Goodbye, Boy (Korea)
Opening June 2
Drama. Directed by Roh Hong-jin. Middle school boy Jin-woo gets a part-time job delivering newspapers in the early morning, to help his mother who supports the family by herself. His father has always been unemployed, suffering from alcohol addiction. And his sister, who attends high school, has no aspirations for her future. Jin-woo runs into another boy named Chang-geun at work, whose goal is to leave home after making enough money to live on his own. Chang-geun gives Jin-woo what he calls as “real-life” lessons, teaching him how to smoke, drink, and flirt with women. One day at a local pub, Jin-woo, while hanging out with Chang-geun, accidentally finds out his mother has been working there as one of its servers. Chang-geun insults Jin-woo’s mother, as he would do any woman working at drinking houses, not knowing Jin-woo is her son.
The Resident (U.S.)
Opening June 2
Thriller. Directed by Anti Jokinen. Recently having broken up with her boyfriend, young doctor Juliet (Hilary Swank) finds a new, large apartment in New York at a very affordable price. But with the nearby subway causing noise and vibrations, often even causing objects to fall off the table, Juliet finds her new loft strangely eerie and uncomfortable. Meanwhile, she gets along well with Max (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), the landlord, and begins to form romantic feelings for him. Yet Juliet growingly feels unsafe in her apartment, thinking someone is always watching her when she is at home.
Alamar, to the Sea (Mexico)
Opened May 19
Drama. Directed by Pedro Gonzalez-Rubio. Jorge (Jorge Machado), from Mexico, and Roberta (Roberta Palombini), from Italy, had been madly in love for the last several years. Yet they decide to end their relationship as Jorge wants to live an uncomplicated life in the jungle, while Roberta wants to live in the city. When Roberta finally decides to return to Rome with their 5-year-old son, Natan (Natan Machado Palombini), Jorge asks her if he could take the little boy on a trip before the farewell. Jorge takes his son to Mexico, in hopes of teaching him about his Mayan origins in his hometown near the sea. Natan at first is overwhelmed by the whole experience. But as he spends more time with his father, he begins to understand the connection Jorge has with the nature and the sea, and learns to form his own.
Miracle on Jongno Street (Korea)
Opening June 2
Documentary. Directed by Lee Hyuk-sang. Jointly funded by the two organizations -- Pinks and Chingusai -- this first gay documentary in Korea features Lee’s four gay friends whom he met while hanging out in Nakwon-dong, Jongno, the popular gay district in Seoul. With the vibrant yet shabby Nakwon-dong streets as its background, the film tells stories of its colorful and moving characters: gay movie director Joon-moon, gay activist Byeong-gwan who also works for rights of low-wage laborers and migrant workers, chef Young-soo, a former country boy who first discovered and joined the gay community of Jongno in his mid-30s, and Yol, a corporate employee whose boyfriend is HIV-positive.
Copacabana (France)
Opening May 26
Drama. Directed by Marc Fitoussi. Babou (Isabelle Huppert) is a happy, carefree spirit who wants to live for the moment. She dresses and acts younger than her age, and has been moving from town to town while never settling anywhere. Her daughter, Esmeralda (Lolita Chammah), has been resenting Babou’s such lifestyle. Unlike her mother, Esme is down to earth, practical, and works hard to live in comfort. A conflict arises when Babou finds out Esme purposely did not invite her to her wedding, telling her future in-laws that Babou’s in Brazil. Disappointed but undeterred, Babou departs for the chilly Belgian seaside, where she finds a new job and new friends -- in hopes of regaining her daughter’s respect.
