4 In the Name of the Son, a movie released to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement, is gaining popularity, ranking first in pre-booked ticket sales among Korean films released around the same time, Gwangju City Hall announced. According to the Korean Film Council’s movie ticket tally, Director Lee Jung-gook’s latest film topped the list of Korean films in number of pre-booked ticket sales on May 11 and was released in 392 movie theaters nationwide the following day.
Gwangju City News
MONTHLY NEWS
From the Gwangju Metropolitan City website (http://gwangju.go.kr)
May 18 Movie In the Name of the Son Is Big Hit
Gwangju City Hall, along with the Gwangju Information and Culture Industry Promotion Agency, supported the production of this feature film last year in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of May 18. The movie follows the story of a man determined to take revenge on those with no remorse in order to keep the promise he made to his son, telling the tale of the perpetrator’s remorse and apology, and the restoration of the victims’ honor. In the Name… revolves around events of May 1980 in Gwangju, whose facts still remain unclear and which is still a topic of heated discussions. The movie drew great attention even before its release also due to the large number of nationally famous actors involved in it, including Ahn Sung-ki, Yoon Yoo-sun, and Park Geunhyung. Prior to the movie’s release, on April 30, special Gwangju previews of the film were held at the Gwangju Terminal’s CGV and the Gwangju Theater. They were attended by the leading actors Ahn Sung-ki and Yoon Yoo-sun, as well as the director, Lee Jung-kook, who also met with Gwangju citizens.
www.gwangjunewsgic.com
June 2021
Director Lee Jung-kook, who made a name for himself through his films The Letter and Blue, debuted in 1990 with the movie Song of Resurrection, which is based on the events of May 18, and also produced the short film Remember and the feature film Reflection on the same topic.
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Director Lee said, “Most movies about May 18 deal with the topic from the victims’ point of view. Therefore, in In the Name of the Son, I began with the questions ‘What were the perpetrators who received those orders like?’ and ‘Why did those in charge at the time not reflect on themselves?’” He also added, “What I intended as the core message of the movie is that a life without self-reflection is not worth living.” Kim Joon-young, head of the Gwangju City Culture, Tourism, and Sports Department, said, “I hope that May 18 will become a milestone of democracy, human rights, and peace while sympathizing with the Gwangju spirit of sharing and solidarity and of historical value through this nationally released film.”
2021-05-26 �� 9:29:55
