Song Il-gon

Last updated
Song Il-gon
Song Il-gon.jpg
Song Il-gon at the 2011 Busan International Film Festival
Born (1971-01-01) January 1, 1971 (age 53)
Seoul, South Korea
Alma mater Seoul Institute of the Arts
National Film School in Łódź
Occupation(s) Film director,
screenwriter
Years active1998-present
Korean name
Hangul
송일곤
Hanja
Revised Romanization Song Il-gon
McCune–Reischauer Song Il-gon

Song Il-gon (born January 1, 1971) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter known for his internationally award-winning early short films, and later feature films such as Spider Forest (2004) and Feathers in the Wind (2005). Long more popular abroad than in South Korea, Song was the first Korean filmmaker to win an award at the Cannes Film Festival. [1]

Contents

Life and career

Song Il-gon was born in Seoul on January 1, 1971. He studied Fine Arts at the Seoul Institute of the Arts. [1] After graduation he applied to study film in the United States. His visa application was rejected by that country, and Song instead attended the National Academy of Film in Łódź, Poland. He was only the second Korean student to study at this institution which is known for prominent alumni such as Roman Polanski and Krzysztof Kieślowski. [1] Unable to deal with specifically Korean themes or history while in Poland, Song turned to themes influenced by psychology and Western mythology. [1]

Beginning in 1998, Song's short films began attracting international attention. Liver and Potato (1998) took its inspiration from the biblical story of Cain and Abel. The Dream of the Clowns (also 1998) was filmed at a Polish circus. Both of these films were shown at international film festivals, and both were released at short-film specialty theaters in South Korea. [2] Song became the first Korean to win an award at the Cannes Film Festival with his short film Picnic (Sopoong, 1999), which was given the Jury Prize for Best Short Film. This film was also given the Grand Prix at the Melbourne International Film Festival. [1]

Back in Korea, Song was asked by the Seoul International Media Art Biennale (Media City Seoul) to make a 50-second video clip to be screened on electronic billboards for one month. He made Flush, about a teenage girl committing abortion in a public toilet. Even though Song had shown the screenplay to the government before filming, the authorities censored and removed the short after one day for its taboo subject. [3]

Song's first feature film was Flower Island (2001), a story about three women with psychological wounds traveling together to an island that is said to have magical healing powers. [3] [4] The film was successful internationally, winning prizes at the Venice Film Festival and the Fribourg International Film Festival among others. Afterward Song took an acting role in director Park Kyung-hee's debut film, A Smile (Miso, 2004). [5]

Spider Forest (2004), Song's second feature film, was not successful in the South Korean domestic market, either with audiences or critics. [1] But it was Song's first film to be given a region-1 DVD release in the U.S.

Song's next feature film, Feathers in the Wind was originally planned as a 30-minute short as part of omnibus film 1.3.6, but major South Korean production studio CJ Entertainment gave Song funds to make the work into a feature for individual release. The resulting film was Song's first domestic success, with some Korean critics acclaiming it as the best romance ever filmed in Korea. [6] The Magicians (2005) also began as a 40-minute short, one-third of the 2005 Jeonju Digital Project Talk to Her. [7] Song expanded the experimental digitally shot film into a 96-minute feature done entirely in one tracking shot. [8]

In February 2007, Song was reported to be working on a film with the working title of Telephone Girl. An adaptation of the stage play Telephone Modern Girl, the film was to deal with Korea during the 1920s and 1930s, when the country was modernizing under Japanese occupation. [9] However in January 2008, Song was reportedly in pre-production for a period horror film set during the Joseon Dynasty entitled Sahwa ("Royal Massacre"). This film was scheduled to begin shooting in March 2008. [10] Celebrated 1990s actor Moon Sung-keun was reported to be playing the lead role as a king dealing with murder as well as problems of a supernatural nature. [11] These projects did not push through.

In 2009 Song turned to documentaries, telling the story of the Korean diaspora in Cuba in Dance of Time. [12] [13] He also contributed the titular short film to Sorry, Thanks, an omnibus film dealing with the profound relationships people establish with their pets. [14]

Always , which opened the 2011 Busan International Film Festival, was his first mainstream film. [15] [16] Inspired by Charlie Chaplin's City Lights , [17] Song said he wanted to make a "conventional love story which takes place in today's urban city." [18] [19] [20]

Song shot the documentary Forest of Time in Yakushima, Japan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is said to have inspired Hayao Miyazaki's animated film Princess Mononoke . [21]

Filmography

Awards

Wins

Nominations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Im Kwon-taek</span> South Korean film director (born 1934)

Im Kwon-taek is one of South Korea's most renowned film directors. In an active and prolific career, his films have won many domestic and international film festival awards, as well as considerable box-office success, and helped bring international attention to the Korean film industry. As of spring 2015, he has directed 102 films.

<i>Chunhyang</i> (film) 2000 South Korean film

Chunhyang is a 2000 South Korean period romantic drama film directed by Im Kwon-taek, with a screenplay by Kang Hye-yeon and Kim Myung-gon. Distributed by CJ Entertainment, the film was released on January 29, 2000 in South Korea. Lee Hyo-jeong plays Chunhyang and Cho Seung-woo plays Mongryong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Busan International Film Festival</span> Annual film festival held in Busan, South Korea

The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), formerly the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festival, held from 13 to 21 September 1996, was also the first international film festival in Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yoo Ji-tae</span> South Korean actor (born 1976)

Yoo Ji-tae is a South Korean actor. After a stint as a fashion model, Yoo launched his acting career in 1998 then rose to fame through the films Attack the Gas Station (1999) and Ditto (2000). In the succeeding years, he gained acting recognition by working with acclaimed directors such as Hur Jin-ho in One Fine Spring Day (2001), Park Chan-wook in Oldboy (2003), and Hong Sang-soo in Woman is the Future of Man (2004). Yoo began directing short films in 2003, which were well received in the film festival circuit. His feature directorial debut Mai Ratima was released in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinema of South Korea</span>

South Korean films have been heavily influenced by such events and forces as the Korea under Japanese rule, the Korean War, government censorship, the business sector, globalization, and the democratization of South Korea.

<i>Spider Forest</i> 2004 South Korean film

Spider Forest is a 2004 South Korean horror-drama written and directed by Song Il-gon.

<i>My Scary Girl</i> 2006 South Korean film

My Scary Girl is a 2006 South Korean black/romantic comedy film written and directed by Son Jae-gon.

<i>Feathers in the Wind</i> 2004 South Korean film

Feathers in the Wind is a 2004 South Korean film directed by Song Il-gon. It was originally planned as a 30-minute section of a three-part omnibus film with two other directors, entitled 1.3.6. At 73 minutes, the film exceeded the limits of the original omnibus format and was released on its own theatrically and on DVD.

<i>Flower Island</i> 2001 film by Song Il-gon

Flower Island is a 2001 South Korean film directed by Song Il-gon. This was Song's first feature-length film after directing several award-winning short films.

<i>Nabi</i> (film) 2001 film by Moon Seung-wook

Nabi is a 2001 South Korean science fiction film. Directed by Moon Seung-wook, Nabi was shot on digital video and transferred onto 35mm film, filmed on a low budget of $380,000. It marked the feature film debut of Kang Hye-jung, who won Best Actress at the 5th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival for her role as Yuki. Nabi also starred Kim Ho-jung, who won the Bronze Leopard for Best Actress at the 54th Locarno International Film Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanjeewa Pushpakumara</span> Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter and producer

Sanjeewa Pushpakumara is a Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter and producer.

<i>Always</i> (2011 film) 2011 South Korean film

Always is a 2011 South Korean romantic action drama film directed by Song Il-gon and stars So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo in the lead roles. The film is about a romance between an ex-boxer, who has closed his heart to the world, and a telemarketer, who remains spirited despite slowly going blind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jang Hyun-sung</span> South Korean actor (born 1970)

Jang Hyun-sung is a South Korean actor. He started his acting career as a member of the Hakjeon Theatre Company, before transitioning to film and television. Jang is best known for starring in director Song Il-gon's arthouse films such as Spider Forest (2004) and The Magicians (2006), and most notably Feathers in the Wind (2005), for which one review praised him for giving "the performance of his career." He also had major roles in Nabi (2001), Rewind, My Right to Ravage Myself (2005), Love Is a Crazy Thing (2005), and My Friend and His Wife (2008). Aside from acting, Jang was one of the screenwriters for the Moon Seung-wook film Romance (2006).

Shin Su-won is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. Shin wrote and directed Passerby #3 (2010), Pluto (2013) and Madonna (2015). Her short film Circle Line won the Canal+ Prize for Best Short Film at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

Yoon Ga-eun is a South Korean film director and script writer. Her films explore the stories of young children and youth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yeon Sang-ho</span> South Korean film director and screenwriter

Yeon Sang-ho is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. He gained international popularity for working his adult animated films The King of Pigs (2011) and The Fake (2013), and the live-action film Train to Busan (2016), its animated prequel Seoul Station (2016) and live-action sequel Peninsula (2020), and first South Korean superhero film Psychokinesis (2018).

Boo Ji-young is a South Korean director and scriptwriter. After graduating from the Korean Academy of Film Arts, she began her career in independent filmmaking in South Korea. She created her first film Sisters on the Road in 2008. She is best known for her film Cart (2014), which was screened at many international film festivals.

Shin Dong-il is a South Korean film director and script writer. His movies draw attention to social issues and class differences through well-developed, complex characters and relationships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Park Jung-hoon (cinematographer)</span> South Korean filmmaker (born 1982)

Park Jung-hoon is a South Korean cinematographer and film director. Park gained international recognition with the action thriller The Villainess, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017, with four awards as Director of Photography. Park has been working in the film industry for almost two decades on a variety of genres, including low-budget films, independent films, and documentaries.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Brown, James (22 July 2005). "Don't Forget Him When He's Cool: An Interview with Song Il-gon". Senses of Cinema. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  2. ↑ Paquet, Darcy. "The Picnic (So-Poong)". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  3. 1 2 Gatto, Robin. "Song Il-gon's Flower Girls". Filmfestivals.com. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
  4. ↑ Hartzell, Adam. "Flower Island". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  5. ↑ Kim, Kyu-hyun. "A Smile". Koreanfilm.org. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  6. ↑ "FEATHER IN THE WIND, a.k.a. GIT (Korea, 2004); North American Premiere". Subway Cinema. Archived from the original on 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  7. ↑ Scheib, Ronnie (18 July 2006). "The Magicians". Variety. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
  8. ↑ Kim, Tae-jong (2 May 2005). "Freer Expression Thru Digital Media". The Korea Times . Archived from the original on 2005-05-05. Retrieved 2007-12-06.
  9. ↑ Yi, Ch’ang-ho (20 February 2007). "SONG Il-gon Tackles Modernization of Korea". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  10. ↑ D’Sa, Nigel (14 January 2008). "SONG Il-gon Horror to Shoot this Spring". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
  11. ↑ D’Sa, Nigel (26 February 2008). "MOON Sung-keun Cast in SONG Il-gon Horror". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
  12. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (8 December 2009). "Song Il-gon Documents Romantic Dance of Diaspora". The Korea Times . Retrieved 2012-12-23.
  13. ↑ "Song Il-gon Interview". Hangul Celluloid. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
  14. ↑ Lee, Hyo-won (19 May 2011). "Omnibus film on pets is poignant, profound". The Korea Times . Retrieved 2012-12-23.
  15. ↑ Jeon, Chanil. "Always". BIFF.kr. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
  16. ↑ Noh, Jean (6 October 2011). "Busan kicks off 16th festival to roars of applause in new cinema center". Screen International . Retrieved 2012-12-23.
  17. ↑ Kim, Sam (6 October 2011). "Director: Chaplin inspired Busan film fest opener". Associated Press . Retrieved 2012-12-23.
  18. ↑ Lee, Claire (6 October 2011). "BIFF opener conventional, yet charming". The Korea Herald . Retrieved 2012-12-23.
  19. ↑ Kim, Jessica (6 October 2011). "Song Il-gon hopes Always will be a reminder of true value of love". Asiae. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
  20. ↑ "Year of the 12 Directors: Introducing Song Il-Gon". Korean Class Massive. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
  21. ↑ "Forest of Time (2011)". The Chosun Ilbo . 20 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
  22. ↑ List of awards based on "Awards for Il-gon Song". IMDb . Retrieved 2007-12-26.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.