South Korean Noir

This year’s section dedicated to South Korean iterations of the noir genre features a showcase of exceptional films representing several decades. Key characteristics of this selection include genre hybridity, intense emotional impact, and timeless themes. The Flower in Hell (Jiokhwa, 1958) presents viewers with a harrowing story thematizing an existence on the margins of society coping with collective trauma. Already adapted several times, The Housemaid (Hanyeo, 1960) will appear in the section in its original adaptation. The well-known story of a woman whose presence results in the disintegration of a socially superior family is among the most iconic works of Korean cinema, not only in the 1960s. Alongside it stands Forever with You (Geudaewa yeongwonhi, 1958), a film not only visually impressive but also historically significant in the context of its director Yu Hyun-mok’s work. The section doesn’t stay in the 50s and 60s though – more contemporary works include Memories of Murder (Salinui Chueok, 2003) by Bong Joon-Ho, who captivated global audiences with Parasite a few years ago. Based on true events, Memories of Murder continues the sectional trend of social criticism. Then, the newest representative of Korean cinema is Decision to Leave (Heeojil gyeolsim, 2022), a generically complex work that plays with the viewer and won an award at Cannes. (bk)