On 21 October, the Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa joined forces with The Long Take Film Club for a special edition of K-Cinema Club at The Bioscope in Johannesburg. Titled Better Together – A Night of Unsettling Encounters and Unexpected Connections, the event brought together three Korean films and a series of audience discussions, offering an evening of cinema that explored fear, isolation, and human connection.
The programme opened with two short films from the 2026 Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), Magma and Seventy Times Seven. Drawing on supernatural themes and unsettling encounters, the shorts introduced audiences to different approaches to contemporary Korean genre filmmaking. The screenings were followed by a discussion in which participants exchanged interpretations and explored the cultural and narrative elements behind the films.
The evening continued with the critically acclaimed feature Aloners (2021), a thoughtful portrait of loneliness and social isolation in contemporary Korean society. Through its portrayal of a young woman navigating a life of limited human interaction, the film offered a quieter but equally compelling perspective on the evening’s broader themes. A second audience discussion followed, exploring the film’s characters, social context, and reflections on solitude and connection.
The discussions formed an integral part of the programme, encouraging audiences to engage with the films beyond the screenings themselves. From the supernatural unease of the short films to the everyday realities depicted in Aloners, the evening brought together different cinematic perspectives and sparked conversations about the ways Korean filmmakers explore human experiences.
Jaeil Lee from the Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for audiences to engage with Korean cinema beyond the films themselves. “What made this evening particularly special was the chance to bring together different film communities and explore Korean cinema through a shared experience. The discussions showed how films rooted in distinctly Korean experiences can still raise questions and emotions that resonate with audiences across cultures,” Lee said.
Organised in collaboration with The Long Take Film Club and The Bioscope, the event provided an opportunity for local film enthusiasts to discover contemporary Korean cinema and exchange perspectives in a shared setting, further strengthening connections between Korean film and South Africa’s independent cinema community.
Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa (KCCSA) | 주남아공한국문화원
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