Kim Ki-Duk: MoMA and Sad Dreams

With the first complete retrospective of Kim Ki-Duk’s oeuvre at the MoMa, from April 23 until May 8, the controversial Korean director has been museified alive, officially consecrated/sanctioned (sanctified?) by the prestigious New York institution – they did Artaud, so why not Kim Ki-Duk? This is quite the honor for the maverick filmmaker – for whom I have always had the greatest admiration, I must say – especially considering his persistent problems with the Korean press in the past. Then again, he has a consistent record of getting recognition from foreign critics and audiences: he received the Best Director awards at the Berlin International Film Festival, for Samaria (2004) and at the Venice Film Festival 3-Iron (2004). So honors are nothing new for him, but a major retrospective at such an established museum is something else entirely, in terms of status.

Fourteen films are screened at this showcase organized by MoMa’s Department of Film Senior Curator Laurence Kardish, and Hahn Dong-sin of Open Work, New York. Director Kim appeared at the screening of Breath for its U.S. premiere.