Dancing on the edge of crime and action, with a frequent glimmer of comedy, is Ryoo Seung-wan’s newest cinematic offering, Smugglers. Set in South Korea during the 1970s, Seung-wan grants the audience a riveting and immersive glimpse into the era, using a vibrant colour palette and a retro soundtrack to aid in its facilitation. It’s the 1970s, and South Korea’s … Read More
Ryoo-Seung wan trained his flashlight on a familiar sunken treasure chest, scraped off the barnacles, and crowbarred it open. After nearly a decade, the South Korean filmmaker decided it was time to rekindle the youthful exuberance that catapulted him to action-auteur status. The shadow of twentieth century atrocities that darkened his previous two films has been replaced by soft summer … Read More
Smugglers is director Ryoo Seung-Wan’s fresh attempt at a crime thriller and action-comedy that captures many of the desired characteristics of the genre that fans are looking for: well-placed comedic moments and expertly choregraphed action sequences that are not for the faint of heart. Do not be fooled, however, as this is not your typical heist film. Smugglers diverts from … Read More
Occasionally, I will watch a scene in a film and think, “this is something I never knew I needed to see, but I am very glad I did”; and I am sure, like myself, many people had this exact thought when watching the final underwater fight scene in Ryoo Seung-Wan’s crime-drama-action film, Smugglers. Set in the 1970s in a … Read More
Ryoo Seung-wan Smugglers blew me away. With the combination of the film’s mise-en-scene, cinematography, and captivating storyline, I was left inspired by Ryoo Seung-wan’s attention to detail. In a way I find that many action/thriller movies lack; Smugglers was able to make this genre of movie artful. Along with these elements, Ryoo Seung-wan accompanied a violent crime film with a clever, … Read More
From ILO ILO to his latest film, The Breaking Ice, marks Anthony Chen’s tenth year in the industry and showcases his ability to capture and convey the subtle nuances of everyday emotions. Throughout his career, Chen has demonstrated a talent for depicting ordinary life with delicacy and a slow, flowing pace, and this film is no exception. In The Breaking … Read More
Ranking among the iconic images of international cinema is the euphoric sprint across the footbridge in Francois Truffaut’s Jules et Jim. Shot straight-on using a handheld camera that trembles in tune with their every stride, the moment captured the dynamic between Jules, Jim, and Katherine and sang the spontaneous spirit of the Nouvelle Vague. Singapore filmmaker Anthony Chen cites Truffaut … Read More
Anthony Chen’s The Breaking Ice is a hauntingly beautiful film illustrating the relationship between three young adults who navigate their personal struggles through an unexpected, briskly blooming friendship. One is held down by the trauma of losing their lifelong dream; Another held back by their lack of education and an inability to improve their everyday experience; The other successful in … Read More
Life is unpredictable; we can never truly know who will waltz into our lives next, and how they might change the trajectory of it forever. In Anthony Chen’s quiet and cold drama, The Breaking Ice, he observes three young people as they merge into each other’s lives and question childhood memories, present relationships, and the possibilities of the future. Though … Read More
The Breaking Ice, directed by Anthony Chen, demonstrates the piercing realities of getting older. Each character must face the painful reality of life. The protagonist, played by Liu Haoran, worked hard his entire life to become successful until he realized that success was meaningless to him. Nana, played by Zhou Dongyu, dreamed of being an Olympian until she was injured. … Read More
