South Korea

Over the last ten years, South Korean cinematography has been swept by a new wave that has greatly contributed to the overall boom of Asian cinematography. Every year the country produces a rich mix of genres and personal styles – commercial and independent productions, multi-million dollar blockbusters and festival films that are appreciated well beyond its borders. South Korean films in recent years have regularly competed at film festivals and are beginning to find their ways to western film distribution networks, including ours. So it is only fitting to begin our little excursion among South Korean filmmaking newcomers with the film that started it all when it was the first to win an award in Cannes in 1999.