Co-presented by Korean Cultural Service NY and Asia Society

Korean Movie Night New York series: 

Korean Blockbusters Strike Back! (Nov. 3 - Dec. 1, 2015)

Korean action movies have gained a world-class reputation, enthralling audiences with their unique combination of breathless action sequences, compelling cinematography and strong moral heroes. Despite the strong showing of the big Hollywood films in Korea this Summer, led by The Avengers: The Age of Ultron, which gained over 10 million admissions, Korean domestic action and historic epic blockbusters continue to hold their own, with Veteran and Assassination currently holding the two top spots with 13 and 12.7 million admissions, respectively, proving once again the continuing strength of the Korean film industry. These movies continue to draw in record-breaking attendance at movie theaters in Korea and this series features a sample of the top box office blockbuster action movies released in 2015.

Korean Movie Night New York has selected the cream of this year’s crop of action blockbusters to keep up the audience’s adrenaline rush. This fall’s series presents Ryoo Seung-wan’s latest cop action thriller Veteran, period sword-fighting drama Memories of the Sword, starring Lee Byung-hun (G.I. Joe movies, Terminator Genisys), and the historical epic Assassination, directed by Choi Dong-hoon (The Thieves), which is inspired by the true story of Korean patriots plotting to assassinate Japanese colonial government officials.

Korean Movie Night New York is an ongoing, approximately twice-a-month film program that introduces the full spectrum of contemporary and classic Korean cinema to New York audiences, from popular blockbusters, independent films, and documentaries to animation and family movies. For information on the series click here.

Free admission. First-come, first-served.

Korean Blockbusters (Nov. 3 - Dec. 1, 2015)

Veteran
(베테랑 bae-tae-rang)
Directed by Ryoo Seung-wan.
Starring: Yoo Ah-in, Hwang Jung-min.
2015. South Korea. 124 min. Digital.
In Korean with English subtitles.
Tuesday, November 3, 6:30 PM  

Bringing the spirit of 1980s American cop comedies to a contemporary Korean setting, action auteur Ryoo Seung-wan (The Berlin File, The Unjust) is at the top of his game with Veteran, working again with charismatic actor Hwang Jung-min (The Unjust, New World), and his long-time action choreographer Jung Doo-hong. Hwang Jung-min plays a veteran police detective who takes on the tyrannical and sadistic heir to a powerful conglomerate, portrayed with evil deliciousness by heartthrob Yoo Ah-in (Punch). Korean audiences have responded to Veteran’s perfect mixture of high-octane action, slapstick comedy, and timely social commentary on the nature of power and privilege in Korean society, by making it the third most watched domestic film of all times.

“Ryoo Seung-wan delivers honest-to-goodness entertainment that pulses with nonstop adrenaline” – Variety
 

Memories of the Sword
(협녀 hyeop-nyo)
Directed by Park Heung-sik.
Starring : Lee Byung-hun, Jeon Do-yeon, Kim Go-eun, Lee Jun-ho.
2015. South Korea. 121 min. Digital.
In Korean with English subtitles.
Tuesday, November 17, 6:30 PM 

As the greed and excess of a corrupt monarchy threatens to destroy the once-glorious Goryeo dynasty, three legendary warriors lead a revolt to overthrow the empire and save its people. But when deceit and betrayal costs the life of a master swordsman, a feud for justice and revenge is set into motion, which rages on for decades between the two survivors. Starring Lee Byung-hun (Terminator Genisys), Jeon Do-yeon (winner of Best Actress award at Cannes for Secret Sunshine), and Kim Go-eun (winner of Rising Star award at the New York Asian Film Festival for Eungyo), Memories of the Sword is a lavish epic that blends tragic historical drama with thrilling swordplay and martial arts.

 "Memories of the Sword is a visually stunning period epic that should keep genre fans satisfied until the sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon hits theaters.” –The Hollywood Reporter
 

Assassination
(암살 am-sal)
Directed by Choi Dong-hoon.
Starring : Jun Gianna, Lee Jung-jae, Ha Jung-woo, Oh Dal-soo, Cho Jin-woong, Choi Deok-moon.
2015, South Korea, 140 min. Digital.
In Korean with English subtitles.
Tuesday, December 1, 6:30 PM  

The master of Korean ensemble blockbusters, director Choi Dong-hoon (The Thieves), is back with a historic espionage action drama set in Shanghai and Seoul in 1933, during Japanese colonial rule. The Korean government in exile has given one of its top undercover operatives, Agent Yem (Lee Jung-jae, New World), a mission: recruit three people to infiltrate occupied Seoul and assassinate the Japanese general along with a Korean collaborator. He selects steely-eyed female sniper Ahn (Gianna Jun, The Thieves), a brawler Big Gun (Jo Jin-ung, A Hard Day), and an explosives expert (Choi Deok-mun). But Agent Yem is a double-agent for the Japanese and he hires a hitman Hawaii Pistol (Ha Jung-woo, The Terror Live, The Chaser), to kill the assassins.

“a sensationally entertaining mash-up of historical drama, Dirty Dozen style shoot-‘em-up, spaghetti Western-flavored flamboyance, and extended action set pieces” – Variety