Multilingual-subtitle DVD Collection
Booklet: Family on Screen
The Korean Film Archive, in conjunction with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, has been issuing topical DVD box sets since 2012 in order to introduce to the world diverse aspects of Korean society. Our project is developed for overseas researchers who seek to study and understand Korean culture through Korean films, and for international fans of Korean films. We present to you Family on Screen.
we have focused on the theme of family because the concept of family is particularly special in Korean society, whose character has long been centered on paternity and blood relations due to the influence of Confucianism. Furthermore, even though family is the most private of societal communities, it is never too far removed from the system of society as a whole. As a result, the films whose topics are about family— from classical movies to modern cinema—tell the stories of past and present Korean society.
For this year’s project, we have compiled eight films: Romantic Papa (1960), directed by Shin Sang-ok, Rainy Days (1979), directed by Yoo Hyeon-mok, The Oldest Son (1984), directed by Lee Doo-yong, The Quiet Family (1998), directed by Kim Ji-woon, A Good Lawyer’s Wife (2003), directed by Im Sang-soo, Family Ties (2006), directed by Kim Tae-yong, The Host (2006), directed by Bong Jun-ho, and Punch (2011), directed by Lee Han. Within the framework of family, these films illustrate the trajectory of modern Korea’s history, from the post-Liberation era (starting in 1948) to the present. One of the selected films perpetuates the image of a wholesome family, as was demanded by the societal norm at that time. But one of the films illustrates the suffering of petit- bourgeois families in the midst of Korean society’s tragedy. Another film exposes the contradictions in a family, a microcosm of the contradictions that exist in society at large. We believe our selection of films, which shows Korean families from different time periods, will be helpful in better understanding Korean society in more detail and depth.
we have focused on the theme of family because the concept of family is particularly special in Korean society, whose character has long been centered on paternity and blood relations due to the influence of Confucianism. Furthermore, even though family is the most private of societal communities, it is never too far removed from the system of society as a whole. As a result, the films whose topics are about family— from classical movies to modern cinema—tell the stories of past and present Korean society.
For this year’s project, we have compiled eight films: Romantic Papa (1960), directed by Shin Sang-ok, Rainy Days (1979), directed by Yoo Hyeon-mok, The Oldest Son (1984), directed by Lee Doo-yong, The Quiet Family (1998), directed by Kim Ji-woon, A Good Lawyer’s Wife (2003), directed by Im Sang-soo, Family Ties (2006), directed by Kim Tae-yong, The Host (2006), directed by Bong Jun-ho, and Punch (2011), directed by Lee Han. Within the framework of family, these films illustrate the trajectory of modern Korea’s history, from the post-Liberation era (starting in 1948) to the present. One of the selected films perpetuates the image of a wholesome family, as was demanded by the societal norm at that time. But one of the films illustrates the suffering of petit- bourgeois families in the midst of Korean society’s tragedy. Another film exposes the contradictions in a family, a microcosm of the contradictions that exist in society at large. We believe our selection of films, which shows Korean families from different time periods, will be helpful in better understanding Korean society in more detail and depth.
Lee Young-mee
Critic and Adjunct Professor, Sungkonghoe Univ.
Yi Young Jae
Researcher, Center for Cross Culture Studies, Sungkyunkwan Univ.
Park Yuhee
Research Professor, Research Institute of Korean Studies, Korea Univ.
Maeng Su-jin
Program Director, DMZ Korean International Documentary Film Festival
Kim Kyoung-wook
Film Critic
Jang Byeong-won
Film Critic
Baek Moonim
Professor, Department of Korean Language and Literature, Yonsei Univ.
Lee Yeon-ho
Film Critic
Critic and Adjunct Professor, Sungkonghoe Univ.
Yi Young Jae
Researcher, Center for Cross Culture Studies, Sungkyunkwan Univ.
Park Yuhee
Research Professor, Research Institute of Korean Studies, Korea Univ.
Maeng Su-jin
Program Director, DMZ Korean International Documentary Film Festival
Kim Kyoung-wook
Film Critic
Jang Byeong-won
Film Critic
Baek Moonim
Professor, Department of Korean Language and Literature, Yonsei Univ.
Lee Yeon-ho
Film Critic
Greetings 4
Preface 11
Romantic Papa 29
Rainy Days 53
The Oldest Son 83
The Quiet Family 107
A Good Lawyer’s Wife 133
Family Ties 159
The Host 183
Punch 211
Preface 11
Romantic Papa 29
Rainy Days 53
The Oldest Son 83
The Quiet Family 107
A Good Lawyer’s Wife 133
Family Ties 159
The Host 183
Punch 211