Kim Byeong-ok Movies
- 2009
The celebrated Korean artist Angyeon attained recognition for painting the 600-year-long Joseon Dynasty in a number of key tableaux. One of the most legendary of his creations, "Byeokando," (a depiction of the Changdeok Palace Pond) disappeared in the Middle Ages along with Korean ruler Prince Anpyeong, but this feature saga -- a work of speculative imagination -- ponders what might happen if the long-thought-lost painting suddenly resurfaced in the early 21st century market. Here, the work crops up, and immediately after news of it hits, appraisers gauge its worth at around 40 billion won (or about 32 million U.S. dollars). A sexy yet Machiavellian young art mogul, Bae Tae-jin (Um Jung Hwa) who freely uses her body to obtain the "art exchanges" she so desires, comes out of the woodwork to claim it. This social-climbing opportunist sees in "Byeokando" the opportunity to conquer and become the toast of Insadong, Seoul's art district, but first she must enlist the aid of an art restorer, Lee Gang-jun -- a man still reeling from an art scandal that witnessed the media and the public slapping him with accusations of theft. He nevertheless consents to undertake the restoration of "Byeokando," with the price tag of one billion won and a sports car. As Lee settles into Bae's restoration lab and begins to work, and Bae engages in some slimy double-dealing involving the press and Japanese buyers, Lee begins to hatch some secret plans of his own for the painting's final destination. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kim Rae-weon, Um Jung Hwa, (more)
A woman looks for both revenge and redemption after spending 13 years in prison in this offbeat thriller from South Korea. Lee Geum-ja (Lee Yeong-ae) was in her early twenties when she was found guilty of kidnapping and killing a young boy, and though she confessed to the crime under duress, while behind bars she dreamed of one day being able to clear her name -- and even the score with the people who railroaded her, including the police officer who brought her in (Nam Il-woo) and Mr. Baek (Choi Min-Sik), a teacher who wronged her in a number of ways. Lee Geun-ja teams up with a number of friends she made during her time in lock-up, including Woo So-yeong (Kim Bu-seon), a thief with a gunsmith for a husband; Oh Su-heui (Ra Mi-ran), who was saved from assault at the hands fellow inmates by Lee; and Preacher Jeon (Kim Byeong-ok), an eccentric man of the cloth who was struck by her gentle nature in jail. As Preacher Jeon helps Lee seek salvation for all she had to do while in prison, her other friends stand by her side as she gets even with her rivals and searches for the daughter she was forced to leave behind when she was convicted. Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (aka Chinjeolhan Geum-ja-ssi) was the third film in a series, preceded by Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, and Old Boy. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lee Yeong-ae, Kim Shi-hu, (more)
