K-Nonblockbusters: ‘Awaiting’ and ‘The King of Jokgu’

A scene from The King of Jokgu

A scene from The King of Jokgu Source: Getty Images

Korean Non-Blockbusters We Cant Miss explores well-made Korean films but which were not successful at the box-office. This week's films include a Kang Je-gyu's 2014 short film, Awaiting and Woo Moon-gi's 2013 film, The King of Jokgu.


The film, Awaiting with running time of 28 minutes is written and directed by Kang Je-gyu. The short film was made to remember separated families from South and North Korea who are living with the pain of longing. A young woman Yeon-hee has missed and waited for her husband, Min-woo since they separated 60 years ago after the division of Korea. She has dementia and is losing her memory, but serves up grey mullet soup and a variety of side dishes on the table every night, as she believes that Min-woo will return home someday. One day, she travels to North Korea for the family reunions but it is unfortunately cancelled.

 

The low-budget independent film, The King of Jokgu encourages today's youth only eager and struggling to build careers, but losing their romantic and youthful days. The cheerful comedy film depicts pure passion of youth through a 24-year-old student who loves playing Jokgu (foot volleyball). Man-sub, majoring in food and nutrition, returns to his college after the military. He has poor record of academic performance and has no TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) scores that every university student has. However, his endless love for Jokgu changes the atmosphere of the campus and the students also become crazy about Jokgu.

 

 


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