Korean film company Vision Link Global has launched what is one of the most ambitious and expensive film projects in Korean film history.  Company president LEE In-hyeong announced January 9^th that the film will be a major international co-production with the working-title, Melanie’s Violin. South Korea, China, and France’s Studio Canal have signed on to invest in the US$53 million project, with the US expected to conclude a contract with Vision Link shortly. 

The film is based on a novel by Chinese author He Ning, and is the odyssey of a renowned Jewish violinist who escapes to Shanghai along with his Chinese pupil during the Nazi holocaust.  There, the duo bring to people hope, faith and freedom through the universal language of music.  The human epic, being tagged as an "Asian Schindler’s List", may involve a Hollywood director and cast.  Vision Link will plan and produce the film, which will have simultaneous global release date timed for October 2008.

The musically themed film will have a special soundtrack composed by Korean-American musician Ji Park whose earlier works include KIM Ki-duk's Samaritan Girl (2004) and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring (2003).  The project will also include key crew members who worked on similar themed The Pianist and Schindler’s List. 

The announcement comes while another mega Korean co-production, D-Wars, directed by SHIM Hyung-rea, awaits a 2007 release after long delays. 

Nigel D’Sa (KOFIC)