By Honorary Reporter Anna Samolowka from Poland
Photos = Anna Samolowka

The Warsaw Korean Film Festival organized by the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in Poland ran from Nov. 3-10, screening 16 movies.  

Attended by Korean Ambassador to Poland Lim Hoon-min, the festival's opening night screened the latest film by director Kim Jee-woon, "Cobweb." Following the screening, guests enjoyed Korean snacks while sharing their impressions of the movie, with Kim also sharing his desire to reshoot the ending of his completed film.

He also held exclusive meetings in a rare opportunity for participants to directly engage the creative mind behind the film. Their in-depth discussions were on the director's works, artistic philosophy and intricacies of the filmmaking process.

On his acclaimed film "A Tale of Two Sisters" (2003), Kim said the inspiration for this psychological thriller came from a seemingly mundane moment: a beautiful yet melancholic picture of a girl in at photo store window.  When seeing beautiful things, he said he considers them sad at the same time since beauty is fragile and fleeting.

Describing production of his latest film, Kim said making movies is a dual experience of heaven and hell as a director faces an emotional rollercoaster. Despite the struggles depicted in "Cobweb," he emphasized its underlying comedic elements to offer a perspective on the complexities of filmmaking without the weight of tears.

The director said he has no favorite among the movies he made, adding that the lack of favoritism grants him the freedom to continually explore and create new cinematic experiences. He also shared his opinions on his favorite Polish productions.

The festival screened Korean classics like "A Bittersweet Life" and "I Saw the Devil" to more recent works like "Concrete Utopia" and "Past Lives," catering to a wide range of tastes. The closing film, "Where Would You Like to Go" directed by Kim Hee-jung, was a fitting finale to a week-long celebration of Korean cinema.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.