A small Canadian coup in Busan

The big Saturday night party at the 8th Pusan International Film Festival was Canada Night at O’Kim’s bar in the Chosun Beach Hotel. As the Molson beer flowed, some 350 invited guests from around the world had questions to ask (and answer). The top five:
Q: How did Canada manage to steal the prime Saturday night party spot, once owned outright by France?
A: It was thought that the French might be content with their Rendevous de Seoul film festival. Or perhaps France and Canada will host Busan parties in alternating years. Either way, guests missed French Night, held in a disco and overflowing with whiskey, champagne and perfume.
Q: As of the festival’s third night, what was the best movie?
A: The buzz among festival directors, critics and foreign correspondents was for “Memories of Murder” by the Korean director Bong Joon-ho.
Q. What about those “must-see” Korean movies?
A. Guests at Canada Night largely ignored the talk about the supposed A-list Korean movies: the costly costume drama “Untold Scandal,” “A Good Lawyer’s Wife” (even though it competed at the Venice Film Festival), “Spring, Summer, Fall and Spring” by Kim Ki-duk and “A Tale of Two Sisters” by Kim Jee-woon. One critic said she walked out of “A Tale of Two Sisters.”
Q. Who will be the star of the award-winning Hong Kong director Yonfan’s (of 2001’s “Peony Garden”) next movie?
A. Oh Ji-ho, Ju Jin-mo and Kwon Sang-woo were name-dropped. The production team from Hong Kong has been looking for the sexiest man alive from Korea ― acting skill is secondary ― to play the steamiest role in Yonfan’s upcoming movie.
Q. Who were the most important guests of the night?
A. See photos.

by Ines Cho