From “Train to Busan” garnering international acclaim for its fresh take on the zombie-apocalypse genre, to “Parasite” becoming the first foreign-language film to win an Oscar for Best Picture, Korean cinema has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years.
If you have yet to experience what Korean films have to offer, or are looking for more to dive into, here’s a selection to add to your watchlist. As “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho put it in his acceptance speech: “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”
1. ‘Carter’
Joo Won, who plays the titular character, describes this project as being “incomparable” to his previous works – and for good reason.
While director Jung Byung-gil, who rose to international acclaim with the action thriller “The Villainess”, is no stranger to hard-hitting action, “Carter” marks his first attempt at a single-take film. The ambitious concept was a longtime dream of his, and “Carter” proved to be the perfect platform for Jung to push the envelope when it comes to unconventional action sequences.
The one-take concept, with the camera in constant motion, captures the intensity and urgency of the fighting machine’s race for survival. From the get-go, “Carter” pulls out all the stops – from hand-to-hand combat with a never-ending stream of thugs in a bathhouse to heart-racing vehicle pursuits, and even a wild, mid-air helicopter-versus-helicopter showdown.
2. ‘Seoul Vibe’
Set in days leading up to the 1988 Seoul Olympics, “Seoul Vibe” is a window into the vibrant past of the South Korean capital that simultaneously shines a light on the dark underbelly of the rich and powerful.
Against the backdrop of hip 1980s iconography, music, and vintage cars, the action blockbuster follows a ragtag crew of drivers and mechanics who go undercover to unravel a corrupt VIP’s money-laundering scheme.
3. ‘Space Sweepers’
A movie more than 10 years in the making, “Space Sweepers” is widely regarded as the first Korean space blockbuster. Amid comparisons to “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Star Wars”, it is still worth noting that for the first time, Korean characters take centre stage in a universe usually dominated by Hollywood superheroes and space warriors.
“Space Sweepers” also marked another milestone for Korean cinema – Yoo Hae-jin, as Bubs, is the first Korean actor to play a robot character through motion capture in addition to providing its voice.
4. ‘Train to Busan’
Undoubtedly a must-watch if you’re a fan of zombie films – and highly recommended even if you’re not – “Train to Busan” is more than just a horror-thriller about a group of humans trying to outrun and survive a zombie apocalypse.
Weaved into the drama and tension of the high-stakes journey is thought-provoking social commentary, most notably about the selfish and untrustworthy attitudes of the rich and powerful. Ultimately, the film shows that the day is saved by regular people who step up and sacrifice themselves to give their loved ones a fighting chance.
5. ‘Love and Leashes’
Far from the spicy (and somewhat dubious) depictions of kinks in erotic films like the “Fifty Shades” trilogy and “365 Days”, “Love and Leashes” takes a sweet, sensual approach to exploring sexual freedom and experimentation between its leads.
The romantic comedy offers a wholesome look at the often stigmatised subject matter of sexual fantasies by depicting a healthy and respectful BDSM relationship between consenting adults.
Through the central couple’s respectful exploration of each other’s boundaries and budding romance, “Love and Leashes” manages to convey its message without overly explicit scenes – although you still probably wouldn’t want to watch this with your parents!
6. ‘The Call’
This is a psychological thriller with a twist – the story takes place across two timelines, with the two characters on both ends of the phone line embarking on a bloody cat-and-mouse chase that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
It is worth mentioning that lead actresses Park Shin-hye (“#Alive”, “Sisyphus: The Myth”) and Jun Jong-seo (“Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area”) deliver magnetic performances that perfectly complement each other throughout their turbulent relationship in the film, despite spending very little time onscreen together.
7. ‘Okja’
From the Oscar-winning director who brought you “Parasite” and “Snowpiercer”, Bong Joon-ho’s “Okja” serves as a dramatic yet heartwarming commentary on corporate greed and cruelty of the meat industry.
Not only did the film receive a four-minute standing ovation at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, the “New York Times” named it one of the 10 most influential films of the decade – though the jury’s still out on Jake Gyllenhaal’s dedicated but over-the-top performance as antagonist Dr Johnny Wilcox.
These films are all streaming on Netflix.