'Land of Happiness,' 'Freud's Last Session' and more films to see in cinemas

"Land of Happiness" marks director Choo Chang-min's return to the big screen after a six-year hiatus following "Seven Years of Night" (2018).

Still cut from upcoming film ″The Land of Happiness″ [NEXT ENTERTAINMENT WORLD]

Land of Happiness (12) Drama / 124 mins. / Korean / Aug. 14 The grandeur of history is often composed of smaller, intertwined narratives.

When Korea's former president and dictator, Park Chung Hee, was assassinated on Oct. 26, 1979, the nation briefly glimpsed the possibility of democratization. What followed, however, was a military coup on Dec. 12 of the same year. "Land of Happiness" delves into this tumultuous period, offering a broader perspective through the story of a man caught in the chaotic aftermath.

The late actor Lee Sun-kyun portrays Park Tae-ju, an agent of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency. On a pivotal night, Tae-ju is thrust into action when his superior pulls the trigger, leading him to storm the president's residence. The assassination is successful, but the ensuing political turmoil leaves Tae-ju in a precarious position. Jung In-hu, a lawyer played by Cho Jung-seok, fights to save Tae-ju from the disastrous political fallout. As the tension escalates, the question remains: Can the lawyer succeed in defending the disgraced agent amid the swirling political chaos?

"Land of Happiness" marks director Choo Chang-min's return to the big screen after a six-year hiatus following "Seven Years of Night" (2018). Choo made his directorial debut in 2005 with the comedy "Mapado: Island of Fortunes," and gained widespread recognition in 2012 with the historical fiction film "Masquerade."

Still cut from film ″Freud's Last Session.″ [SHARMILL FILMS]

Freud’s Last Session (15)

Drama / 110 mins. / English / Aug. 21 A timeless discussion: Does God exist, or is God dead?

In "Freud's Last Session," British writer C.S. Lewis, portrayed by Matthew Goode, meets the famed Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud, played by Anthony Hopkins, for an intense debate on the existence of God. Their meeting takes place under tense circumstances, just two days after the outbreak of World War II. Freud, in poor spirits, is particularly agitated by Lewis's abandonment of atheism in favor of Christianity.

Their conversation spans a wide range of topics, including Lewis's experiences as a soldier in World War I, his friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien and Freud’s relationship with his daughter Anna, played by Liv Lisa Fries. At this stage in his life, Freud is battling advanced oral cancer, a struggle that has left him unable to speak with his usual authority. The question looms: What resolution, if any, will this meeting between two great minds bring?

"Freud's Last Session" (2023) is a fictional portrayal of this imagined encounter between Lewis and Freud. The film is directed by Matt Brown, known for "Ropewalk" (2000) and "The Man Who Knew Infinity" (2015). It made its debut at the 2023 AFI Fest on Oct. 27, 2023.

Still cut from ″Victory″ [MINDMARK]

Victory (12)

Drama / 120 mins. / Korean / Aug. 14 A dose of nostalgia never hurts.

Pil-sun, portrayed by Lee Hye-ri, is a spirited country girl from Geoje, South Gyeongsang, with a deep passion for dancing. Determined to channel her enthusiasm, she decides to create the Millennium Girls cheerleading club. Joining her are her best friend Mi-na, played by Park Se-wan, and Se-hyun, a transfer student from Seoul played by Jo A-ram. Together, they aim to deliver the performance of a lifetime. While the girls are brimming with passion and dedication, enthusiasm alone isn’t enough to guarantee success. To make matters more challenging, the high school soccer team they’re supposed to cheer for is consistently at the bottom of the league. The team captain, Chi-hyeong, played by Lee Jung-Ha, has already accepted their dismal fate. However, the cheerleaders have no intention of wasting their energy on a team of perennial losers. The question is: Can the girls inspire the soccer team to turn their luck around? Director Park Beom-su first made his mark with the short film "Solo 36’" in 2008. His debut feature film, "Red Carpet" (2013), further established his career. "Victory" is Park’s latest work, coming just nine months after the release of his previous film, "Single in Seoul," in November 2023.

Still cut from film ″Revolver″ [PLUS M ENTERTAINMENT]

Revolver (15)

Crime, Thriller / 114 mins. / Korean / Aug. 7

They messed with the wrong woman.

Former police officer Ha Soo-young, played by Jeon Do-yeon, is out for revenge. Soo-young served time in prison instead of Andy, played by Ji Chang-wook, in exchange for a promised sum of money. After spending two years behind bars, she's now free. But the promised money is nowhere to be found, and Andy is unreachable. Everyone involved in the corruption case that landed her in prison has disappeared.

Soo-young no longer feels sorry for herself. She immediately sets out to retrieve the money. Then, a mysterious woman named Yoon-sun, played by Lim Ji-yeon, appears before her, offering help. With her trust shattered, what will Soo-young do?

"Revolver" marks director Oh Seung-uk's first film in nine years since the 2015 film "The Shameless." Jeon Do-yeon also starred in "The Shameless," earning the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Female Actor in the film category for her performance.

A still from disaster film ″Twisters″ [WARNER BROS. KOREA]

Twisters (12) Disaster, Action / 122 mins. / English / Aug. 14

Don't run from the storm; dive into it.

Kate Carter, portrayed by Daisy Edgar-Jones, is a storm chaser investigating a tornado outbreak in Oklahoma, trying various ways to stop the storm using chemicals. The storm overwhelms her, resulting in the deaths of her boyfriend and two friends. Completely devastated, Carter abandons her efforts and leaves town.

Five years later, Carter is working as a meteorologist at a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration office in New York. She receives an opportunity to test a new tornado scanning system back in Oklahoma. She teams up with Tyler Owens, a popular YouTube storm chaser played by Glen Powell, for this perilous mission. Everything seems to be going smoothly until the nightmare from five years ago starts to look eerily familiar.

Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, "Twisters" is a standalone sequel to the 1996 disaster film "Twister." The film comes four years after Chung's last film, "Minari," in 2020. Chung also wrote an episode for the third season of the popular Star Wars franchise TV series "The Mandalorian" in 2023.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]