In this blog post, I will analyze how modern romantic comedies portray the contradictions of love, marriage, and patriarchy through the plot and characters of ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’, and explore the direction Korean romantic comedies should take. Introduction We all want to live happily. While everyone’s definition of happiness may differ, in many cases its source lies in...
“The War on Crime” and “Good Friends” are both crime films, so why do they offer different kinds of thrills?
In this blog post, I’ll compare and examine the structure of desire shared by “The War on Crime” and “Good Friends,” and how their differing cinematic realisms create distinct thrills and levels of immersion. The Challenges and Thrills of Crime Films Depicting crime in film is surprisingly tricky. While romantic dramas focus on the emotions of love, comedies on laughter, and horror films...
Why does ‘Art Museum by the Zoo’ make our hearts flutter even more in the fall?
In this blog post, we’ll analyze how director Lee Jeong-hyang’s ‘Art Museum by the Zoo’ (1998) uses its characters, narrative, and cinematic frames and devices to depict a love that blossoms gradually. Film Overview Title: ‘Art Museum by the Zoo’ (1998) Director/Screenplay: Lee Jeong-hyang Starring: Ahn Sung-ki, Shim Eun-ha, Lee Sung-jae, Song Sun-mi Runtime: 108...
How has the history of musical films evolved?
In this blog post, I will summarize the concept and characteristics of musical films, their historical background, trends by era, and narrative features. The Concept and Characteristics of Musical Films A musical film is a genre centered on song and dance, in which the characters convey their dialogue through singing and dancing. As popular theater and commercial cinema developed...
How do “numbers” in musical films interrupt the narrative and create an alternate reality?
In this blog post, we’ll explore how musical films intertwine narrative and performance to reconfigure space, props, and the audience, thereby creating the diverse forms and styles seen in films such as ‘Moulin Rouge’, ‘Chicago’, and ’42nd Street’. The Essence of the Musical Genre From Narrative to Musical Numbers Musicals create a distinct genre...
Is ‘Infernal Affairs’ a crime film rather than a true film noir?
In this blog post, I’ll examine how ‘Infernal Affairs’ can be systematically interpreted as a “crime film” in terms of imagery, characters, and plot, based on Thomas Schatz’s genre theory. Why Is It a Genre Film? I recently watched a Japanese film titled ‘The Disgusting Life of Matsuko’. Thanks to the dazzling colors that dazzled my eyes throughout the film and a...
What characteristics of the film noir genre does the ‘Infernal Affairs’ series exhibit?
This blog post focuses on the genre characteristics of Hong Kong film noir as exemplified by the ‘Infernal Affairs’ series and their variations. The Origins and Typical Characteristics of Film Noir Film noir originated when French critics began using the term to describe low-budget “B-movies” produced in Hollywood after World War II that featured crime or thrillers with a dark...
What effect do the fantasy elements have in the romantic drama ‘Bungee Jumping of Their Own’?
In this blog post, I’ll examine how the fantasy elements woven into the film ‘Bungee Jumping of Their Own’ amplify the emotions and narrative of the romantic drama. Why I Chose This Film I was drawn to unrealistic, cinematically expanded romantic dramas—that is, the “romantic fantasy” genre—rather than realistic ones. I found it intriguing that unrealistic love stories can...
What is the history of melodrama?
In this blog post, I will summarize the origins, evolution, and key issues of melodrama from a historical and genre-based perspective. The Pre-Genre Era and Feminist Criticism Feminist criticism has played a major role in reconstructing the gender politics of film theory by equating melodrama with the female-centered and female-oriented dramas of the studio era. For example, the narratives...
Why does the sadness in melodramas resonate more deeply in Wong Kar-wai’s “The Hand”?
In this blog post, I’ll first outline the definition and history of melodrama, as well as the reasons for its popularity, and then examine how these elements are emotionally brought to life in Wong Kar-wai’s short film “The Hand.” Definition and History of Melodrama There is a couple. They love each other. However, their family or society does not accept their relationship. Soon, trials...