[Korean Film News] Kim Ki-duk's Prison Drama "Breath" [숨]

Kim Ki-duk’s 14th film, Breath, which wrapped up on January 20th after only 15 days of shooting, tells the love story between a death-row inmate and a woman who witnessed her husband’s infidelities. The female lead is played by Park Ji-ah and the death row inmate by Taiwanese star Chang Chen (“Three Times”, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"). Korean actor Ha Jeong-woo (“Time”, “Never Forever”) plays the husband. Kim’s film may invite comparisons to last Fall's enormously popular melodrama “Maundy Thursday” ("Our Happy Time"), starring Lee Na-young. Filmed primarily in Sedaemun Prison in Seoul, the picture was completed in just 10 shootings on a budget of only 250 million won ($265,227). Breath sold to over 10 countries - Spain, Brazil, Russia, Italy, Mexico, Greece, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, Israel, and Turkey - before it even finished filming, and is expected to sell to as many as 20 territories by the time it screens in Cannes. North American distribution rights are held by Life Size Co., Ltd. Korean distributor Sponge, which released Kim’s last film "Time", will handle the picture’s local distribution. Kim’s films, while popular overseas and collecting prizes at major festivals, fail to do well in his own country. Resentment at the poor reception of his works by local critics and audiences led the director to issue a public statement last August not to release Breath in Korea unless his 13th film "Time" secured 200,000 admissions (it sold only 30,000). Kim’s remarks shook up the local film industry, sparking mixed reactions from critics and the media. As controversy spread, Kim sent e-mail messages to the local media, saying he would "sever ties" with local cinema circles. Kim has since retracted his pledge. Local release of Breath is scheduled for April 19.

Poster, stills, production shots, trailer

[Source: KOFIC, Donga Ilbo, The Korea Herald]