Documentary Film 'Korean Classics Generation'

Premier Screening on September 17, 2020, at 20:00 at W: HALLL (avenue Charles Thielemans 93, 1150 Brussels)

Reservation: cderoover@woluwe1150.be or pn@rtbf.be

You can attend the premiere screening for free by making a reservation. However, due to the limited number of seats, attendance will be decided through first-come-first-served basis reservations. Therefore, we recommend that you visit the movie screening after receiving a confirmation response.

In the space of fewer than 20 years, the new generation of Korean musicians have managed to appropriate Western classical music, yet far removed from their original culture. They made it one of the pillars of Korean education. This music, sometimes considered aging in the West, is on the contrary modern and fashionable in Korea. The best Korean musicians have a true rock star status, each of their concerts in their country unleashes the bravos and cries of an audience of enthusiastic young people.

Their sudden passion for this music, their dedication to work, the sacrifices made by parents for their children, and the competitive spirit that reigns in this country, are the keys to the success of this new generation which takes first prizes in most major international competitions. In recent years, they have twice won the Queen Elisabeth Competition, the Chopin Competition, the Busoni Competition, the Van Cliburn Competition, and many more.

Even though young Korean musicians now dominate these competitions without having studied abroad, thanks to the education provided by the previous generation who returned home after a career in the West, it is essential for them to live in Europe, especially in Germany. , to be part of the large international classical music market and hope to have a great career as a soloist.

But the differences between the two cultures, the solitary life in an unfamiliar country, the learning of a new language, the absence of their family and friends represent all difficulties for successful integration.

The film traces the career of some of the winners of this new generation nicknamed the K-Classics Generation, including the 2 recent winners of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, the soprano Sumi Hwang and the violinist Lim Ji young. In Korea, where it all began, and in Germany where most of them have settled.

Directed by Thierry Loreau and Pierre Barré

Language: French

Running Time 71 min.