Year: 2022

A Brief History of K-cinema

Jae-Ha Kim

For many Westerners, Korean cinema didn’t enter their consciousness until the unparalleled success of the film “Parasite: in 2019. The gripping film deals with socio-economic discrepancies specific to modern-day South Korea, but the clever and sometimes brutal storyline hit a nerve with filmgoers worldwide. The film won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, an Oscar for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and a BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Go Away With … Natalie Zea

Jae-Ha Kim

“(In)  2021, I lived in the single most locked down city in the world – Melbourne, Australia,” said Natalie Zea, who stars in the NBC series “La Brea.” “Not only were we not able to legally travel outside the city limits, but we were restricted to being in our homes for all but two hours a day. That experience made myself and my family even more determined to see as much of Australia as we could once the lockdown lifted.”

“Narco-Saints” (수리남)

Jae-Ha Kim

Two Korean men move to Suriname in the hopes of making some fast money. Their goal is to buy skate, which Surinamese don’t want, for pennies and resell them in South Korea at an inflated price. But when cocaine is found in one of their shipments, both men are arrested and jailed.

Go Away With … Jim Babjak of The Smithereens

Jae-Ha Kim

More than 40 years into their career, The Smithereens are revving up for the Sept. 23 release of “The Lost Album” – a collection of songs they recorded in 1993 when they were in between record labels, but never shared with their fans. “(They were) truly forgotten, but were recently discovered because we are archiving all of our past recordings,” said guitarist Jim Babjak, 64, who resides in New Jersey. “It is important (to release them now) because it shows a snapshot of our progression as a band. There may be more tapes to be released in the future.”

Go Away With … Michael Lockwood

Jae-Ha Kim

“I have spent years on the road,” said Lions & Ghosts guitarist and songwriter Michael Lockwood. “I am so fortunate. I have seen a good deal of our planet. When you leave America, you realize that other countries speak of world news and events daily. I noticed this right away. It feels like when you are not at home, you see the bigger picture. It goes without saying that traveling is one of the best ways to broaden your horizons.”

“Seoul Vibe” (서울대작전)

Jae-Ha Kim

“Seoul Vibe” is full of backstabbing, murder and mayhem. Director Moon Hyun-sung does a commendable job at keeping the plot moving, but he knows that the wild car chases are the key to this movie.