NEWS & REPORTS
See Your Schedule
Ko - production in Busan
- K-CINEMA LIBRARY
- A Petal
- by Pierce Conran / Dec 05, 2016
1996｜101 MIN | DramaDIRECTOR JANG Sun-wooCAST LEE Jung-hyun, MOON Sung-keunRELEASE DATE April 5, 1996CONTACT Miracin KoreaTel: +82 2 3445 8775Fax: +82 2 3445 874420 years ago, director JANG Sun-woo released one of the most searing Korean films of the 1990s with his protest drama A Petal. The first Korean film to fully delve into the trauma caused by the Gwangju Democratization Movement, JANG’s work uses a broken chronology and several visual styles to foreground the pain and suffering that had until then seldom been broached in the public sphere.In May 1980, a few months after army general CHUN Doo-hwan had seized power of the country following a successful coup, student protest turned violent and in the town of Gwangju clashed over several days left many dead.The film follows a young girl who follows her mother into the Gwangju demonstrations but runs away when her mother is shot. Mentally disturbed by the event, she wanders the countryside and begins to stalk an abusive construction worker. Meanwhile, friends of her sibling search for her, following her traces in the aftermath of the bloody uprising.Acclaimed filmmaker JANG, who typically employs a new filmmaking style through each of his films, opts her to film the events of the protest in black and white, but only ever showing snatches of the massacre interspersed with events prior to the massacre, filmed with a more colorful palate, and the subsequent, dark storyline, shot through more somber tones.Then just 16 years old, LEE Jung-hyun made her widely acclaimed debut with this film before embarking on a career as a successful singer. Paired with her is actor MOON Sung-keun, who featured in several political works during the 1990s, including PARK Kwang-su’s Black Republic (1990) and To The Starry Island (1993). Also making his debut as one of the men searching for the girl is future star SUL Kyung-gu.Though the events leading up to the Gwangju Democratization Movement are complicated, A Petal remains a classic of Korean film that found favour with foreign film festivals at the time of its release due to its personal approach, iconic imagery and powerful performances.
- Any copying, republication or redistribution of KOFIC's content is prohibited without prior consent of KOFIC.
