2022.12.27 Now Playing

“A Birth” Drama/ 151/ Korean/ Nov. 30 Kim Dae-gun, a curious young man whose actions speak louder than words, willingly accepts his destiny to become the first priest in Joseon, and goes on a trip abroad to Macau with his classmates...

Ahn Sung-ki, left, and Yoon Si-yoon, center right, in ″A Birth″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

“A Birth” Drama/ 151/ Korean/ Nov. 30

Kim Dae-gun, a curious young man whose actions speak louder than words, willingly accepts his destiny to become the first priest in Joseon, and goes on a trip abroad to Macau with his classmates from the seminary Choi Yang-eop and Choi Bang-je. At a time when foreign invasions continued inside and outside the country and the Opium War has not yet ended, Kim travels across the sea to finally open the way for modern Joseon. The film is directed by Park Heung-sik, who is also behind “Another Day” (2020), which is about a 20-something woman who enjoys a cup of hot coffee as her only solace from a day of hard work. Starring Yoon Si-yoon, Ahn Sung-ki, Yoon Kyung-ho and Lee Moon-sik.

Vicky Krieps, center, in ″Corsage″ [GREEN NAREA MEDIA]

“Corsage” Drama/ 114/ Austria, Luxemburg, Germany, France/ Dec. 21

Elisabeth, Empress of Austria, is the most famous woman in Europe, for her looks and power. But Elisabeth, who wants to escape from her cramped imperial family, tries to complete her self-portrait by taking off her corsage in search of freedom. Directed by Marie Kreutzer, director of “The Ground Beneath My Feet” (2019) and screened at Cannes for Un Certain Regard Best Performance, the film stars Vicky Krieps, Colin Morgan, Florian Teichmeister and Aaron Friesz.

Timothee Chalamet, left, and Taylor Russell in ″Bones and All″ [WARNER BROTHERS KOREA]

“Bones and All” Horror/ 131/ United States/ Nov. 30

A girl and boy both starving for love meet and feel the aches of first love. Eighteen-year-old Maren Yearly, played by Taylor Russell, sets out to find her mother, who she has never met before. In the midst of her despair, she meets Lee, played by Timothee Chalamet, and falls in love with him. Can Maren, who longs for a normal life, be with Lee until the end? Who will she find at the end of the road? Directed by Luca Guadagnino, who helmed “Call Me By Your Name,” (2017), “Suspiria” (2018) and the HBO series “We Are Who We Are.”

Lee Tae-kyung as Rael in ″Life of Haeok″ [TRIPLE PICTURES]

"Life of Hae-oak" Drama/ 97/ Korean/ Dec. 8 After graduating from a prestigious university, Rael moves to a new neighborhood to prepare for an administrative government entrance exam. Contrary to the expectations of her mother that Rael can pass the test in two years, Rael becomes a so-called "nth student," meaning that she fails to pass the exam for a number of years, and gradually loses self-esteem and wants to give. One day, her mother comes to her house with a "new name" for her — Hae-oak — so that she can pass the exam. But Rael isn’t convinced. Directed by Park Jung-hwan and starring Lee Tae-kyung and Jeon Guk-hyang.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]