Korean virtual reality film 'Poet's Room' invited to Venice International Film Festival

VR film ″Poet's Room″ was invited to compete for the Immersive section of the upcoming Venice International Film Festival. [KOREA CULTURAL HERITAGE ADMINISTRATION]

Virtual Reality (VR) film “Poet’s Room” was invited to compete in the Immersive section of the 79th Venice International Film Festival, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) and Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation on Thursday.

“Poet’s Room” is a historical fiction film which spans between dreams and reality about the poet Yun Dong-ju (1917-45), known for his poetry of resistance against the Japanese colonialism during Japan’s occupation of Korea from 1910-45. The film portrays Yun’s dreams and anguish through nine of his poems.

The CHA and Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation organized the project for cultural heritages to be widely recognized worldwide. Director Bryan Ku, also known as Ku Bom-sok behind the VR content of Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” (2019), took helm of the film. Theater director Yang Jung-ung, who staged the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, participated in the production, and the voice of Yun Dong-ju was portrayed by actor Lee Sang-yoon.

“Through Korea’s digital technology, it will be a chance for our cultural heritage to be naturally introduced to the world,” said Kim Ki-sam, director of Cultural Heritage Contents at the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation.

Venice International Film Festival is known as one of the top three prestigious film festivals along with Cannes and Berlin.

“Poet’s Room” will have its world premiere during the festival run from Aug. 31 to Sept. 10.

The film is scheduled for local release sometime at the end of this year, and information such as trailers and the film summary can be viewed through the YouTube channel titled “K-Heritage. TV.”

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]