Korean director Shin Sang-ok passes away.
Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 12:22 pmfrom screendaily.com
Korean director Shin Sang-ok dies aged 80
Jean Noh in Seoul 12 April 2006
Master Korean cineaste Shin Sang-ok passed away at the age of 80 late last night (April 11) in Seoul. With a career that spans the modern history of Korea, his life has often been compared to a film script itself.
Born in Cheong-jin (now in North Korea) in 1925 during the Japanese occupation, Shin studied art at the University of Tokyo before he started directing films in 1952. He married his wife and life-long muse, the famous actress Choi Eun-hee, the next year and spent a lifetime making films noted for their humanism, social commentary, innovativeness and sensuality.
In Jan 1978, his wife was kidnapped to North Korea while working on a film in Hong Kong. Six months later, Shin Sang-ok was also kidnapped, and subsequently made five films in North Korea.
In 1986, the couple made a dramatic escape through the US embassy in Vienna. They lived in the US until 2000 when they returned to South Korea. In the meantime Shin had produced several US films under the name of Simon Sheen.
His most recognised works include Mother And The Houseguest, Seong Chunhyang and Evergreen Tree, all starring Choi Eun-hee, and historical drama Prince Yonsan. Also of note are the five films he made in North Korea, including Salt and Bulgasari – the latter of which received a South Korean release in 2000, 15 years after production.
“His whole life was about films,” says his widow Choi Eun-hee. “Whenever or wherever, he wanted to make films, and he was like a phoenix [rising up again from the ashes].”
International retrospectives spotlighting the late director’s works include one at the Pusan International Film Festival in 2001, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2002, and the Cannes retrospective screening of Evergreen Tree in 2003. He also sat on the juries of Cannes and the Deauville Asian Film Festival.
In addition to establishing a production company and film academy of his own, the late Shin was also a professor at Dong-ah Broadcasting College.
After a successful liver transplant two years ago, the late director suffered ill health and finally succumbed late last night. He is survived by his wife and children, who have been receiving a long line of mourners from the Korean filmmaking community, as well as much attention from the press. His funeral is to take place on April 15.
Korean director Shin Sang-ok dies aged 80
Jean Noh in Seoul 12 April 2006
Master Korean cineaste Shin Sang-ok passed away at the age of 80 late last night (April 11) in Seoul. With a career that spans the modern history of Korea, his life has often been compared to a film script itself.
Born in Cheong-jin (now in North Korea) in 1925 during the Japanese occupation, Shin studied art at the University of Tokyo before he started directing films in 1952. He married his wife and life-long muse, the famous actress Choi Eun-hee, the next year and spent a lifetime making films noted for their humanism, social commentary, innovativeness and sensuality.
In Jan 1978, his wife was kidnapped to North Korea while working on a film in Hong Kong. Six months later, Shin Sang-ok was also kidnapped, and subsequently made five films in North Korea.
In 1986, the couple made a dramatic escape through the US embassy in Vienna. They lived in the US until 2000 when they returned to South Korea. In the meantime Shin had produced several US films under the name of Simon Sheen.
His most recognised works include Mother And The Houseguest, Seong Chunhyang and Evergreen Tree, all starring Choi Eun-hee, and historical drama Prince Yonsan. Also of note are the five films he made in North Korea, including Salt and Bulgasari – the latter of which received a South Korean release in 2000, 15 years after production.
“His whole life was about films,” says his widow Choi Eun-hee. “Whenever or wherever, he wanted to make films, and he was like a phoenix [rising up again from the ashes].”
International retrospectives spotlighting the late director’s works include one at the Pusan International Film Festival in 2001, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2002, and the Cannes retrospective screening of Evergreen Tree in 2003. He also sat on the juries of Cannes and the Deauville Asian Film Festival.
In addition to establishing a production company and film academy of his own, the late Shin was also a professor at Dong-ah Broadcasting College.
After a successful liver transplant two years ago, the late director suffered ill health and finally succumbed late last night. He is survived by his wife and children, who have been receiving a long line of mourners from the Korean filmmaking community, as well as much attention from the press. His funeral is to take place on April 15.