40 Films you shouldn’t miss at the 28th Busan International Film Festival (Part 1)

By Asian Film Festival on October 3, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

These are forty feature films you shouldn’t miss at the Busan International Film Festival which will take place from October 4 – 13, 2023 in Busan, Korea.

A Bloody Lucky Day by Pil Gam-sung – Korea | 2023 – 128 minutes | World Premiere
Simple-minded Oh-taek (Lee Sung-min) drives a taxi, dreaming of reuniting with his family after losing his fortune due to his own mistakes. On a lucky day when he gets a lot of customers after dreaming of pigs, he drives Hyuk-soo (You Yeon-seok), the last customer of the day. Hyuk-soo offers him one million won for a long-distance night drive, and Oh-taek, in need of money, agrees. They head to Mookpo together. Meanwhile, Soon-gyu (Lee Jung-eun), who is looking for her son’s killer, becomes suspicious of Hyuk-soo, whom she bumps into at the hospital. Bored during the long drive, Hyuk-soo begins to tell his story, and Oh-taek realizes that Hyuk-soo is a serial killer. A Bloody Lucky Day is a drama series based on the webtoon of the same name by Aporia. The unique situation of an unstoppable night taxi amidst the obsession and madness of a serial killer adds to the tension, while the actors’ impeccable performances complete this dense suspense drama. (SONG Kyung-won | Busan2023)

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A Boy and A Girl by Hsu Li-Da – Taiwan | 2023 – 140 minutes | World Premiere
A girl shows her trust of a boy by showing him a dead fetus in a jar. Her relationship with the soccer coach she once loved left her haunted by the agony of murder. The boy, who desperately wants to leave after witnessing his mother’s affair, decides to pool money together with the girl. The unnamed protagonists of A Boy and a Girl act out a story about all boys and girls today who are extorted rather than protected by adults. The greatest tragedy of all lies in the fact that no matter what misdeeds they might commit, the unsympathetic, even malevolent punishment they face far exceeds their misdeeds. A feature debut film by Hsu Li-Da, who has built a career through short films and television dramas, this film will be world-premiered at the 2023 BIFF. (CHOI Eun | Busan2023)

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A Song Sung Blue by Geng Zihan – China | 2023 – 92 minutes
In Harbin, China, in the early 2010s, fifteen-year-old Xian goes to live with her estranged father when her mother, a doctor, takes a job in Africa for a year. Her initial anticipation that this would be the worst summer of her life takes a dramatic turn when she encounters the captivating Mingmei at her father’s photo studio. A girl’s coming-of-age story, A Song Sung Blue is infused with the romantic fervor and nostalgic sentiments that come with a teenage girl’s admiration for another woman. Just as the vibrant Mingmei enters Xian’s quiet and solitary world, the film’s tonal scheme, dominated by aquamarine blue, is accentuated with vivid red accents whenever Mingmei steps into the frame, creating a dreamy atmosphere. Photography plays a significant role in the film, not only serving as a repository of memories but also a lens that captures elusive allure, desire, and concealed emotions. (HONG Soin | Busan2023)

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At the End of the Film by Ahn Sunkyoung – Korea | 2023 – 175 minutes | World Premiere
After a decade of false starts and failed projects, film director Si-won (Park Jong-hwan) is about to make a mountain movie. However, the film faces another setback, and then the director’s pet cat Luca dies. In the depths of despair and pain, Si-won embarks on a journey deep into the mountains to bury Luca. At this juncture, the movie takes an unexpected turn, leading to a bizarre mountain trek. During this journey, Si-won confronts the painful creative seed within him that he wishes to escape and give up on, but finds difficult to let go. At the End of the Film delves into the existence of a human being caught in the midst of an unending creative process, navigating the delicate boundary between cinema and reality, fiction and nonfiction, and the struggle to begin anew. Notably, the spontaneous emergence of free dancing and rhythmic beats at unexpected moments infuses the film with an aura of freedom and liberation. Could this be the reason? Ahn Sunkyoung’s film, born from the journey of ordeal, appears freer than ever. (JEONG Jihye | Busan2023)

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Ballerina by Lee Chung-hyun – Korea | 2023 – 93 minutes | World Premiere
Ok-joo (Jun Jong-seo) faces the sudden death of her one true friend, Min-hee (Park Yu-rim). A former bodyguard with unrivaled skills, Ok-joo embarks on a mission to find the villain, Choi Pro (Kim Ji-hun), who led Min-hee, once a promising ballerina, to her death. This marks the second feature from new director Lee Chung-hyun, who garnered attention with his short film Bargain and his feature film debut Call. Lead actor Jun Jong-seo, who also happens to be the director’s real-life partner, portrays a formidable female warrior, building upon her demonstrated ability to embody feisty characters. Accompanied by a punchy score by popular musician GRAY, stylish and exploratory cinematography, boldly designed spaces and colors, and intensely choreographed action scenes, this revenge drama offers an exhilarating and thought-provoking genre pleasure. (JUNG Hanseok | Busan2023)

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Beyond the Fog by Murase Daichi – Japan | 2023 – 83 minutes
A father, son, daughter-in-law, and grandson operate an inn in a desolate, rural town that once had a movie theater and many tourists but has fallen into decay. The son wants to sell the inn, but the daughter-in-law wants to keep it with her father-in-law. Beyond the Fog is a movie that tries to capture the slow passage of time. Someone is no longer in the same place he used to be, the lights of a banquet hall have faded, and the colorful festival lights have gone out. But time doesn’t destroy everything. Traces of time can still be found in songs playing on an old radio, in albums containing old photos, and in dusty old houses. The film creates magical cinematic moments through scenes that are ambiguous as to whether they are dreams or reality, and the beautiful cinematography and haunting music will leave a lasting impression. (NAM Dong-chul | Busan2023)

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City of Wind by Purev-Ochir Lkhagvadulam – France, Mongolia, Portugal, Netherlands, Germany, Qatar | 2023 – 103 minutes
Seventeen-year-old Ze attends a modern school in Ulaanbaatar, while also leading a traditional life as a shaman and communing with ancestral spirits. Unlike his older sister, who is grappling with the gap between urban life and traditions, Ze appears to maintain a good balance. When he goes to perform a rite for Maralaa, a rebellious and unstable girl of his age who is about to undergo surgery, he finds himself drawn to her, igniting a desire within him. City of Wind centers on the teenage protagonists on the cusp of adulthood and questions the values and the boundaries between individual desires and communal responsibilities, tradition and modern, urban and rural, and realistic life and spiritual life. The uncertainties, confusion, and loneliness that the teens face in this film reflect the anxieties of Mongolia’s youth in a society undergoing rapid changes. (HONG Soin | Busan2023)

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Concerning My Daughter by Lee Mirang – Korea | 2023 – 106 minutes | World Premiere
An independent daughter moves into her mother’s house due to financial problems, and brings with her same-sex lover, Rain. Mom is left bewildered. Meanwhile, the mom, who works as a caregiver, strives to provide the best care for Je-hee, an elderly woman who lives alone. Based on the novel of the same name, Concerning My Daughter avoids exaggeration or haste, opting instead to meticulously and calmly develop the narrative. This deliberate approach leads to the poignant exploration of the situation and emotions. The story delves into the dilemma of feeling embarrassed when something that seems unrelated becomes your concern when viewed from a different perspective. The mother refuses to give up on Je-hee out of compassion, while the daughter and Rain find a way to be together, even if it doesn’t align with the traditionally heterosexual-centered notion of family. How different and distant they are from each other, who seek companionship beyond the confines of the family structure? As the mother turns the question inward, the introspective drama deepens and broadens. (JEONG Jihye | Busan2023)

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Dear Jinri by Jung Yoonsuk – Korea | 2023 – 101 minutes | World Premiere
Choi Jinri is the real name of the South Korean celebrity known by her stage name Sulli. Using her real name in the title, Dear Jinri is the product of efforts to get to know her through her last interview, given before she took her life on October 14, 2019, at the age of twenty-five. Who was Sulli? Director Jung Yoon-suk asks repeatedly as he explores a diverse archive of materials, including animation, music videos, films, journals, photographs, and vlogs. Yet, Sulli seems to be somewhere beyond the reach of language, as she responds with a long silence. While cutting out this silence might have been easy, Dear Jinri doesn’t. Even if every moment of the film, every utterance from Sulli appear to be foreshadowing or hinting at events to come, don’t be sad; just remember—this is the message that Dear Jinri conveys to the viewers. (KANG Sowon | Busan2023)

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Essential Truths of the Lake by Lav Diaz – Philippines, France, Singapore, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, UK | 2023 – 215 minutes
“We follow orders, not laws.” Hermes Papauran is disillusioned with the irrationality of the Philippine government and police organization. To make matters worse, he finds himself haunted by nightmares compounded by the Duterte administration’s initiation of the ‘war on drugs.’ As a capable detective, Hermes delves into the unsolved case of Esmeralda Stuart to lessen his feeling of guilt. Esmeralda, a renowned fashion model and dedicated advocate for the endangered Philippine eagle, receives contrasting assessments from those around her. The question remains: what truth will Hermes ultimately confront? Essential Truths of the Lake is a kind of prequel of When the Waves are Gone (2022), released last year, and the second part of the ‘Hermes trilogy.’ In an era of contradictions and violence, the film encapsulates the relentless quest for justice through restrained yet lyrical monochrome frames. (BOO Kyunghwan | Busan2023)

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Evil Does Not Exist by Hamaguchi Ryusuke – Japan | 2023 – 106 minutes
A collaboration with Eiko Ishibashi, who composed the music for Drive My Car (2021), to create a performance video accidentally became a feature-length film, Evil Does Not Exist. Eiko Ishibashi’s music leaves a strong impression and opens another chapter in Hamaguchi’s oeuvre. The film is set in a small mountain village which is close to Tokyo but not yet developed. As the coronavirus crisis draws to a close, a town meeting is held to discuss the idea of building a glamping campground in the town. The developing company explains that the campground will help revitalize the local economy. As it faces opposition, however, it devises a stunt to convince the residents. The grandeur and beauty of the natural scenery and the somewhat surreal nature of the scenes evoke a different emotion from Hamaguchi’s previous films, and they are accompanied by his characteristically specific situational descriptions and dialog. It’s a movie that keeps you wondering how many masters there are in Hamaguchi’s cinematic roots further to Eric Romer or Kurosawa Kiyoshi. (NAM Dong-chul | Busan2023)

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FAQ by Kim Da-min – Korea | 2023 – 92 minutes | World Premiere
Dong-chun is a tired elementary school student who has been shuttled from one school to the next with enthusiasm by her mother, but finds that she does not perform well at any of them. One day, she picks up a barrel of rice wine at a summer camp and takes it home with her out of curiosity. She then realizes that the bubbling sound of the rice wine is not merely the sound of fermentation, but words spoken to her. Now, the bubbles, in Morse code, and Farsi language combine to reveal the truth of the world. The whimsical idea of connecting the unconnected is the core appeal of the movie. At the same time, the image of Dong-chun as a reticent, nerdy, yet bold character, and the director’s choice to cast her as such, gives the movie instant appeal. To call it a comedy that casts sarcasm on the issue of private education would be an understatement. This sci-fi adventure and comic fantasy about a girl named Dong-chun is endlessly cute, exciting, funny, and subversive. Clearly rice wine has much to teach us. (JUNG Hanseok | Busan2023)

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Flickering Lights by Anupama Srinivasan, Anirban Dutta – India | 2023 – 90 minutes | World Premiere
In the remote village of Tora near the India-Myanmar border, there are no roads, no water supply, no schools or hospitals. Despite over seventy years of independence in India, the village has been marginalized and forgotten because of its long history of rebellions. Then one day, news arrives that electricity will finally reach the village. The villagers are skeptical yet excited about illuminating their Christmas with bright lights. A small shop owner is thrilled at the prospect of purchasing a refrigerator and selling ice cream while the village men toil, digging a hole to erect a utility pole. With a tender and considerate gaze, Flickering Lights observe the villagers’ dreams and reality, hopes and despair until the day the village’s first lightbulb flickers to life. The villagers’ humor-laden optimism and yearning to escape the shadows of history shines brightly, much like the brilliant light that comes on after a few flickers. (KANG Sowon | Busan2023)

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House of the Seasons by Oh Jung-min – Korea | 2023 – 121 minutes | World Premiere
House of the Seasons is a unique film that weaves the intricate family stories of three generations into a mysterious and atmospheric narrative. Seong-jin heads to his family home for a jesa, memorial ceremony. Seong-jin’s family runs a tofu factory, and although the family strictly adheres to traditional values, it radiates a vibrant energy. Together, they eat, share laughter, and experience partings. Amid these partings lies death that creates fractures within the family. The film’s succinct structure and clear frames capture the vigor of life, as well as joys, sorrows, passion, and deep-rooted melancholy. Tensions unravel as various events unfold against the vivid backdrop of the changing seasons, and the traces of individual expressions and scenic landscapes from this captivating film linger on. (HONG Eunmi | Busan2023)

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Ichiko by Toda Akihiro – Japan | 2023 – 125 minutes | World Premiere
On August 12, 2015, Hasegawa proposes to Ichiko. She is moved to tears by his proposal, but the next day, when she sees the news on TV, she suddenly leaves the house as if in shock. Where has she gone? Hasegawa reports her missing to the police, and the detective in charge of the investigation tells an unexpected story. Ichiko doesn’t exist in the first place. The movie is structured like notes in a detective’s investigative notebook. The narrative unfolds as characters come forward and give testimony about events of the past. As we piece together these fragmented testimonies like a puzzle, Ichiko’s identity is gradually revealed. As we learn more about her unhappy family history and the reasons she had to go into hiding, the camera delves deeper into Ichiko’s mind. We see how her dreams and hopes for the future were shattered. We realize how precious the brief moments of happiness she felt were. Ichiko is a movie that impresses with its creative and well-refined storytelling techniques. The character Ichiko is played by Sugisaki Hana, best known for her roles in Her Love Boils Bathwater (2016) and Blade of the Immortal (2017). (NAM Dong-chul | Busan2023)

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If only I could Hibernate by Puravdash Zoljargal – Mongolia, France, Switzerland, Qatar | 2023 – 99 minutes
“If only we could hibernate like bears in the winter, never get cold, never catch the flu,” says Ulzii’s younger brother. Ulzii’s family lives in a hut in Ulaanbaatar. His mother has gone to the countryside for work, leaving the youngest with her relatives. Ulzii, a teenager, is left to take care of his two younger siblings. Stubborn yet clever Ulzii dreams of winning the national physics competition to attend university and become an engineer, but finding firewood to heat his home is a problem every winter. Thanks to the neighbors, who tell the boy that it’s okay to cry, the story of the three siblings’ harsh winter unexpectedly warms the audience’s heart. With this debut feature film, which balances cool-headed reality with warmth, Purevdash Zoljargal, a Mongolian filmmaker and alumna of the BIFF Asian Film Academy, was invited to Un certain regard at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. (CHOI Eun | Busan2023)

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In Flames by Zarrar Kahn – Canada, Pakistan | 2023 – 98 minutes
Medical student Mariam is unhappy about her family’s situation: her grandfather’s death leaves her family saddled with debt and having to accept financial help from her sleazy uncle Nassir, and her mother, Fariha, is all too compliant. Then, a tragic accident occurs during Mariam’s trip to the beach with her boyfriend Asad, revealing the cursed fate of Mariam and her mother who must protect each other to survive. Recognized for his talent through the BIFF Asian Film Academy, the TIFF Talent Lab, and other programs, Zarrar Kahn skillfully weaves the present of a woman who faces unforeseen dangers while driving, talking on the phone in the balcony of her room, and even upon encountering people who show acts of kindness with the haunting shadows of oppression and violence from the past in this horror film. A joint Canadian-Pakistani production, In Flames was screened at Directors’ Fortnight in the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. (CHOI Eun | Busan2023)

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Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell by Pham Thien An – Vietnam, Singapore, France, Spain | 2023 – 179 minutes
In a noisy outdoor restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, three men are chatting when a motorcycle accident happens on the road right next to them. Thien doesn’t pay much attention to it, but it turns out that the victim of the accident is none other than Thien’s sister-in-law. Thien now has to take her dead body and his five-year-old nephew back to their rural home. It’s also up to Thien to find his brother, who left his wife and child behind. The feature debut of the emerging Vietnamese director Pham Thien An, this stunningly beautiful and compelling film offers deep insights into life and faith. At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, it became the first Vietnamese-language film to win the Camera d′Or in thirty years after Tran Anh Hung’s The Scent of Green Papaya (1993), marking the birth of a new auteur with critical acclaim. (BOO Kyunghwan | Busan2023)

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IT’s OKAY! by Kim Hyeyoung – Korea | 2023 – 102 minutes | World Premiere
High schooler In-young (Lee Re) loses her mother in a car accident. The world is a harsh place for a girl who is now all alone, but In-young is stronger, brighter, and more resilient than expected. With sharp wit and tenacious spirit, she seems determined to survive no matter what. Upon being evicted for overdue rent, In-young, who studies Korean traditional dance, secretly moves into her dance troupe’s building. Seol-a (Jin Seoyeon), the dance troupe director known for her strictness, catches her, but they gradually become friends. In-young also befriends the neighborhood pharmacist (Son Suk Ku). IT’S OKAY! is a film that is okay about everything. A solid narrative, humor, characters with personality, a star-studded cast, and skillful directing beautifully come together in this film, which adeptly captures the nuanced emotions of young girls. IT’S OKAY! is a debut feature film by Kim Hyeyoung, who co-directed the TV series Be Melodramatic. (HONG Eunmi | Busan 2023)

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Monster by Kore-eda Hirokazu – Japan | 2023 – 126 minutes
Fifth-grader, Minato, tells his mother that he has been abused by his homeroom teacher, his mother becomes enraged and goes to complain. Instead of investigating the matter thoroughly, the school issues a perfunctory apology. However, in the film’s next chapter, told from the teacher’s point of view, it becomes clear that Minato’s problems do not stem from the teacher’s violence. Director Kore-eda presents the events that lead to an avoidable tragedy through the eyes of various characters, including Minato and his friend Hoshikawa. Kore-Eda uses the boys’ stories to address social issues that, like Nobody Knows and Shoplifters, can only be understood by looking more deeply. Kore-eda dares to ask whose rights are protected by the education system—those of the students or those of the teachers? This issue has been in the forefront of the Korean news media recently, and thus, will undoubtedly be of great interest to viewers there and around the world. Monster features a moving soundtrack by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto. (NAM Dong-chul | Busan2023)

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