Yim Soon-rye (임순례) Women in Korean Cinema 2009

Washington University in St. Louis proudly presents Yim Soon-rye, one of Korea’s most critically acclaimed directors. This event, part of her tour of five institutions including The Smithsonian, features screenings of two of her films, plus a Questions and Answers session with Director Yim a!er each. The event is free and open to public.

April 14 (Tue), 7 pm April 15 (Wed), 7 pm

Yim Soon-rye

Director Yim Soon-rye (임순례)

Biography Born in 1960, Director Yim earned a Masters in Film Studies at the University Paris 8 in France. Her short “Promenade in the Rain” (1994), won prizes at the Seoul, Clermont Ferrand, and Fribourg film festivals. Forever the Moment (우리 생애 최고의 순간, Waikiki Brothers (와이키키 브러더스, Yim’s first feature “Three Friends” 2006), Brown Hall 118 2001), Brown Hall 100 (1996) won the award for best Asian film at the first Pusan Film Festival, The Athens Olympics are approaching and Waikiki Brothers is a band going and played at many other festivals Korea is looking for gold in every sport. nowhere. A!er another depressing gig, including Berlin, New Directors/New Korean women in particular have done well the saxophonist quits, leaving the three Films, Vancouver, Sea#le, Melbourne in almost all areas except for the overlooked remaining members (lead singer and and Karlovy Vary. Her most recent and stigmatized sport of Team Handball. guitarist Sungwoo, keyboardist Jungsuk, film “Forever the Moment” (2006) And when the team is assembled, it doesn’t and drummer Kangsoo) to continue on won the Best Film of the Year Award look promising when the players who show the road. The band ends up at Sungwoo's at the prestigious Blue Dragon Film up are women in their 30s and teens with hometown, Suanbo, which was a popular hot Award. piercing. Can this oddball group overcome spring resort in the '80s. Set in an era long their personal differences and hardships and before Karaokes, the band tries to break Selected Filmography somehow come together as a team? “Forever in at the Waikiki Hotel, and their gig at the 1996 Three Friends the Moment” features some of Korea’s most hotel nightclub starts well, until Jungsuk and 2001 Waikiki Brothers famous actresses, including Moon So-ri, Cho Kangsoo start to indulge their worst vices. 2003 The Weight of Her Eun-ji, Kim Jung-eun, and Kim Ji-young (From h#p://www.koreanfilm.or.kr) 2006 Forever the Moment Sponsors: East Asian Program, Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Lang. and Lit., International and Area Studies, Washington University in St. Louis

Screenings and Q & A with Director Yim