Paju (film)

Paju
Hangul 파주
Hanja 坡州
RR Paju
MR P‘aju
Directed by Park Chan-Ok
Produced by Lee Eun
Kim Ju-Kyung
Eom Ju-yung
Written by Park Chan-Ok
Starring Lee Sun Gyun
Seo Woo
Music by Jang Young-kyu
Cinematography Kim Woo-Hyung
Editing by Kim Hyeong-ju
Distributed by MK Pictures
Release date(s) October 29, 2009 (2009-10-29)
Running time 111 minutes
Country South Korea
Language Korean
Admissions 134,917

A 2009 South Korean film, Paju (파주) is the tale of a teenage schoolgirl (Seo Woo) and her complex relation to her older sister’s husband (Lee Sun Gyun). Set in the city where it takes its name from – a longtime military area and now a developing city located close to the North/South Korean border – its elegantly complex narrative deals with guilt, love and redemption. The result is both uniquely Korean and universally resonant.

Contents

Plot

Eun-mo is back in her hometown, Paju after spending three years of soul-searching in India. However the reality she returns to is far from comforting as she is faced with a dreaded reunion with her widower brother-in-law, Joong-sik. Almost a decade ago when Joong-sik came to Paju as a student activist fugitive, Eun-mo never took a liking to Joong-sik who ended up marrying her older sister, Eun-soo.

But she was forced to live with him when a tragic accident took her sister’s life. During the course of three years, Eun-mo gradually discovered she was carrying complex emotions toward Joong-sik. Feeling trapped, she decided to leave Paju. Eun-mo believed she had resolved all emotional conflicts in India, but as she digs further into her sister’s death, she becomes torn between the truth and her feelings for Joong-sik.

Cast

Film Festivals

2009 (14th) Pusan International Film Festival - October 8th-16th - New Currents (World Premiere)
2010 (39th) International Film Festival Rotterdam - January 27th-Feb. 7th - Opening Film
2010 (12th) Deauville Asian Film Festival - March 10th-14th - The Features Competition
2010 (5th) The London Korean Film Festival - November 5-23

Awards

"APSA's NETPAC Development Prize" - the 4th annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA)
"NETPAC Award" - 14th (2009) Pusan International Film Festival - October 8th-16th
"Jury Prize" - 2010 (12th) Deauville Asian Film Festival - March 10th-14th

External links