Bifan: Face your fears

The final few days here at Bifan: Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival have been a mix of films, parties, ceremonies and some free time to see the sights around Seoul. All of this has been documented in my instagram feed while this blog has focussed on the movies. As a genre festival the movies here have a refreshing unpredictability, more interested in thrilling the audience than impressing us. And it was great to meet so many of the filmmakers from around the world. We will certainly meet up again along the way. Here are comments on the closing film Sana, as well as some others I caught over the festival's final days, plus a list of award winners. As president of the Bucheon Choice jury, I presented the final award of the ceremony, the Best of Bucheon our jury's unanimous favourite...

Sana
dir Takashi Shimizu; with Hana Amano, Akari Hayami 23/Japan ***.
J-horror and J-pop collide in this riotous Japanese freak-out, which uses generous doses of dry comedy to hold the interest as the plot deliberately resists making much logical sense. It's astutely directed by horror maestro Takashi Shimizu to play on primal fears while also putting the members of a boy band through their paces, stalked by a malevolent ghost that uses music as a hook. So even if it's neither very scary nor original, there's plenty of fun along the way.

Privacy
dir-scr Sudeep Kanwal; with Rajshri Deshpande, Nishank Verma 23/India ***.
Subverting the underlying themes of most procedural police thrillers, this Indian film has some sharp things to say about female roles in society. With unusual complexity, writer-director Sudeep Kanwal and lead actress Rajshri Deshpande create a central character who defies the cliches. This remarkably conflicted woman knows all too well what she's up against and how to get what she needs. Her moral compass might be slippery, but there's a reason for that. And taking this journey with her is compelling.

The Eighth Sense
dir-scr Inu Baek, Werner du Plessis; with Im Ji-sub, Oh Jun-taek 23/Korea ***.
Reflecting a society that is still rather terrified of an open discussion of sexuality, this gentle Korean drama follows two young men who struggle to admit to each other, their friends and themselves that they belong together. And this crippling fear is matched by the somewhat timid filmmaking style. This will make the movie feel rather belaboured for inclusive audience members, especially as the story descends into chasms of angst, but the film's heart is clearly in the right place.

HappyMerryEnding
dir Min Chae-yeon; with Lee Dong-won, Byeon Seong-tae 23/Korea ***
Adapted from the Korean TV series, this comes from the BL (Boys' Love) genre of male-male romantic fiction that is directly targeted at teenaged girls. While it feels oddly childlike for Western audiences, it's also relentlessly adorable, packed with cute actors playing tormented young men struggling against inevitable romance. It's also unwaveringly gay, with a refreshingly matter-of-fact approach to the characters' queer sexuality mixed in with some deeper social themes relating to pop culture. 

2 7 T H   B I F A N   A W A R D S

Bucheon Choice: Best of Bucheon
Sorcery by Christopher Murray

Bucheon Choice: Best Director

Superposition by Karoline Lyngbye

Bucheon Choice: Jury's Choice

The Artifice Girl by Franklin Ritch

Bucheon Choice: Audience Award

The Artifice Girl by Franklin Ritch 

Best Korean Fantastic Film 

Iron Mask by Kim Sung Hwan

Korean Fantastic Best Director

Risk Society by Kim Byung Jun

Korean Fantastic Actors

Jung E-seo in Her Hobby

Jang Seongbeom in Abroad

Korean Fantastic Audience Award

Abroad by Giovanni Fumu 

Korean Fantastic: Special Mention

Unknown Narrative: Skyrocket Junipers Under the Crescent by Yang Gun-young

Netpac Award

Hungry Ghost Diner by Cho We Jun

Nonghyup Distribution Award 

Her Hobby by Ha Myung-mi

Watcha's Pick for Korean Fantastic 

Iron Mask by Kim Sung Hwan

Méliès International Festivals Federation Award: Best Asian Film

Best Regards to All by Yuta Shimotsu

Odd Family Awards

Battery Mommy by Jeon Seungbae

Burger Song Challenge by Kim Min-ha

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rich Jack Cline (@ukcline)

Bifan: Smile for the camera

With jury duty completed, I've had some time to explore beyond Bucheon, starting with taking a journey into central Seoul (about an hour by metro) on a very, very rainy Tuesday. Still, it was fun to walk around an area that's very different from Bucheon - both older and newer, with cool shops and restaurants packed in tiny, winding streets. Then the juries were taken on a day out for an archery experience that was a lot of fun - learning the history and tradition, training and then competing - followed by an amazing festival dinner. I also took the morning to head back over into Seoul and walk around the main palace, this time in blazing sunshine. And of course, I'm watching films as well. Here are two more I saw earlier, plus two more Japanese titles...

Smoking Causes Coughing [Fumer Fait Tousser]
dir-scr Quentin Dupieux; with Gilles Lellouche, Vincent Lacoste 22/France ***.
Leave it to demented genius Quentin Dupieux to offer a course correction for the superhero genre, producing this wry comedy in the style of a cheesy 1970s TV series, starting with some riotously exaggerated violence. Consistently amusing scenes are underlined with silly details, clunky tech and a surprisingly heartfelt emotion. In the end, it feels a bit slight and corny, but its considerable charm is difficult to shake... FULL REVIEW >

Evil Dead Rise
dir-scr Lee Cronin; with Alyssa Sutherland, Lily Sullivan 23/US ***
As the horror franchise returns, writer-director Lee Cronin sidesteps plot and characters to focus on creating the grisliest movie imaginable. It's an approach that keeps the audience squirming at each mind-bogglingly awful thing that happens to a bunch of relatively normal people minding their own business. Genre fans will enjoy the yuckiness, but the connection to the other movies is tenuous, and there's not much else to it... FULL REVIEW >

Life of Mariko in Kabukicho

dir Shinzo Katayama, Eiji Uchida; with Sairi Ito, Yutaka Takenouchi 22/Japan ****

Freewheeling energy propels this lively Japanese movie through a series of outrageous scenarios, as a large ensemble of characters weave in and out of each others' lives. Action, comedy, romance, drama and sci-fi are stirred into the mix, creating a riotously entertaining vibe from start to finish, even when things turn violent or dark. Set out as a series of episodes in the life of a sparky young woman and the people in her Tokyo neighbourhood, the film endearingly gets under the skin.

Egoist 
dir Daishi Matsunaga; with Ryohei Suzuki, Hio Miyazawa 22/Japan ***.

An understated, slice-of-life approach both adds to the emotional depth of this Japanese drama and leaves it feeling somewhat familiar. Director-cowriter Daishi Matsunaga tells the story with sensitivity, taking on big events and some surprising events without even a hint of melodramatics. What remains is an engaging exploration of unexpected relationships, most notably how love can be expressed through selflessness. And the story reveals this in some very moving ways.

Bifan: On trial

There's something odd about being on a film festival jury, especially when you are handing out cash prizes (the winner here gets 20 million Korean won!). Who are we to make this kind of judgement? Well, this particular jury is made up of iconic Japanese filmmaker Kazuya Konaka (Ultraman), top Korean actress Kim Sunyoung (Dream Palace), rising-star Korean filmmaker Lee Wonsuk (Killing Romance), Canadian writer/producer Kier-La Janisse and me, chair of the London Film Critics' Circle. We are giving out three awards at Friday's ceremony, considering the 10 international films in the Bucheon Choice section. Meanwhile, I've been able to get out and explore a bit - more about that on Instagram. And here are some more films, starting with one I saw last year...

The Sparring Partner
dir Ho Cheuk-Tin; with Alan Yeung, Mak Pui-Tung 22/China ***.
A sensational real-life 2013 double murder case is brought to the screen with edgy style. Using spiralling flashbacks, director Ho Cheuk-Tin assembles the story in small pieces, with a bracing focus on the characters. This gets into the minds of the killers before the crime and then follows them through the trial. Along the way, sparky relatives, lawyers and jury members also engage as they take their own journeys. The level of detail is riveting, even if the film feels both rushed and overlong... FULL REVIEW >

The Artifice Girl
dir-scr Franklin Ritch; with Tatum Matthews, Sinda Nichols 23/US ***.
Grappling with enormous ideas, this drama explores the nature of humanity through a story about a digitally created young girl who takes on a life of her own. The film is sharply written and directed by actor Franklin Ritch, even if it essentially consists of three very talky conversations. This leaves the film feeling a bit static, and also limits the development of the characters. But as a piece of pointed theatre, it's riveting.

You'll Never Find Me
dir Josiah Allen, Indianna Bell; with Brendan Rock, Jordan Cowan 23/Australia **
Focussed and claustrophobic, this Australian horror has plenty of atmosphere and nastiness, although it's never remotely scary. Filmmakers Josiah Allen and Indianna Bell create creepy imagery and highly charged situations, but their approach is so indulgent that it feels both achingly slow and painfully arch. It also carries a darkly disturbing message about the, ahem, joys of silencing your conscience.

Whale Bones
dir-scr Takamasa Oe; with Motoki Ochiai, Ano 23/Japan ****
Insinuating and involving, this dark Japanese drama takes the audience on a journey through augmented reality with a young man who begins to lose track of himself and the situation he's stumbled into. Writer-director Takamasa Oe dives down this rabbit hole with a moody, introspective sensibility that's haunting. So even if the film is elusive and slow, it's a reminder that even virtual experiences have real impact.

~~~~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~
C R I T I C A L   W E E K

Before leaving London, I wrote all the reviews for films released while I'm away, and they're all posted on the site already. I've cut back a bit on the number of releases I'm covering, but I managed to see the big ticket movies Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Pixar's Elemental. Alas, I've missed a few things too, such as Insidious: The Red Door and the Wham documentary. And I've also missed the London press screening of Mission: Impossible 7, although that one opens the day I get back. 

Bifan: Be afraid

My first impression of Korea was in driving rain and low clouds during the drive from the airport to Bucheon, which is about halfway between Incheon Airport and Seoul. The rain continued all day and into the night, but couldn't dampen the spirits at the opening ceremony for the 27th Bifan: Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. As a member of the international competition jury, I walked the long red carpet with my fellow jurors, Korean actress Kim Sunyoung, Japanese filmmaker Kazuya Konaka, Korean filmmaker Lee Wonsuk and Canadian writer-producer Kier-La Janice. The ceremony was also attended by Ari Aster, whose Beau Is Afraid is the opening film, and Korean star Choi Min Sik, who is honoured with a special section within the festival. Other impressions over the first two days centre mainly around the excellent array of food options and the heavy humidity that makes breathing a bit of a chore outdoors. I'd already seen the opening film, so I went to the epic party instead, and then the first four films we have watched couldn't be more eclectic...

Beau Is Afraid
dir-scr Ari Aster; with Joaquin Phoenix, Patti LuPone 23/US ***.
Another indulgent auteur project, this epic odyssey feels both deeply personal and in desperate need of an independent editor. Genius filmmaker Ari Aster definitely knows how to push the audience's buttons, and his rambling, over-the-top movie is packed with moments that are hilarious, terrifying, riotously outrageous and darkly emotive. It's also infused with almost Lynchian surrealism, defiantly refusing to bring its fiercely clever segments into a coherent whole ... FULL REVIEW >

Sorcery [Brujería]
dir Christopher Murray; with Valentina Véliz Caileo, Daniel Antivilo 23/Chile ****
With its gloomy skies and hazy cinematography, this Chilean drama has a powerful intensity that runs through a darkly mystical clash between cultures and religions. Based on a true story, it's grippingly directed by Christopher Murray and played in an often unnervingly understated style. So it goes far beneath the skin to provoke us with insistent ideas about colonialism and nature.

Tiger Stripes
dir-scr Amanda Nell Eu; with Zafreen Zairizal, Deena Ezral 23/Malaysia ****
There's an engaging animalistic tilt to this adolescent body horror from Malaysia, as a young girl taps into her feral nature. Writer-director Amanda Nell Eu maintains a blackly comical undercurrent even as things get very freaky indeed, exploring big themes through lenses of culture, gender and religion. And Zafreen Zairizal shines in a complex and physically demanding central role.

Restore Point [Bod Obnovy]
dir Robert Hloz; with Andrea Mohylova, Matej Hadek 23/Czechia 1h51 ***
Slick and packed with audience-pleasing gimmicks, this Czech thriller has an intriguing sci-fi premise that raises all kinds of big moral questions. So even if the script feels somewhat undercooked, it's still a fun ride as a police procedural potboiler. Director Robert Holz creates a bold vibe with prowling cinematography, high-tech gadgetry and a twisty narrative. The key is to ignore the plot holes and just enjoy it.

Disorder
dir-scr Batdelger Byambasuren; with Nomin-Erdene Ariunbyamba, Bat-Erin Munkhbat 23/Mongolia ***
An amusingly bonkers tone sets this Mongolian mental hospital horror apart, lacing its sinister premise with elements of a slapstick heist as well as pointed social commentary. And while the narrative is rather jarringly awkward, writer-director Batdelger Byambasuren keeps things interesting with whizzy visual elements and solid themes that add weight to the melodramatics.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rich Jack Cline (@ukcline)