Korea's "Female Hong Sang-Soo" Returns with 파주 (Paju)

As Lydgate suggested, comparisons do ofttime great grievance, particularly when you're a film director. When Park Chan-Ok debuted in 2002 with the excellent 질투는 나의 힘 (Jealousy is My Middle Name), those who weren't wondering whether she was Park Chan-Wook's sister asked themselves whether Korea had found its female version of Hong Sang-Soo. In retrospect, the comparison was inevitable: their films are both disarmingly honest, thrive in magnifying awkward situations, and always have that touch of irony that can do wonders for your thematic consciousness, particularly when things tend to get a little dark. Of course, having worked with Hong as the assistant director for his 2000 film 오! 수정 (Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors), Park might have just picked that up from him. But whereas her debut is still remembered for its eclectic punch, things didn't go so well for the young director in the following few years.

We announced what was going to become her second feature film, 파주 (Paju), in the August of 2005, when her script was funded by the Pusan Promotion Plan along with the Kim Ki-Duk produced 아름답다 (Beautiful) and 25 other projects. After what seemed like an interminable wait, it seems like we'll finally get the chance to see it, as a release date for Paju has at last been announced (October 29). The film stars Lee Seon-Gyun and one of the most interesting new faces on the scene, Seo Woo of 미쓰 홍당무 (Crush & Blush) and 탐나는 도다 (Tamna, The Island). She will play a young woman returning to her hometown (the Paju of the title), where she meets her late sister's husband (Lee Seon-Gyun). finds out that he might be behind her death after all, and (sure enough) begins to fall for him. It's been seven years so you never know, but knowing Park Chan-Ok's touch, this is going to get... quite salty, dark and powerful. A new poster has been released, adding to the teaser trailer from a couple of months ago.