AMP's 100+1 Essential South Korean Movies
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"South Korean cinema, and particularly the mainstream part, has been developing at an uncanny pace since the beginning of the New Wave, which started during the last years of the 90s, and resulted in the renewed interest of local audiences for local movies. “Shiri” (1999) kickstarted the phenomenon by becoming the first film in South Korean history to sell more than two million tickets in Seoul alone. The success continued with a number of other blockbusters while by the 2000s, and particularly after “Oldboy”, the country’s cinema started to attract significant international attention. The “trend” continued during the next years, and currently, S. Korean film industry is considered among the top in the world, with directors that have shot movies in Hollywood (Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho) actors that have become international stars (Bae Doona, Lee Byung-hun) and awards from most of the top festivals in the world (Lee Chan-dong for “Burning” and Bong Joon-ho for “Parasite”)
However, in terms of inspiration and actual context, the roots of this trend can be traced in the 80s, when the end of the long period of dictatorship resulted in the release of almost two decades of compressed creativity, in another surge that continued until the beginning of the 90s.
Further back, the Golden Age of S. Korean cinema is placed between 1955 and 1972, when a number of films that are considered still among the best (“The Housemaid”, “Aimless Bullet”) were released.
With all that in mind, and on the occasion of the anniversary of 100 years of Korean cinema, we decided to list 100+1 S. Korean films that we believe are among the most notable the local industry has ever produced.
Thankfully, the Korean Film Archive has given us the opportunity to watch a number of films that were produced before the New Wave, dating back to the 1930, thus expanding our view of Korean cinema quite significantly. Unfortunately, we have not managed to watch movies that were produced before the split, and thus, this list is by no means complete regarding the whole history of Korean cinema. Furthermore, 101 is not an adequate number to present every noteworthy film since the 50s and thus, a number of excellent productions were not included (we will not tell you which).
In our effort, we included films not only for their sheer cinematic quality but also for their significance, while a number of titles were included just because we like them (they call it personal taste, I think). At some degree, we also tried to have diversity in the selection, both in terms of directors and context.
Without further ado, here are 101 films that we believe every cinephile should watch."
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53 new
Oldeuboi
2003 — a.k.a. Oldboy, in 34 top lists Check -
65 new
Gwoemul
2006 — a.k.a. The Host, in 11 top lists Check -
79 new
Ang-ma-reul bo-at-da
2010 — a.k.a. I Saw the Devil, in 3 top lists Check -
56 new
Janghwa, Hongryeon
2003 — a.k.a. A Tale of Two Sisters, in 5 top lists Check -
45 new
Yeopgijeogin geunyeo
2001 — a.k.a. My Sassy Girl, in 3 top lists Check -
55 new
Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom
2003 — a.k.a. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring, in 13 top lists Check -
49 new
Boksuneun naui geot
2002 — a.k.a. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, in 4 top lists Check -
59 new
Taegukgi hwinalrimyeo
2004 — a.k.a. Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War, in 3 top lists Check -
51 new
Salinui chueok
2003 — a.k.a. Memories of Murder, in 17 top lists Check -
57 new
Bin-jip
2004 — a.k.a. 3-Iron, in 9 top lists Check -
76 new
Bakjwi
2009 — a.k.a. Thirst, in 2 top lists Check -
61 new
Chinjeolhan geumjassi
2005 — a.k.a. Lady Vengeance, in 3 top lists Check -
66 new
Ssa-i-bo-geu-ji-man-gwen-chan-a
2006 — a.k.a. I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK, in 2 top lists Check -
101 new
Gisaengchung
2019 — a.k.a. Parasite, in 22 top lists -
90 new
Ah-ga-ssi
2016 — a.k.a. The Handmaiden, in 13 top lists Check -
97 new
Gokseong
2016 — a.k.a. The Wailing, in 2 top lists Check -
85 new
Pieta
2012, in 3 top lists Check -
70 new
Joheunnom nabbeunnom isanghannom
2008 — a.k.a. The Good the Bad the Weird, in 1 top list Check -
5 new
Hanyo
1960 — a.k.a. The Housemaid, in 8 top lists Check -
74 new
Madeo
2009 — a.k.a. Mother, in 9 top lists Check -
100 new
Beoning
2018 — a.k.a. Burning, in 8 top lists -
71 new
Chugyeokja
2008 — a.k.a. The Chaser, in 2 top lists Check -
35 new
Swiri
1999 — a.k.a. Shiri, in 3 top lists Check -
38 new
Seom
2000 — a.k.a. The Isle, in 2 top lists Check -
88 new
Moebiuseu
2013 — a.k.a. Moebius, in 0 top lists Check -
60 new
Nae meorisokui jiwoogae
2004 — a.k.a. A Moment to Remember, in 2 top lists Check -
50 new
Nabbeun namja
2001 — a.k.a. Bad Guy, in 1 top list Check -
41 new
Gongdong gyeongbi guyeok JSA
2000 — a.k.a. Joint Security Area, in 3 top lists Check -
54 new
Jigureul jikyeora!
2003 — a.k.a. Save the Green Planet!, in 4 top lists Check -
68 new
Milyang
2007 — a.k.a. Secret Sunshine, in 9 top lists Check -
46 new
Oasiseu
2002 — a.k.a. Oasis, in 5 top lists Check -
72 new
Kimssi pyoryugi
2009 — a.k.a. Castaway on the Moon, in 4 top lists Check -
37 new
Bakha satang
1999 — a.k.a. Peppermint Candy, in 5 top lists Check -
92 new
Ji-geum-eun-mat-go-geu-ddae-neun-teul-li-da
2015 — a.k.a. Right Now, Wrong Then, in 6 top lists Check -
39 new
Juyuso seubgyuksageun
1999 — a.k.a. Attack the Gas Station!, in 1 top list Check -
75 new
Shi
2010 — a.k.a. Poetry, in 7 top lists Check -
6 new
Obaltan
1961 — a.k.a. Aimless Bullet, in 6 top lists Check -
77 new
Ddongpari
2008 — a.k.a. Breathless, in 0 top lists Check -
78 new
Hwanghae
2010 — a.k.a. The Yellow Sea, in 1 top list Check -
36 new
Injeong sajeong bol geot eobtda
1999 — a.k.a. Nowhere to Hide, in 1 top list Check -
16 new
Iodo
1977 — a.k.a. Io Island, in 3 top lists Check -
81 new
Dwae-ji-ui wang
2011 — a.k.a. The King of Pigs, in 1 top list Check -
48 new
Keulraesik
2003 — a.k.a. The Classic, in 0 top lists Check -
67 new
Biyeolhan geori
2006 — a.k.a. A Dirty Carnival, in 1 top list Check -
89 new
Dohee-ya
2014 — a.k.a. A Girl at My Door, in 1 top list Check -
40 new
Siworae
2000 — a.k.a. Il Mare, in 2 top lists Check -
58 new
Baramui paiteo
2004 — a.k.a. Fighter in the Wind, in 0 top lists Check -
43 new
Chingoo
2001 — a.k.a. Friend, in 1 top list Check -
13 new
Chungyo
1972 — a.k.a. The Insect Woman, in 3 top lists Check -
73 new
Hahaha
2010, in 1 top list Check
Last updated on Feb 13, 2021; source