Want to watch some Korean movie but can't decide? We offer you a rating of incredibly atmospheric works of the 21st century that will definitely not leave you indifferent. Many of them raise socially significant topics, so when viewing, get ready to think and analyze what is happening on the screen.
1. "Spring, summer, autumn, winter and spring again"
The director of the picture was Kim Ki Dook. The film was released in 2003 and won the nomination "Best Feature Film" (2004) at the Pacific Meridian Film Festival of the Asia-Pacific countries, and also won other awards. Duration: 103 minutes.
This film is philosophical, it talks about how inexorably time is, how important humility and naturalness are in life. The monk and his pupil take part in the picture. They live in a hut near the lake. The film has 5 sketches that correspond to a specific time of the year. An interesting fact: they all starred in reality at that time of the year, which is declared in the credits, so the filming took more than a year.
2. "Bad guy"
We continue the rating of Korean films. 2nd place deservedly takes the "Bad guy." The director was also Kim Ki Dook. The film plays the story of a man who turned a girl into a prostitute, whom he fell in love at first sight.
If you watched this picture, you may have the thought of what the epilogue means. The final scene is incomprehensible to many. According to the director, she shows a new world for both heroes: a bad guy refuses false romance in the criminal world, and she rejects values that she thought were important during her existence in the middle class.
The picture leaves behind a heavy residue on the soul. That’s the Bad Boy. The 2001 film received high marks from critics and is still a favorite for many Koreans and Europeans.
3. "Oldboy"
3rd place given to “Oldboy”. The director was Pak Chan Uk. This film was shown in cinemas in Russia in 2004. He has collected many awards and nominations. Critics and viewers gave only high marks.
The plot is twisted around a man who was previously a businessman. He is kidnapped for 15 years and kept in prison all this time. After his release, he goes in search of those responsible for what happened to him.
The ending of Oldboy (2003 film) can be considered open. We can do without spoilers. The director deliberately made the audience decide for themselves the fate of the heroes.
4. "Compassion for Mr. Revenge"
This film (2002) is included in the same trilogy as Oldboy. They are completely different from each other, but you certainly can’t take your eyes off the screen. The picture is measured. Director - Pak Chan Uk.
The plot shows a deaf-mute worker who needs money for a sick sister's operation. He sells a kidney, but scammers take his money and disappear. After that, the protagonist abducts the daughter of an influential person and demands a ransom for her.
This picture is not in vain takes the 4th place in the ranking of Korean films.
5. "Train to Busan"
The film of 2016, which many loved. The action movie is dynamic, it raises the usual theme: zombie apocalypse. However, the film has a lot of social and political context. Director - Yong San-ho.
The plot is twisted around people who were on the train next to Busan. The main characters are the father and his little daughter. The debut took place at the Cannes Film Festival. Critics and viewers called the film a masterpiece of Korean cinema. In recent years, only this picture was able to “blow up” European audiences.
6. "38th parallel"
The film was released in 2004. It shows two brothers who have to participate in the war between South and North Korea. They do not want this and suffer greatly. The budget of the film is solid, so the authors managed to create excellent scenery and charge the picture with the right atmosphere.
The film was directed by Kang Jegu. The literal period of the name is "Waving the flag of South Korea."
7. "Poetry"
2010 film. It tells about a Korean woman who decided to enroll in poetry courses and learn to enjoy the world around her. But in the film, unexpected events take place that take the main character by surprise, making it clear that reality can be cruel and unfair. The main character turned out to be a strong person who is able to deal with all difficulties when there is a warm feeling in the heart - love. The director was Lee Chan Dong. The film won an award at the Cannes Film Festival for the script.
Watch this movie yourself, and then you will understand why it takes pride of place in the ranking of Korean films.
8. "Network"
Another work of director Kim Ki Dook 2016. The feud between South and North Korea is shown here. In the center of the plot is a man who fishes in the border zone. But his boat breaks down and over the course of it nails to the South Korean coast. The guy finds himself in the interrogation of the special services, who either torture him or talk about how good it is to live in the south.
9. "Memories of the murder"
It’s worth putting this picture in the rating of Korean films. She is the year 2003. The film shows how the justice system works. Having looked at it, you will understand the truth: all those who try to disorder it will become its enemy. The plot shows the killings in a small village. Officers want to punish at least someone, they have no purpose to solve these crimes. Therefore, one day they go over all the permissible limits. The director is Pong Joon Ho. The film is based on real events.
10. "Man from Nowhere"
Last movie in our ranking. The owner of the pawnshop has only one friend - a little girl living in the neighborhood. Her mom is dancing in a local bar. Because of a thirst for money, a girl robs a drug courier, hiding her loot in a pawnshop. As a result, mother and girl are abducted, and the owner of the pawnshop is decided to teach a lesson. The film was shot in 2010. Director - Lee Jeong Bom.