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Director Kim wins key Cannes sidebar prize

Cinematic self-portrait ‘Arirang’ gains international recognition


Kim Ki-duk, one of the best known Korean auteurs overseas, received a coveted sidebar prize at Cannes on Saturday for his wrenching cinematic self-portrait “Arirang.”

Kim shared his Un Certain Regard best picture prize with German director Andreas Dresen, who received it for the film “Stopped on Track.”

“Arirang” is an emotionally raw cinematic piece written by, directed by and starring Kim, featuring his perceived failings as a director after going through a traumatic event and a series of “betrayals” by his colleagues in the film industry.
Director Kim Ki-duk poses during the photocall of
Director Kim Ki-duk poses during the photocall of "Arirang" presented in the Un Certain Regard selection at the 64th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes on May 13. (AFP-Yonhap News)

Accepting the award, Kim sang the first few phrases of “Arirang,” Korea’s signature folksong which is the film’s namesake.

Kim’s film drew a lengthy standing ovation after its screening at Cannes on May 13. Contrary to its enthusiastic and positive reception at Cannes, however, “Arirang” is creating a stir in Korea’s film industry.

In “Arirang,” Kim aggressively pours out his anger and criticism toward his real-life colleagues, Korea’s movie industry and the government. In particular, Kim calls his former assistant director Jang Hoon a “betrayer.”

Jang became known with his first film, “Rough Cut,” (2008) based on Kim’s original screenplay. Shortly after the movie’s release, Jang signed up with Showbox, one of the major movie production companies in Korea. His next film, “Blood Brothers,” became a hit drawing 5.46 million viewers.

“I feel miserable that he betrayed me and signed a contract with a major producer for ‘Blood Brothers’ because he could not resist the temptation of capitalism,” Kim says in ”Arirang.“

In the movie, Kim also recalls a traumatic accident that occurred while shooting his 2008 film “Dream.” It happened as the movie’s main actress Lee Na-young was almost killed while filming a scene where her character hangs herself.

Kim, who has won prizes at Venice and Berlin for “3-Iron” and “Samaritan Girl,” never gained much popularity in Korea. He also criticizes the Korean government in “Arirang,” for failing to recognize the true value of his works.

“The government gave me an award for winning a prize at a foreign film festival,” he says in the film. “There were scenes where Korea wasn’t portrayed positively. Did they even watch the movie? What an irony.”

Kim disappeared from sight after the release of “Dream” in 2008, and did not make any money from “Rough Cut” as its distributor went bankrupt.

Kim sobbed during his interview with French broadcaster Canal Plus, after the screening of “Arirang” at Cannes on May 13, while singing “Arirang.” He also cries his heart out while belting out the same song in the movie. “I am most happy when I am making movies,” he says while sobbing in the film. “But devils are trying to stop me from making them.”

The movie has a shocking ending where Kim takes a handgun and sets out of his tent to “kill his betrayers.” After three gunshots are heard, the film ends with Kim pointing the gun at himself.

Another Korean director, Son Tae-gyum, won the third prize for his short film “Fly By Night” for Cinefondation section at Cannes.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com

(관련기사) 



김기덕, 칸영화제 '주목할만한 시선상' 수상

국내 감독 중 최초로 세계 3대영화제 본상 수상

   김기덕 감독의 '아리랑'이 제64회 칸국제영화제 에서 '주목할 만한 시선상'을 받았다.

    김기덕 감독은 칸 영화제 폐막 하루 전날인 21일 밤(이하 현재시간) 드뷔시관에 서 열린 '주목할 만한 시선 부문' 시상식에서 독일 안드레아스 드레센 감독의 '스톱 드 온 트랙'(Stopped on track)과 함께 주목할 만한 시선상을 공동 수상했다.

    한국 영화는 이로써 지난해 홍상수 감독의 '하하하'에 이어 주목할 만한 시선상 을 2연패하는 성과를 올렸다.

    아울러 김기덕 감독은 베를린영화제 감독상, 베니스영화제 감독상에 이어 칸 영 화제 공식부문인 주목할 만한 시선상을 받음으로써 세계 3대 영화제에서 모두  수상 하는 쾌거를 이뤄냈다.

    3대 영화제에서 본상을 수상한 감독은 김기덕 감독이 국내 감독으로는 유일하다 . 김 감독은 2004년 '사마리아'로 베를린영화제 감독상을, '빈집'으로 2004년  베니 스영화제 감독상을 수상한 바 있다.

    주목할 만한 시선은 칸 영화제 경쟁부문과 함께 대표적인 공식부문으로, 주로 새로운 경향의 영화들을 소개하는 부문이다.

    김 감독은 지난 2005년 '활'로 칸영화제 주목할 만한 시선 부문에 진출했으며 '

숨'은 2007년 경쟁부문에 초청됐다.

    심사위원상은 안드레이 지야긴트세프 감독의 '엘레나'가, 감독상은 모하마드 라 소울로프 감독의 '굿바이'가 차지했다.

    올해 주목할 만한 시선부문에는 개ㆍ폐막 작을 포함해 모두 21편이 초청됐으며 한국영화는 김 감독의 '아리랑', 홍상수 감독의 '북촌방향', 나홍진 감독의  '황해' 가 진출했다.  (연합뉴스)

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