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To the Starry Island
Park Kwang-Su | South Korea | 1994 | 102 min.

Acclaimed at the 1994 New York Film Festival, this film is one of director Park's greatest works. In Seoul, just before his death, an old man asks his friend, a poet, and his son to bury him on the distant island of Kwisong where he was born. This plan is thwarted when the islanders refuse to let the body come ashore. The poet, also an island son, tries to negotiate, and discovers past, unhealed wounds from the Korean War. Director Park says of this passionate, lyrical film: "I identify with the protagonist... a man who explores the naked truth of his childhood in order to find a way to forge ahead."

Shown at the 1996 Human Rights Watch Festival. Distributed by Fortissimo Film Sales, Marjan van der Haar, Herenmarkt 10-2, 1013 ED Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Tel: 011-31-20 627-3215 Fax: 01131- 20 626-1155.

Park Kwang-Su


Park Kwang-Su was born in Sokcho, Kanhwon-do in 1955. He grew up in Pusan in the southern part of Korea. While studying sculpture in Seoul at the National University, he began making short films on Super-8. After graduating, he founded the Seoul Film Group, which was instrumental in the development of the Korean independent film movement. Films coming out of this movement voiced significant opposition to the military government. He went on to study film at the ESEC Film School in Paris and on his return to Korea, worked as an assistant to Lee Chang-Ho on The Man with Three Coffins. His directorial debut, Chilsu and Mansu, is widely regarded as the cornerstone of Korea's "New Cinema." This and his subsequent features have been screened in many countries and have won numerous prizes at home and abroad. To the Starry Island set an important precedent for Korean independent production by attracting co-production financing from Britain's Channel 4 TV. Park's films all feature stunning and realistic cinematography and give a strong narrative voice to many of Korea's current social and political issues.

Filmography:

1988
CHILSU AND MANSU
International Forum of New Cinema, Berlin Film Festival; Third Prize of Young Critics Jury, Locarno Film Festival; Best New Director Prize at all three major festivals in Korea

1990
BLACK REPUBLIC
Best Director, Festival des 3 Continents (Nantes, France); Best Asian Feature, Singapore Film Festival; Grand Prix at all three major festivals in Korea

1991
BERLIN REPORT
In competition, Karlovy Vary Film Festival

1994
TO THE STARRY ISLAND
Audience Prize, Festival des 3 Continents (Nantes, France)

1995
A SINGLE SPARK
In competition, Berlin Film Festival; Grand Prix at all three major festivals in Korea

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