Late director Kim Ki-young's family files suit to stop screening of 'Cobweb'

Movies

Published: 14 Sep. 2023, 14:44 Updated: 14 Sep. 2023, 16:36

Late director Kim Ki-young's family files suit to stop screening of 'Cobweb'

A scene from the upcoming film ″Cobweb″ [BARUNSON E&A]

The family of the late director Kim Ki-young filed for an injunction to stop the screening of the upcoming film “Cobweb,” saying the film, based on Kim, portrays him in a negative light.

The film's production company said the film is not a biopic based on Kim.

The Seoul Central District Court held a first hearing on Thursday to review the injunction suit filed by Kim Dong-yang, the director's son, against production company Anthology Studios.

Anthology Studios is the main production company behind “Cobweb.” The film is about a director in the 1970s who is on the brink of finishing a film and gets into conflict with his colleagues.

“Even director Kim Jee-woon, who made the film, has said in a past interview that he took the late director Kim Ki-young as [an inspiration],” Kim Ki-young's family reportedly said during the hearing.

Main poster for ″Cobweb″ [BARUNSON E&A]

“When 'Cobweb' was invited to the Cannes International Film Festival, the name of the central character was also 'Kim Ki-yeol,' rather than what it is currently — just 'Director Kim,' and the appearance of the character also wearing glasses and holding a pipe reminds people of Kim Ki-young.”

The family added that the character is portrayed negatively and is a clear violation of the personality rights of Kim Ki-young.

The production company Anthology Studios rebutted these allegations, saying that the film is not based on Kim Ki-young but pays homage to a number of directors in the 1970s and that “Cobweb” is not a biopic.

The production company also said that before the actual screening of “Cobweb,” there is a disclaimer announcing there is no relationship between the film and a specific person.

Meanwhile, “Mount Chiak,” another film that faced an injunction suit that was dismissed, is performing poorly and has only attracted 2,400 viewers as of Thursday.

The film, based on an urban myth in which people are killed and then their chopped-up bodies buried at Mount Chiak in Wonju, Gangwon, had been the subject of an injunction request by the city and several social groups.

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