Kim Ki-duk

Kim Ki-duk
Hangul 김기덕
Hanja 金基德
Revised Romanization Gim Gideok
McCune–Reischauer Kim Kidŏk

Kim Ki-duk (Hangul: 김기덕; born December 20, 1960) is a South Korean filmmaker noted for his idiosyncratic "art-house" cinematic works. His films have received many distinctions in the festival circuit. He is not related to the Kim Ki-duk who directed Yonggary in the 1960s. He has given scripts to several of his former assistant directors including Jeon Jae-hong (Beautiful) and Jang Hun (Rough Cut).

Contents

Biography

Kim Ki-duk was born on December 20, 1960 in Bonghwa in Kyongsang province, South Korea. He studied fine arts in Paris from 1990 to 1993. After returning to South Korea, Kim began his career as a screenwriter and won the first prize in a scenario contest held by Korean Film Council in 1995.[1] In the following year, Kim made his debut as a director with a low budget movie titled Crocodile (1996). The movie received sensational reviews from movie critics in South Korea.

In 2004, he received Best Director awards at two different film festivals, for two different films. At the Berlin International Film Festival, he was awarded for Samaritan Girl (2004), and at the Venice Film Festival he won for 3-Iron (also 2004).

Controversy

The British Board of Film Classification delayed the release of Kim Ki-duk's The Isle (2000) in the United Kingdom because of instances of animal cruelty in the film. Concerning scenes in which a frog is skinned alive and fish are mutilated, the director stated, "We cooked all the fish we used in the film and ate them, expressing our appreciation. I've done a lot of cruelty on animals in my films. And I will have a guilty conscience for the rest of my life."[2]

To a U.S. interviewer who suggested that scenes such as these are "very disturbing and [seem] to place an obstacle to the films [sic] reception, or... distribution, to other countries", Kim said, "Yes, I did worry about that fact. But the way I see it, the food that we eat today is no different. In America you eat beef, pork, and kill all these animals. And the people who eat these animals are not concerned with their slaughter. Animals are part of this cycle of consumption. It looks more cruel onscreen, but I don't see the difference. And yes, there's a cultural difference, and maybe Americans will have a problem with it - but if they can just be more sensitive to what is acceptable in different countries I'd hope they wouldn't have too many issues with what's shown on-screen."[3]

Filmography

Year English title Korean title Transliterated title
1996 Crocodile 악어 Ageo
Wild Animals 야생동물 보호구역 Yasaeng dongmul bohoguyeog
1998 Birdcage Inn 파란 대문 Paran daemun
2000 The Isle Seom
Real Fiction 실제 상황 Shilje sanghwang
2001 Address Unknown 수취인 불명 Suchwiin bulmyeong
Bad Guy 나쁜 남자 Nabbeun namja
2002 The Coast Guard 해안선 Haeanseon
2003 Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring 봄, 여름, 가을, 겨울 그리고 봄 Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom
2004 Samaritan Girl 사마리아 Samaria
3-Iron 빈 집 Bin-jip
2005 The Bow Hwal
2006 Time 시간 Shi gan
2007 Breath Soom
2008 Dream 비몽 Bimong
2011 Arirang 아리랑 Arirang
Amen 아멘 Ahmen

Additional credits

Awards

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links