K-Film POSTERS: 100 years x 100 stories 

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Korean cinema’s birth, the Korean Cultural Centre Canada presents K-Film POSTERS: 100 years x 100 stories the special exhibition of Korean film posters from the 1940s to present. Film posters play a vital role in generating public interest as they give first impressions to their audience. Thus, a movie poster implies the essence of the film and  tells its own story. Through the K-film posters which are on view, one can find changes in their styles and stories. We hope that the exhibition will provide an opportunity to look back at 100 years of Korean film history and imagine its future.

Brief History of K-Film 

The history of Korean cinema began in 1919 with the very first domestic film Fight for Justice(의리적구토), directed by Kim Do-san. This kino-drama was a mixture of theatrical play and film in which actors performed against a backdrop of projected motion pictures. It played at the historic Dansungsa Theater, which had previously played only imported films since it opened in 1907.

Later, in the '50s and '60s, young film stars such as Shin Sungil and Um Aengran made a hit out of the movie Barefooted Youth(맨발의 청춘). In the 1970s, with the advent of television, the Korean movie industry suffered a decline as in other parts of the world. Despite the hard times, movies portraying the love of young couples such as The Parade of Fools(바보들의 행진), Heavenly Homecoming to Stars(별들의 고향), and Winter Woman(겨울 여자) still enjoyed explosive popularity. The 1980s brought about the revival of the industry, and the Korean cinema began to make a name for itself in international movie festival circuits. Director Im Gwontaek's film The Surrogate Womb(씨받이) won the best female actress award at the 44th Venezia Film Festival, while director Bae Yongg-yoon won the best film award at the 42nd Locarno International Film Festival for his film Why has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?(달마가 동쪽으로 간 까닭은?). In the '90s, director Im Gwontaek made Korean cinematic history once again by winning the best director and best actress awards for his film Seopyeonje(서편제) at the 1st Shanghai International Film Festival.

After the '90s, Korean films improved drastically in terms of quality, and began to produce a string of box office hits. Beginning with 1996's, The Ginkgo Bed(은행나무 침대), successive blockbusters have included Shiri(쉬리, 1999), JSA(2000), My Sassy Girl(엽기적인 그녀, 2001), My Wife is a Ganster(조폭 마누라, 2001), Friend(친구, 2002), and Memory of Murder(살인의 추억, 2003). The theme of movies, which was once limited to sweet love stories, has diversified to include movies about organized crime, North and South Korea's political problems, and the life of a master artist. The latest trend in the industry has been to produce romantic comedies for the consumption of the young, but the production of Hollywood style sci-fi and blockbuster films continues as well.

In 2019, renowned Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite(기생충) became the first South Korean film to win the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. It was a timely gift to commemorate the centennial anniversary of Korean cinema. With 1.6 billion box office revenue, Korea is the fifth country leading the global film market. As with K-pop, Korean cinema is gaining more and more international recognition.

Opening Night

Wednesday, September 25th , 18:00

Dates

Wednesday, September 25th ~Thursday, October 24th, 2019 

Venue

The Korean Cultural Centre Gallery

(150 Elgin St., Unit 101, Ottawa, ON, K2P 1L4)

Visiting Hours

Monday to Friday 9am~5pm 

*The KCC Gallery is closed on weekends.

Contact Info.

Tel. 613-233-8008

E-mail. canada@korea.kr

Website. http://canada.korean-culture.org

Organized by

Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada,

Korean Cultural Centre Canada

Supported by

Korean Film Archive