[Korean DVD News] Documentary "Between" [사이에서] (2006) Available For Preorder

Between, a documentary about Korean shamanism by Lee Chang-jae, is available for pre-order on DVD. The digitally-shot work received enthousiastic praise last spring at the Jeonju International Film Festival, an event which showcases digital, independent and art films, and attracted 23,000 admissions in theatres in the fall of last year, a respectable figure for a documentary film. Between focuses on a 28-year old woman who is unexpectedly possessed by a spirit, as seen through the eyes of an older shaman who can sense the woman's destiny. Shamanism, which dates back to prehistory, refers to a range of traditional beliefs and practices concerned with communication with the spirit world, and its practioners claim the ability to diagnose and cure human suffering. Shamanism is still practiced in South Korea, where the role of a shaman is most frequently taken by women known as mudangs, who are consulted for everything from financial dealings to marital decisions. Director Lee interviewed 90 shamans before meeting Lee Hye-gyeong, when he was certain he'd found the one he was searching for. She was reluctant at first, saying there had already been too many movies and TV programs about shamans, but eventually gave in. The director followed her with his camera for eight months, refusing to show Lee Hye-gyeong the work in progress. When she saw the finished work however, Lee Hye-gyeong was satisfied. Director Lee, a film professor at Chung-Ang University, first became interested in mudangs as a student at the Art Institute of Chicago, when a professor said to him that a mudang's ritual is like a complete drama, with an introduction, development, turning point and a conclusion. In 2003, another film about Korean shamanism by Park Ki-bok entitled Mudang: Reconciliation Between the Living and the Dead sold 7,000 tickets, attesting to a strong interest in the subject among the viewing public.

[Source: KOFIC, Wikipedia, Joongang Daily]

Poster, screen shots, etc.

Order DVD (Release date March 31)