Seoul: A wave of Korean films is scheduled for release in September, aiming to capitalize on the Chuseok holiday and surpass the success of Hollywood blockbusters "The Odyssey" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." The lineup includes six major Korean films, ranging from a remake of the Hollywood hit "The Intern" to acclaimed director Lee Chang-dong's first feature film in eight years.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the first in line for release is Lee Ji-won's family drama "Portrait of a Family," which hits theaters on Wednesday. The film stars Ryu Seung-ryong, Ha Ji-won, and Kim Si-a and explores themes of family unity following an unexpected event. Ryu and Ha portray a couple whose marriage is tested by the sudden appearance of Ryu's extramarital daughter, Dong-ju, played by Kim.
On September 16, a Korean adaptation of "The Intern," originally featuring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway, will open in theaters. Veteran actor Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee take the lead roles in this version, which incorporates Korean cultural elements and generational clashes according to director Kim Do-young.
Three Korean films are set to premiere on September 23, just before the four-day Chuseok holiday: "Possible Love," "The Assassin(s)," and "Tazza: Song of Beelzebub." "Possible Love," directed by Lee Chang-dong and featuring a star-studded cast including Jeon Do-yeon and Sul Kyung-gu, is South Korea's official entry for the Oscars. The film has also been invited to prestigious festivals like the Venice International Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival.
"The Assassin(s)," another film invited to TIFF, depicts a 1974 assassination attempt on former President Park Chung-hee, resulting in the death of the first lady. The film stars Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho.
"Tazza: Song of Beelzebub," the final installment of the "Tazza" crime series, continues its exploration of the gambling world with Byun Yo-han in the lead role, set in an independent universe separate from the prior films.
The month concludes with the release of the action comedy "Reawaken Man: the Red" on September 30, following the Chuseok holiday. Based on a webtoon, the film features Koo Kyo-hwan as Seok-hwan, an unemployed man who discovers his ability to resurrect three days after death.
The success of these upcoming Korean films remains to be seen against the backdrop of Hollywood hits "The Odyssey" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," as well as the successful Korean film "The King's Warden," which dominated the New Year holiday box office earlier this year. "The King's Warden" leads as the most-watched film in South Korea this year with 16.9 million admissions, followed by "The Odyssey" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" with 8.86 million and 8.55 million admissions, respectively, based on data from the Korean Film Council.