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| Caption | Im Kwon-taek at the 10th Deauville Asian Film Festival at the Centre international de Deauville, 2008. |
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| Hangul | 임권택 |
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| Hanja | 林權澤 |
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| Rr | Im Gwon-taek |
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| Mr | Im Kwǒnt'aek |
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Im Kwon-taek (born May 2, 1936) is one of
South Korea's most renowned film directors. In an active and prolific career, his films have won many domestic and international film festival awards as well as considerable box-office success, and helped bring international attention to the Korean film industry.
Early life
Im Kwon-taek was born in
Jangseong,
Jeollanam-do and grew up in
Gwangju. After the
Korean War, he moved to
Busan in search of work. He then moved to
Seoul in 1956, where director of
Five Fingers of Death (1972),
Jeong Chang-hwa offered him room and board for work as a production assistant. Jeong recommended him for directing in
1961.
Career
Im's directorial premiere was with the
1962 film,
Farewell to the Duman River (
Dumanganga jal itgeola).
Before 1980 he was known primarily as a commercial filmmaker who could efficiently direct as many as eight genre pictures a year, helping to fulfill the quota for domestic pictures set by the government. His desire to make more artistically satisfying films began to show itself with his 1978 film Jokbo (Genealogy or The Family Tree), but the turning point of his career came with the 1981 film Mandala. From this point his films have been regarded as art-house cinema, and have been regularly shown at international film festivals, and have won numerous awards.
Im has continued to explore themes from Korea's past while also focusing on the Korean cultural identity in modern times. Among Im's most notable recent films are Sopyonje (1993) and Chunhyang (2000), both of which concentrate on the traditional Korean musical art of pansori. The latter film was also based on a traditional Korean legend. Apart from being a critical success, Sopyonje was also a success at the box office, becoming the first domestic film to draw over a million viewers in Seoul alone. Chihwaseon (2002) was also a critical success, earning him Korea's first Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival. Im Kwon-taek was awarded an honorary Golden Bear award at the Berlin Film Festival in 2005.
Im Kwon-taek's status, brought on by the critical success of his films, overlapped with a period of the film movement called "New Korean Cinema" or "Korean New Wave". Along with other directors, such as Park Gwang-su and Jang Sun-woo, Im is recognized as one of the founding figures of the movement, which gained international critical recognition and acclaim for Korean Cinema.
In April 2007, Im released his 100th film Beyond the Years, an informal sequel to Sopyonje. In November 2007 the French government announced that it would make Im a knight of the French Legion of Honor.
Filmography
1960s
{| class="wikitable"
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Title
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Cast
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Released
|-
|
Farewell to the Duman River두만강아 잘 있거라
Dumanganga jal itgeola
|
|1962
|-
|
Old Man in the Combat Zone aka
The War and an Old Man전쟁과 노인
Jeonjaenggwa noin
|
|1962
|-
|
Actors Disguised as Women남자는 안팔려
Namjaneun anpallyeo
|
|1963
|-
|
Actors Disguised as Women남자는 안팔려
Namjaneun anpallyeo
|
|1963
|-
|
A Wife Turned to Stone망부석
Mangbuseog
|
|1963
|-
|
The Throne Memorial Drum신문고
Shinmungo
|
|1963
|-
|
The End of Desire욕망의 결산
Yogmangui gyeolsan
|
|1964
|-
|
Father of Ten Daughters십자매 선생
Shibjamae seonsaeng
|
|1964
|-
|
The Prince's Revolt단장록
Danjang lok
|
|1963
|-
|
The Latecomer단골 지각생
Dangol jikaksaeng
|
|1964
|-
|
The Ten-Year Rule십년세도
Shibnyeon sedo
|
|1964
|-
|
Queen Yongwha's Avenger영화 마마
Yeonghwa mama
|
|1964
|-
|
Death of an Informer빗 속에 지다
Bitsoke jida
|
|1965
|-
|
A Bogus Nobleman왕과 상노
Wanggwa sangno
|
|1966
|-
|
Schoolmistress on the Battlefield전쟁과 여교사
Jeonjaenggwa yeogyosa
|
|1966
|-
|
Miss Ok and the Divided Court법창을 울린 옥이
Beobchangeul ullin oki
|
|1966
|-
|
I Am a King나는 왕이다
Naneum wang-ida
|
|1966
|-
|
A Triangle in Noble Families닐니리
Nilniri
|
|1966
|-
|
The Feudal Tenant청사초롱
Cheongsa choryong
|
|1967
|-
|
Swordsmen풍운의 검객
Pungunui geomgaek
|
|1967
|-
|
A Wife Retrieved망향천리
Manghyang cheonri
|
|1968
|-
|
Femme Fatale, Jang Hee-bin요화 장희빈
Yohwa Jang Huibin
|
|1968
|-
|
A Man Called the Wind바람 같은 사나이
Baramgateun sanai
|
|1968
|-
|
The Waking Woman몽녀
夢女
Mongnyeo
|
|1968
|-
|
Return from the Sea /
Return of the Left-Handed Man돌아온 왼손잡이
Dolaon winsonjabi
|
|1968
|-
|
Three Generations of MenSanai samdae
|
|1969
|-
|
Best Friends and Their Wives /
Rain on Gomo Bridge비나리는 고모령
Binaerineun gomoryeong
|
|1969
|-
|
Escape from Shanghai상해 탈출
Shanghai talchul
|
|1969
|-
|
Night of the Full Moon십오야
Shiboya
|
|1969
|-
|
Thunder Sword뇌검
Roegeom
|
|1969
|-
|
Eagle of the Plains황야의 독수리
Hwangyaui doksori
|
|1969
|-
|
Would You Help Me?신세 좀 지자구요
Shinse jom jijaguyo
|
|1969
|-
|
Would You Help Me?신세 좀 지자구요
Shinse jom jijaguyo
|
|1969
|-
|}
1970s
{| class="wikitable"
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Title
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Cast
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Released
|-
|
Swords Under the Moon월하의 검
Wolhaui geom
|
|1970
|-
|
One-Eyed Mr. Park애꾸눈 박
Aeggunun Park
|
|1970
|-
|
Unmarried Mother이슬 맞은 백일홍
Iseulmajeun baekilhong
|
|1970
|-
|
A Vagabond's Story비나리는 선창가
Binaerineun seonchangga
|
|1970
|-
|
A Woman Pursued그여자를 쫓아라
Geu yeojareul jjochara
|
|1970
|-
|
Man on the Night Train밤차로 온 사나이
Bamcharo on sanai
|
|1970
|-
|
The Flying Sword비검
Bigeom
|
|1970
|-
|
A Snapshot and a Murder속눈썹이 긴 여자
Soknunseobi kin yeoja
|
|1970
|-
|
Snowing on Grudge Street원한의 거리에 눈이 내린다
Wonhanui geori nuni naerinda
|
|1971
|-
|
The 30-Year Showdown30년만의 대결
30 nyeonmanui daegyeol
|
|1971
|-
|
Revenge of Two Sons원한의 두 꼽추
Weonhan ui tu kkobchu
|
|1971
|-
|
In Search of the Secret Agent / 'Don't torture me anymore
나를 더 이상 괴롭히지 마라
Nareul deoisang goerobhiji mara''
|
|1971
|-
|
Swordswoman요검
Yogeom
|
|1971
|-
|
A Stepmother's Heartache둘째 어머니
Duljjae eomeoni
|
|1971
|-
|
Gangsters of Myongdong /
Whirl of betrayals on Myeongdong명동 삼국지
Myeongdong samgukji
|
|1972
|-
|
Cruelty on the Streets of Myongdong명동 잔혹사
Myeongdong janhoksa
|
|1972
|-
|
Arrivals and Departures /
One Returns and the Other Leaves돌아온 자와 떠나야 할 자
Dolaon jawa ddeonaya hal ja
|
|1972
|-
|
Seize the Precious Sword삼국대협
三國大俠
Samguk daehyeob
|
|1972
|-
|
Five Hostesses for the ResistanceJanganmyeonggi obaekwa
|
|1973
|-
|
Pursuit of the Bandits /
The Big Chase대추격
Daechugyeok
|
|1973
|-
|
The Deserted Widow /
Weeds잡초
Jabcho
|
|1973
|-
|
The Testimony증언
證言
Jeungeon
|
|1973
|-
|
Wives on Parade아내들의 행진
아내들의 行進
Anaedeului haengjin
|
|1974
|-
|
I'll Never Cry Again울지 않으리
Ulji aneuri
|
|1974
|-
|
The Hidden Princess연화
Yeonhwa
|
|1974
|-
|
The Hidden Princess, Part 2연화 2
Yeonhwa 2
|
|1974
|-
|
Who and Why?왜 그랬던가
Wae guraetdeonga
|
|1974
|-
|
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow어제 오늘 그리고 내일
Eoje, oneul, geurigo naeil
|
|1975
|-
|
A Byegone Romance /
Wang Sib Ri, My Hometown왕십리
Wangshibri
|
|1976
|-
|
Overcome by Misfortunes /
Barefoot In The Snow맨발의 눈길
Maenbalui nunkil
|
|1976
|-
|
Commando on the Nakdong River낙동강은 흐르는가
洛東江은 흐르는가
Nakdongkaneun heureuneunga
|
|1976
|-
|
Wife /
The Industrious Wife아내
Anae
|
|1976
|-
|
The Virtuous Woman /
The Life of Okrye옥례기
Okryegi
|
|1977
|-
|
Madame Kye in the Imjin War임진왜란과 계월향
壬辰倭亂과 桂月香
Imjinrangwa gyewolhyang
|
|1977
|-
|
The Evergreen Tree상록수
常綠樹
Sangroksu
|
|1978
|-
|
Near Yet Far Away가깝고도 먼 길
Gaggabgodo meon kil
|
|1978
|-
|
Again Tomorrow내일 또 내일
Naeil ddo naeil
|
|1979
|-
|
The Genealogy /
The Family Pedigree족보
族譜
Jokbo
|
|1979
|-
|
The Little Adventurer저 파도 위에 엄마 얼굴이
Jeo padowie eoma eolguli
|
|1979
|-
|
No Glory /
The Hidden Hero깃발없는 기수
깃발없는 旗手
Gitbaleobtneun gisu
|
|1979
|-
|
The Divine Bow신궁
神弓
Shingung
|
|1979
|-
|}
1980s
{| class="wikitable"
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Title
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Cast
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Released
|-
|
The Wealthy Woman /
Mrs. Speculator복부인
Bokbuin
|
|1980
|-
|
Pursuit of Death짝코
Jagko
|
|1980
|-
|
Mandala만다라
Mandala
|
|1981
|-
|
Abenko Green Berets아벤고 공수 군단
Abenko gongsu gundan
|
|1982
|-
|
High School Tears /
Tears of the Idol우상의 눈물
Woosangui nunmul
|
|1982
|-
|
The Polluted One오염된 자식들
Oyeomdoen jashikdeul
|
|1982
|-
|
Village in the Mist안개 마을
Angae maeul
|
|1982
|-
|
In the Bosom of a Butterfly나비 품에서 울었다
Nabipumeseo uleotda
|
|1982
|-
|
Daughter of the Flames불의 딸
Bului dal
|
|1982
|-
|
The Eternal Flow /
You Can't Stop a River흐르는 강물을 어찌 막으랴
Heureuneun gangmuleul eojji makeorya
|
|1984
|-
|
Gilsoddeum길소뜸
Gilsoddeum
|
|1985
|-
|
Ticket티켓
Ticket
|
|1986
|-
|
The Surrogate Woman씨받이
Sibaji
|
|1986
|-
|
Adada아다다
Adada
|
|1987
|-
|
Diary of King Yeonsan연산일기
Yeonsan ilgi
|
|1987
|-
|
Come Come Come Upward아제 아제 바라 아제
Aje aje bara aje
|
|1989
|-
|}
1990s
{| class="wikitable"
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Title
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Cast
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Released
|-
|
General's Son장군의 아들
將軍의 아들
Janggunui adeul
|
|1990
|-
|
The General's Son II장군의 아들 2
將軍의 아들 2
Janggunui adeul II
|
|1991
|-
|
Fly High Run Far개벽
開闢
Gaebyeok
|
|1991
|-
|
The General's Son III장군의 아들 3
將軍의 아들 3
Janggunui adeul III
|
|1992
|-
|
Seopyeonje서편제
西便制
Seopyeonje
|
|1993
|-
|
The Taebaek Mountains태백산맥
太白山脈
Taebaek sanmaek
|
|1994
|-
|
Festival축제
祝祭
Chukje
|
|1996
|-
|
Downfall aka
Chang창
娼
Chang
|
|1997
|-
|}
2000s
{| class="wikitable"
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Title
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Cast
!style="background:#BED5E1;"|Released
|-
|
Chunhyang춘향뎐
春香傳
Chunhyang
|
|2000
|-
|
Painted Fire취화선
醉畵仙
Chihwaseon
|
|2002
|-
|
Low Life하류인생
下流人生
Haryu insaeng
|
|2004
|-
|
Beyond the Years천년학
千年鶴
Cheonnyeonhak
|
|2007
|-
|}
Awards
Grand Bell Awards (Korea), Best Director
* Testimony (Jungon) (1974)
* Jokbo (Genealogy/Family Tree) (1979)
* Mandala (1981)
* Ticket (1986)
* Yeonsan ilgi (Diary of King Yonsan) (1988)
Hankuk Play and Film Arts Awards (Korea), Best Director
* Wangshibri (A Byegone Romance) (1976)
* Nakdongkaneun heureuneunga (Commando on the Nakdong River) (1976)
* Angae maeul (Village in the Mist) (1983)
Notes
See also
Cinema of Korea
List of Korea-related topics
External links and references
Page about the Korean New Wave at asianinfo.org
Biography and interview at cinekorea.com
Interview: Reflection In A Mirror at asianfilms.org
, p. 342-343.
Category:1936 births
Category:Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur
Category:Living people
Category:South Korean film directors
Category:Fellini Gold Medalists
