Archive of films Pruning the Grapevine / Podo-namulul be-a-ra

South Korea
2006, 115 min

Section: Official Selection - Competition
Year: 2007

An intimate drama about a young man trying to decide between earthly love for a girl named Sue and a career as a Catholic priest. The cool tonality of the shots of the Korean countryside and the monastery interiors harmonises perfectly with the aesthetically austere, nonetheless suggestive direction, which mediates the young man’s internal conflict and his fear of making the most important decision of his life.

Synopsis

Catholic seminary student Soo-hyeon is having a hard time deciding whether to stay on the road to priesthood or give in to his earthly love for a girl named Sue, whom he has just abandoned even though he still loves her. He takes advantage of a visit to his sick mother to look for Sue, but she refuses him. The persuasive rector reverses Soo-hyeon’s decision to leave the seminary with a proposal that he undergo a catharsis in the monastery. The doubting youngster’s new-found peace is lost however when he sees novice Helena, whose similarity to Sue awakens his defused emotions. The cool tonality of the shots of the Korean countryside and the monastery interiors harmonises perfectly with the aesthetically austere, nonetheless suggestive direction, which mediates the young man’s internal conflict and his fear of making the most important decision of his life. The lead role is played by rising star of Korean film Seo Jang-won, whose acting debut in the film The Unforgiven was shown at last year’s Karlovy Vary IFF.

About the director

Min Boung-hun (b. 1969, Korea) studied film at Moscow’s VGIK. After making several shorts he and Tajik director Jamshed Usmonov shot their feature film debut The Flight of the Bee, which was awarded at a number of international festivals (best film, the FIPRESCI award, and the Audience Award at the 16th IFF in Turin, among others) and was also screened at the Karlovy Vary festival. The next film by the talented director, Let’s Not Cry was first released to an international audience at the 37th Karlovy Vary IFF (2002) where again it won over not only film critics (FIPRESCI award) but also the main jury (Special Mention). His most recent film, Pruning the Grapevine, is the climax of a trilogy that examines the phenomenon of fear.

Contacts

Film Messenger
504, E-starville 1, 1480-5, Kayang-dong Gangseo-gu, 157-807, Seoul
Korea (Republic of)
Tel: +82 2 366 144 29
Fax: +82 2 265 986 76
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.filmmessenger.com

Cine Space
B 1, Sejung Bldg., 20-2 Nonhyun-dong, Gangnam-gu, 135 010, Seoul
Korea (Republic of)
Tel: +82 2 344 550 88
Fax: +82 2 344 568 57
E-mail: [email protected]

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About the film

Color, 35 mm
International premiere

Section:	Official Selection - Competition

Director:	Min Boung-hun
Screenplay:	Min Boung-hun, Yoo Dong-sik
Dir. of Photography:	Kim Hyung-ju
Music:	Song Hyun-ju
Editor:	Min Boung-hun, Park Hyun-chul
Producer:	Son Hyeon-wook, Seo Jong-hwan
Production:	Cine Space
Cast:	Seo Jang-won, Kee Joo-bong, Lee Min-jung
Contact:	Film Messenger, Cine Space

www:	www.filmmessenger.com

Guests

Choi Yoonhee

Distributor

Min Boung-hun

Film Director, Film Director

Seo Jang-won

Actor, Actor

Kim Jong-kun

Producer

Ahreum Jun

Distributor

Renee Lim

Distributor