The Korean Culture & Information Service presents
KOREAN FILM NIGHT
"Friend"
In Korean, with English subtitles. 118 min.
Drama/Action directed by Kwak Kyung-Taek. 2001
DATE: Thursday, September 29, 2005
TIME : 7:00 p.m.
PLACE : Alumni Auditorium Jock-Turcot Hall (University Centre) University of Ottawa
ADMISSION: FREE, open to all
(Synopsis)
This stylish gangster film, which broke box office records in Korea, follows a group of four friends over a period of almost three decades as their lives move from boyhood friendship, diverge on leaving school and then later intersect in ensuing years. The film goes deeper than most of its genre in exploring the root of violence. Director Kyung-Taek eschews all-out-action for character development and an exploration of the bonds that tie the four ? in particular trust, loyalty and honour. This semi-autobiographical film is a powerful and unique coming of age story and gangster film combined. Beautiful cinematography, a good script and strong performances go hand in hand to create a stirring motion picture
“Director Kyung-Taek’s distinctive visual style, which contracts the warmth and camaraderie of their youth with the bleakness that greets them in adulthood, makes ‘Friend’ a sumptuous feast for the eyes.”
A. Leong, Mediacircus.net