Art-house powerhouse Kim Ki-duk is known for his thought provoking, oddly plotted films. Dialogue is sparsely used, especially by the protagonists. This creates Kim’s trademark, atmospheric, sometime slow-paced stories.Kim’s most well known film is probably Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring… a tale which follows the life of a young apprentice monk as he learns life’s lessons the hard way. This film is typical, with actions used in lieu of dialogue. The entire film takes palce in and around a small floating monastery.
Kim is much more successful abroad than in his home of South Korea. In fact, recent comments he made during an interview more or less criticized Korean film audiences for their lack of, well, brains. Perhaps he said the statements out of bitterness stemming from his lack fame in his native land. Perhaps he is partially right. South Korea is the land of candy-pop, soap operas, and bland flicks aimed more at box office success than anything else. Kim apologized, kind of, in an email to several media outlets.
Kim will continue to make films. His latest, Time, will be opening soon in France, a country where he has enjoyed success. He has a dozen films already released on DVD in the US and Europe.
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