Heosamgwan

South Korea, 2015

Korean with Czech and Engllish subtitles

Director: Ha Jung-woo

Starring: Ha Jung-woo, Ha Ji-won

Distributor: Finecut

Based on: Yu Hua – Chronicle of a Blood Merchant

In the winter of 1953, the simple worker Huh Sam-kwan (Ha Jung-woo) falls in love with beautiful Ok-ran (Ha Ji-won). But at a time, when people are barely able to feed themselfs, Sam-kwan has to sell his own blood so he can ask for Ok-ran‘s hand. 11 years later, they have three sons together, but a rumor spreads around the village that Sam kwan’s oldest son may not be his true son at all.

Chronicle of a Blood Merchant is an adaptation of the bestselling Chinese novel of the same name and her author Yu Hua soon became a prominent figure in Chinese literature. Director and lead actor Ha Jung-woo transfers his interpretation of the story into post-war Korea, where usually seriously conceived topics of blood donation and paternity he serves with absurd humor contrasting with the village life.

Chaesikjuuija

South Korea, 2009

Korean with Czech and English subtitles

Director: Lim Woo-seong

Starring: Chae Min-seo, Kim Hyun-sung, Kim Yeo-jin

Distributor: M-Line Distribution

Based on: Han Kang – The Vegetarian

Lim Woo-seong adapts the literary classic The Vegetarian by the respected Korean writer Han Kang, which won her the prestigious the Man Booker International Prize in 2016.

After a frightening dream, young housewife Yeong-hye (Chae Min-seo) stops eating meat. However, her new beliefs collide with her family and environment. Later, the pressure becomes unbearable and escalates into an episode which will change the lives of all involved a she engages in a visceral dialogue with the conservative thinking of Korean society.

Here, vegetarianism stands for an argument with rusty conservatism, the sturdy hierarchy of institutions such as family, and the Korean emphasis on patriarchy. Lim builds on the topics of the source material and moves it closer to body or social horror territory.

Da hong denglong gao gao gua

China, Hongkong, Taiwan, 1991

Chinese with Czech and English subtitles

Director: Zhang Yimou

Starring: Gong Li, Ma Jingwu, He Saifei

Distributor: Films Sans Frontières

Based on: Su Tong – Wives and Concubines

At the beggining of the 20th century, young student Songlian (Gong Li) becomes a concubine in the Chen family palace. She soon discovers that, between the cold walls of this luxurious place, concubines ferociously battle each other and omnipresent intrigue conspires to complicate Songlian’s life.

The grand Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou (Hero, 2002) creates a complicated web of hierarchized social relations in the empty hearts of luxurious walls. Based on Su Tong’s novel Wives and Concubines, this screen version engages in a sophisticated dialogue with the source material in order to expose the artificiality and hypocrisy of the opulent residency, which is more mysterious than it seems.

Se, jie

Taiwan, USA, China, 2007

Chinese and English with Czech and English subtitles

Director: Ang Lee

Starring: Tony Leung, Tang Wei, Anupam Kher

Distributor: Blu Sky Film

Eileen Chang – Lust, Caution

Ang Lee is probably the most internationally versatile Asian filmmaker working today. He is able to control Hollywood productions (Hulk, 2003), tastefully adapt traditional wuxia for western audiences (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 2000), or work with purely local material. The perfect example of the latter is his controversial film Lust, Caution in which a group of students try to assassinate an important political figure in Shanghai. Hong Kong legend Tony Leung takes the role of the “puppet politician”. Starring in the lead roles are Tony Leung and captivating Tang Wei.
Lust, Caution is based on the novel by the same name by Eileen Chang. Her stories are widely recognized not only for her phenomenal ability to create suspense but also for her precise reproduction of period atmosphere. Lee brought her fiction to the silver screen in splendid fashion with maximal understanding.

Lang Tuteng

China, France, 2015

Chinese and Mongolian with Czech and English subtitles

Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud

Starring: Feng Shaofeng, Shawn Dou, Ankhnyam Ragchaa

Distributor: Bohemia Motion Pictures

Based on: Jiang Rong – Wolf Totem

Young student Chen Zen (Feng Shaofeng) arrives at Inner Mongolia to live with shepherds. Everything changes when he meets local wolves and decides to raise one despite the spiritual and political restrictions. Jiang Rong wrote his book in 2004 and it became one of the most popular texts in China almost overnight.

A magical adventure that takes place in calm and beautiful Mongolian steppe, this film adaptation can be perceived as an experiment of sorts as Chinese narrative is told from the perspective of European filmmaker. Jean-Jacques Annaud kept all of the important aspects of the original text and his film is not only an inspirational co-production but a touching story as well.

Beoning

South Korea, 2018

Korean with Czech and English subtitles

Director: Lee Chang-dong

Starring: Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jeon Jong-seo

Distributor: Finecut

Based on: Haruki Murakami – Barn Burning

Aspiring writer Lee Jong-su (Yoo Ah-In) is going through an ambiguous romance with Shin Hae-mi (Jeon Jong-seo) only to gradually become obsessed with wealthy mystery man and love rival Ben (Steven Yeun).

Burning is a re-interpretation of a short story Barn Burning by Haruki Murakami from acclaimed South Korean director Lee Chang-dong. He has received plaudits worldwide for such previous works as the satirical Green Fish, or the structurally audacious Peppermint Candy. Burning is a hypnotic experience concerning an infinite absence, economic inequality, strange habits, and the search for creative inspiration. At once deliberately empty yet full to the brim, it’s a thrilling screen adaptation that leaves ample space for the viewer’s interpretation while playfully subverting crime story conventions.