One of the (many) problems filmmakers must face when they reach old age is being canonized. Rapidly, regardless of the merits of their work, they tend to become untouchable, and are surrounded by an entourage willing to celebrate their careers (as mediocre as they may have been) leaving aside any kind of analysis of criticism. That is not the case with Im Kwon-taek, who, at 79, reaches the 102nd film in his career. Old age and the passing of time are precisely the main themes in Revivre, whose plot tells the story of Oh Sang-moo, executive of an important cosmetic business that faces the imminent death of his wife and the appearance of desire represented through a new, young employee. Using narrative time leaps, the director avoids any possible suspense in this kind of plot, and abandons any glimpse of melodramatic excess, centering the story on the sentimental responsibilities of the protagonist. Like his characters, Im Kwon-taek doesn’t lose his desire: in his case, that of continuing to make unique, personal films. MA
D: Im Kwon-taek
G: Song Yun-hee
F: Kim Hyung-koo
E: Park Sun-duck, Steve M. Choi
DA: Ju Byung-do
S: Kim Suk-won
M: Kim Soo-chul
P: Shim Jae-myung
PE: Lee Eun
CP: Myung Films
Ahn Sung-ki, Kim Qyu-ri, Kim Ho-jung
Finecut. Kim Namyoung
T +82 2 569 8777 E ny@finecut.co.kr
W finecut.co.kr
He was born in Gwangju, South Korea, in 1936. Ever since his debut with Farewell to the Duman River (1962), he directed over a hundred films, including Surrogate Woman (1987), Chunhyang (2000) and Chihwaseon (2002; Best Director at Cannes). In 2002 Unesco gave him the Fellini Medal, and in 2005 he received an Honorary Golden Bear at the Berlinale.
