Award-winning director Kim Ki-duk has built up an international reputation with his films that starkly differ from other mainstream movies in Korea or indeed, elsewhere in the world. With provocative styles and thought-provoking themes, every Kim Ki Duk film release is met with bouquets and brickbats in equal measure. InKo Centre, with support from NDTV Lumiere is delighted to present a special retrospective of this critically acclaimed director from Korea at three important international film festivals in India- at Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore.
 
 
At South Korea’s border with the North, troops guard the coast. Each soldier bullies those ranking beneath him; tensions are high. PFC Kang and his friend Private Kim are on patrol when drinking youths jeer them. Two nights later, Kang follows orders, opening fire at a person who has infiltrated the border zone. It proves to be a young man, one from the earlier encounter, on a drunken tryst with his girlfriend, Miyeong. Kang is commended, yet horrified. Mi-yeong is unhinged. Kim tries to hold onto friendship, duty, and his humanity. While Kang retreats into bizarre behavior and violence, Mi-yeong becomes easy prey to soldiers. Sickness is all.
 
       
 

In the midst of the Korean wilderness, a Budhist master patiently raises a young boy to grow up in wisdom and compassion, through experience and endless exercises. Once the pupil discovers his sexual lust, he seems lost to contemplative life and follows his first love, but soon failing to adapt to the modern world, gets to jail for a crime of passion and returns to the master in search of spiritual redemption and reconciliation with karma, at a high price of physical catharsis. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… And Spring, is entirely set on and around a treelined lake where a tiny Buddhist monastery floats on a raft amidst a breath-taking landscape. The film is divided into five segments, with each season representing a stage in one man’s life. This exquisitely beautiful and very human drama was nominated for the Pardo d’Oro at the Locarno International Film Festival in 2003.
   
 

Seh-hee and Ji-woo have dated for two years; jealousy consumes her. She worries he will tire of her face. Then, she disappears. Telling no one, she goes to a plastic surgeon for a new face. Ji-woo has no idea where she is, although when he does respond to other women, someone unseen intervenes. Then, he meets See-hee, and although he tells her he misses Seh-hee, this new relationship blossoms into love. They talk at the same coffee house, visit the same sculpture park, and pose for the same photograph just as he did with Seh-hee. And what will Ji-woo do when he learns the truth? Is losing face losing self?
   

Lifeless Yeon finds herself drawn to a condemned criminal Jin when she learns about his suicide attempt on death row. Without fully comprehending why, she visits Jin in prison and treats him like an old friend. Jin does not open up to her easily, butas time passes and she brings spring, summer and autumn to him, they find refuge from the outside world in each other’s arms. Jin’s clock is ticking away, though, and Yeon does not want to lose him as she watches on helplessly. Breath is a surreal tale of love in unlikely places. As Yeon and Jin endeavour to find life and love, Kim Ki-Duk’s distinctive style of storytelling leaves his audience engrossed. The film was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2007 Festival de Cannes. InKo Centre with support from NDTV Lumiere, is delighted to present a special Kim Ki-Duk restrospect at the following international film festivals in India:
   

The 6th Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF)
17 - 26 December 2008
CIFF is an annual event organised by the Indo-Cine Appreciation Foundation in Chennai. The 6th edition will be presented by ICAF with support from the Govt. of Tamil Nadu, NFDC, Directorate of Film Festivals, New Delhi, Goethe Institute, InKo Centre, Alliance Francaise of Madras, the Japan Consulate and the US Consulate. About 120 films are likely to be presented from about 40 countries. The Country Focus would be on Russia, Switzerland and Finland. The Festival aims to honour 2 or 3 yesteryear film personalities of Tamilnadu with a Lifetime Achievement Award