AMP's 100+1 Essential South Korean Movies
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"South Korean cinema, and particularly the mainstream part, has been developing at an uncanny pace since the beginning of the New Wave, which started during the last years of the 90s, and resulted in the renewed interest of local audiences for local movies. “Shiri” (1999) kickstarted the phenomenon by becoming the first film in South Korean history to sell more than two million tickets in Seoul alone. The success continued with a number of other blockbusters while by the 2000s, and particularly after “Oldboy”, the country’s cinema started to attract significant international attention. The “trend” continued during the next years, and currently, S. Korean film industry is considered among the top in the world, with directors that have shot movies in Hollywood (Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho) actors that have become international stars (Bae Doona, Lee Byung-hun) and awards from most of the top festivals in the world (Lee Chan-dong for “Burning” and Bong Joon-ho for “Parasite”)
However, in terms of inspiration and actual context, the roots of this trend can be traced in the 80s, when the end of the long period of dictatorship resulted in the release of almost two decades of compressed creativity, in another surge that continued until the beginning of the 90s.
Further back, the Golden Age of S. Korean cinema is placed between 1955 and 1972, when a number of films that are considered still among the best (“The Housemaid”, “Aimless Bullet”) were released.
With all that in mind, and on the occasion of the anniversary of 100 years of Korean cinema, we decided to list 100+1 S. Korean films that we believe are among the most notable the local industry has ever produced.
Thankfully, the Korean Film Archive has given us the opportunity to watch a number of films that were produced before the New Wave, dating back to the 1930, thus expanding our view of Korean cinema quite significantly. Unfortunately, we have not managed to watch movies that were produced before the split, and thus, this list is by no means complete regarding the whole history of Korean cinema. Furthermore, 101 is not an adequate number to present every noteworthy film since the 50s and thus, a number of excellent productions were not included (we will not tell you which).
In our effort, we included films not only for their sheer cinematic quality but also for their significance, while a number of titles were included just because we like them (they call it personal taste, I think). At some degree, we also tried to have diversity in the selection, both in terms of directors and context.
Without further ado, here are 101 films that we believe every cinephile should watch."
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1 new
Eunmyeongui son
1954 — a.k.a. The Hand of Destiny, in 1 top list Check -
2 new
Piagol
1955, in 1 top list Check -
3 new
Jayu buin
1956 — a.k.a. Madame Freedom, in 3 top lists Check -
4 new
Jiokhwa
1958 — a.k.a. The Flower in Hell, in 2 top lists Check -
5 new
Hanyo
1960 — a.k.a. The Housemaid, in 8 top lists Check -
6 new
Obaltan
1961 — a.k.a. Aimless Bullet, in 6 top lists Check -
7 new
Gaetmaeul
1965 — a.k.a. Seashore Village, in 2 top lists Check -
8 new
Janggun-ui suyeom
1968 — a.k.a. The General's Mustache, in 2 top lists Check -
9 new
Chou
1966 — a.k.a. Green Rain, in 1 top list Check -
10 new
Mullebanga
1966 — a.k.a. The Water Mill, in 1 top list Check -
11 new
Sanbul
1967, in 1 top list Check -
12 new
Hwanyeo
1971 — a.k.a. Fire Woman, in 3 top lists Check -
13 new
Chungyo
1972 — a.k.a. The Insect Woman, in 3 top lists Check -
14 new
Sampoganeun kil
1975 — a.k.a. Road to Sampo, in 3 top lists Check -
15 new
Babodeuli haengjin
1975 — a.k.a. The March of Fools, in 3 top lists Check -
16 new
Iodo
1977 — a.k.a. Io Island, in 3 top lists Check -
17 new
Choihui jeungin
1980 — a.k.a. The Last Witness, in 1 top list Check -
18 new
Balambuleo joheun nal
1980 — a.k.a. A Windy, But Pleasant Day, in 2 top lists Check -
19 new
Ggobangdongne saramdeul
1982 — a.k.a. People of the Slum, in 2 top lists Check -
20 new
Angae maeul
1983, in 1 top list Check -
21 new
Yeoin janhoksa moulleya moulleya
1984, in 1 top list Check -
22 new
Babo seoneon
1983 — a.k.a. Declaration of Fools, in 1 top list Check -
23 new
Golae sanyang
1984 — a.k.a. Whale Hunting, in 2 top lists Check -
24 new
Jangnam
1985, in 0 top lists Check -
25 new
Gilsoddeum
1986, in 2 top lists Check -
26 new
Ticket
1986, in 1 top list Check -
27 new
Chilsu wa Mansu
1988 — a.k.a. Chilsu and Mansu, in 4 top lists Check -
28 new
Dharmaga tongjoguro kan kkadalgun
1989 — a.k.a. Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?, in 6 top lists Check -
29 new
Keduldo urichurum
1990 — a.k.a. The Black Republic, in 1 top list Check -
30 new
Hayan chonjaeng
1992, in 1 top list Check -
31 new
Seopyeonje
1993 — a.k.a. Sopyonje, in 6 top lists Check -
32 new
Jeon tae-il
1995 — a.k.a. A Single Spark, in 2 top lists Check -
33 new
Ggotip
1996, in 3 top lists Check -
34 new
Chorok mulkogi
1997 — a.k.a. Green Fish, in 1 top list Check -
35 new
Swiri
1999 — a.k.a. Shiri, in 3 top lists Check -
36 new
Injeong sajeong bol geot eobtda
1999 — a.k.a. Nowhere to Hide, in 1 top list Check -
37 new
Bakha satang
1999 — a.k.a. Peppermint Candy, in 5 top lists Check -
38 new
Seom
2000 — a.k.a. The Isle, in 2 top lists Check -
39 new
Juyuso seubgyuksageun
1999 — a.k.a. Attack the Gas Station!, in 1 top list Check -
40 new
Siworae
2000 — a.k.a. Il Mare, in 2 top lists Check -
41 new
Gongdong gyeongbi guyeok JSA
2000 — a.k.a. Joint Security Area, in 3 top lists Check -
42 new
Failan
2001, in 0 top lists Check -
43 new
Chingoo
2001 — a.k.a. Friend, in 1 top list Check -
44 new
Go-yang-i-leul boo-tak-hae
2001 — a.k.a. Take Care of My Cat, in 3 top lists Check -
45 new
Yeopgijeogin geunyeo
2001 — a.k.a. My Sassy Girl, in 3 top lists Check -
46 new
Oasiseu
2002 — a.k.a. Oasis, in 5 top lists Check -
47 new
Chihwaseon
2002 — a.k.a. Painted Fire, in 3 top lists Check -
48 new
Keulraesik
2003 — a.k.a. The Classic, in 0 top lists Check -
49 new
Boksuneun naui geot
2002 — a.k.a. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, in 4 top lists Check -
50 new
Nabbeun namja
2001 — a.k.a. Bad Guy, in 1 top list Check
Last updated on Feb 13, 2021; source