December 28, 2009

“Looking at the ruins of humanity…

When I make films, I first sketch a brief synopsis in my mind, then I search for the right location. Thus, the story evolves and the script is completed while simultaneously location-hunting and creating the storyboard.

The organic nature of my filmmaking often weaves together complex thoughts, emotions, and psychological backgrounds. The true nature of humanity is rediscovered and recreated in that space of storytelling. In my autobiographical films, the characters are uncertain beings who follow a map I have created for them. At times, they’re forced to visit torn-down spaces to discover their own ravaged souls. Therefore the characters’ unique tenacity springs from a cinematic space.

I’m reminded of a saying from an unknown poet: “The ruins of a city are beautiful, but the ruins of humanity are truly breathtaking.”

I feel eager to swim deeply into the human psyche to discover and expose such beautiful ruins to others.

I heartily appreciate the work of Mi-Jeong Lee, the director of Cine-Asie, who has made my retrospective event a reality.”

Jeon Soo-Il

This retrospective is presented by Cine-Asie (Ciné-Asie Film Institute) with the support of the Korean Culture and Information Service of the Republic of Korea and Dongkyuk Film in association with Cinémathèque québécoise (Montreal), Royal Theatre (Toronto), Pacific Cinematheque (Vancouver), UCLA Film & Television Archive (Los Angeles), Canadian Film Institute (Ottawa), Smithsonian Institution (Washington D.C.), Cinema Studies Student Union (Toronto) and the New York University (New York).

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