The Roots of K-Movies: Korean Cinema Captivates New York in the 1970s… From “Whangnyeo” to “Spider’s Web”

A Korean film renaissance reborn at the heart of New York, “1970s Korean Film Special Exhibition”

Masterpieces that led the golden age of 1970s Korean cinema revive in the middle of New York, dramatically. The Korea Foundation for Cultural Exchange in New York announced on the 7th (local time) that, together with the Lincoln Center-affiliated “Film at Lincoln Center” and “Subway Cinema”, it will hold the “1970s Korean Film Special Exhibition” at the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center and at the foundation’s offices from the 15th through the 26th.

This special exhibition is carried out with full support from the Korean Film Promotion Committee (KOFIC). A total of 29 feature and short films that keenly capture the spirit of the times will meet American audiences. Masterpieces left a deep mark on the history of Korean cinema are featured in large numbers, including director Ha Gil-jong’s coming-of-age period drama “March of Fools”, director Kim Ki-young’s distinctive-aesthetic thriller “Whangnyeo”, and director Lee Man-hee’s pioneering action romp “Break the Chains”.

Notably, many of the screening titles have undergone meticulous restoration and digital remastering by the Korean Film Archive (KOFA). The vivid texture and visual beauty embedded in 1970s film are reproduced perfectly through today’s screen systems. This is a significant academic and cultural achievement that preserves and raises awareness of the historical value of Korean cinema at a world-class level.

Also in the spotlight are the early works of Korean cinema’s master director Im Kwon-taek, “Family Genealogy” (1978) and “Wangsimni” (1976), which are receiving concentrated reexamination. In addition, director Kim Ji-woon’s latest film “Cobweb” (2023), a tribute to the film-making landscape of 1970s Korea, will be given a special screening, offering an overwhelming cinematic experience that connects past legacy with modern cinema.