Director LEE Myung-Se's Duelist (2005) is the first Korean film to enjoy a release in Egyptian cinemas. The preview was held last week in Cairo.

Previously, Korean films were only shown at film festivals in Egypt. Interest in Korean media in Egypt started with the broadcast of the Korean television drama Winter Sonata. Reportedly, Duelist was chosen because its spectacular martial arts scenes are expected to capture the interest of the Egyptian audience.

Duelist was bought by the Egyptian distributor Good News Group for a reported fee of $10,000,-. The film is a production of the studios Production M and Wellmade Entertainment, and director LEE Myung-Se with LEE Hae-gyeong are responsible for the scenario.

Duelist is set in the past where GANG Dong-won's character is being pursued by police investigators played by HA Ji-won and AHN Sung-ki for counterfeiting money. The film is not the typical popular film with some audiences complaining about the storyline. However, it is a favorite among other audiences and critics who praise the trademark LEE Myung-Se characteristics, like the esthetics of the photography, choreography and rhythm; aspects more fascinating to LEE than traditional storytelling.

LEE Myung-Se teamed up again with GANG Dong-won for his next film, a horror melodrama titled M which is slated for 2007.

Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)