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 Lee Joon-ik's Blades of Blood and SAFE directed by Moon Byung-gon in 2013.
The 2010 historical film Blades of Blood directed by Lee Joon-ik, sets in the late 16th century, a time of extreme chaos when King Seonjo of Joseon suppresses people and the country is facing the threat of a Japanese invasion. Jeong Yeo-rib, Lee Mong-hak and Hwang Jung-hak create the Grand Alliacne with a dream of a better world. Lee kills the leader Jeong to be the new leader of the alliance and eliminate King Seonjo and eventually become the new King. The blind swordsman, Hwang tries to stop Lees ambition but Lee kills him and sets out for the capital city. However, when Lees alliance arrives there, King Seonjo is already gone, abandoning his kingdom and escaping from Japanese invasion, and Lee is finally killed by Japanese. The title of the film is also known as Like the Moon Escaping from the Clouds, representing Lee whose big innovative dream (Moon) was covered by distracting thoughts (Clouds) to become the King.
The film Blades of Blood will be shown on SBS on 10 May at 12.50 am.
The 2013 short film SAFE won the Palme D'or (Best Short Film award) at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013. The 13-minute film is about a female college student, Minji, who works as a currency exchange cashier at an illegal gambling place. She steals money from a customer to pay off her own debts but the gambler realises he has been cheated, he murders the boss of the place and approaches Minji who runs around looking for somewhere safe. She hides herself inside the safe in the office and escapes a danger, but ends up locking herself inside the safe. The film depicts the lives of people who find that the more they try to make money for a better environment, the more they are trapped in their environment.
The film SAFE is available at SBS On Demand website until May 22.
