon Yong-taek, "Potato
Symphony" comes across as an autobiographical tale involving the director's own
friends, his hometown and all its intertwined agonies.
"I wanted to talk about men who are still lost about what to do with their lives
as they are reaching middle-age," the director said after the movie's preview
Wednesday. "To them, winning a fight they lost back in high school could be like
a search for a new goal and hope in life."
Male-centered and at times bordering on childish, "Potato???" is likely to have a
hard time attracting female audiences.
Still, the film's humor and warmth manage to hold audiences' attention and keep
them laughing from the opening scene, proving itself to be another potentially
successful indie film.
Several low-budget independent movies, including "Old Partner," "Breathless" and
"Daytime Drinking," have achieved commercial success this year, proving that new
genres and a strong story can attract larger audiences than big name directors
and money.
"Potato's" characters treat their teenage dream of vengeance with utmost
solemnity, but their serious demeanors coupled with thick regional accents
provoke uproarious laughter from audiences.
Jeon and the entire cast and crew of "Potato" all hail from the mountainous
Gangwon Province, where the film is set, lending a unique and authentic regional
ambiance that is the movie's strongest merit.
The title of the film symbolizes Gangwon, the director explained, a province
famous for its potatoes and sweet potatoes cultivated throughout the region.
"Potato???" received the highest honor at the 4th French-Korean Film Festival,
held in Paris last month, lauded for its "humorous inspection into the lingering
childish aspirations of men."
Director Jeon, who studied cinema at the University of Paris VIII, wrote the
scenario for "Potato???" in 2001, which was selected by the Korea Film Council in
2006. The council supported filming of the movie with 500 million won ($430,000).
The movie, with a running time of 107 minutes, will hit the local theaters Dec. 10.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
