“Failan” is a 2001 South Korean melodrama film Directed by Song Hae-sung. The movie is based on the Japanese novel “Love Letter” by Jiro Asada. The story revolves around the unlikely and heartfelt connection between a young Chinese woman, Failan (played by Cecilia Cheung), and an older Korean man, Kang-jae (played by Choi Min-sik). Failan … Read more
“Joint Security Area” is a 2000 South Korean mystery-drama film Directed by Park Chan-wook. The movie is based on the novel “DMZ” by Park Sang-yeon. The story is set in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a heavily fortified area that separates North and South Korea. In this tense and politically charged environment, a mysterious shooting … Read more
“Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War” is a 2004 South Korean war film Directed by Kang Je-gyu. The movie is also known simply as “Taegukgi” or “Brotherhood.” The story is set during the Korean War (1950-1953) and revolves around two brothers, Jin-tae (played by Jang Dong-gun) and Jin-seok (played by Won Bin). They come from a … Read more
“3-Iron” is a 2004 South Korean romantic drama film Written and Directed by Kim Ki-duk. The movie is also known as “Bin-jip,” which translates to “Empty Houses” in Korean. The film follows the unusual and enigmatic relationship between a young drifter, Tae-suk (played by Jae Hee), and Sun-hwa (played by Lee Seung-yeon), a woman trapped … Read more
“Densha Otoko,” also known as “Train Man,” is a 2005 Japanese romantic comedy film Directed by Shosuke Murakami. The movie is based on a true story and inspired by a popular internet forum thread that gained immense popularity in Japan. The story revolves around a young man known only as “Densha Otoko” (played by Takayuki … Read more
“The Great Yokai War” is a 2005 Japanese fantasy film Directed by Takashi Miike. The movie is inspired by the traditional Japanese folklore about yokai, which are supernatural creatures, spirits, and monsters. The story centers around a young boy named Tadashi Ino (played by Ryunosuke Kamiki), who is chosen to be the “Kirin Rider” and … Read more
“Paco and the Magical Book” is a 2008 Japanese fantasy comedy film Directed by Tetsuya Nakashima. The movie is based on the novel “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” by Kate DiCamillo. The story follows a quirky and eccentric woman named Harumi Hagiwara (played by Ayase Haruka), who works as a librarian in a small … Read more
“Honey and Clover” is a 2006 Japanese romantic drama film Directed by Masahiro Takada. The movie is based on the manga of the same name by Chika Umino. The story revolves around the lives and relationships of five art college students: Yuuta Takemoto (played by Sho Sakurai), Hagumi Hanamoto (played by Yuu Aoi), Shinobu Morita … Read more
“Dororo” is a 2007 Japanese live-action fantasy film Directed by Akihiko Shiota. The movie is based on the manga of the same name by Osamu Tezuka, which was originally serialized from 1967 to 1969. The story is set in feudal Japan and follows the adventures of Hyakkimaru (played by Satoshi Tsumabuki), a young warrior on … Read more
“Memories of Matsuko” is a 2006 Japanese drama film Directed by Tetsuya Nakashima. The movie tells the poignant and emotionally charged story of Matsuko Kawajiri (played by Miki Nakatani), a woman whose life takes a series of tragic and turbulent turns. The film begins with the discovery of Matsuko’s lifeless body in an abandoned building. … Read more