2009: Lost Memories2009: Lost MemoriesLee Si-myungLee Si-myung

Korean action filmsKorean action films

There are many elements of Hong Kong action movies in Korean action films, such as gansters, artistic use of gunplay, and acrobatic martial arts sequences.

However, Korean directors take these traditional elements and ‘genrebend’ them into new directions.

There are many elements of Hong Kong action movies in Korean action films, such as gansters, artistic use of gunplay, and acrobatic martial arts sequences.

However, Korean directors take these traditional elements and ‘genrebend’ them into new directions.

Korean action filmsKorean action films

The mother-of-all genrebenders, “Nowhere to hide”, combines the visual sensibilities of anime, police-procedural plotting, action sequences, and slapstick humorous antics.

This is the latest form of “Korean New Wave”.

The mother-of-all genrebenders, “Nowhere to hide”, combines the visual sensibilities of anime, police-procedural plotting, action sequences, and slapstick humorous antics.

This is the latest form of “Korean New Wave”.

2009 Lost Memories2009 Lost Memories

released, February 1,  2002science fiction action thriller filmdirected by Lee Si-myung Japanese filmmaker Shōhei

Imamura plays a historian4 award(s)

Dae Jong Award Festival 2002 Blue Dragon Film Awards 2002

released, February 1,  2002science fiction action thriller filmdirected by Lee Si-myung Japanese filmmaker Shōhei

Imamura plays a historian4 award(s)

Dae Jong Award Festival 2002 Blue Dragon Film Awards 2002

Plot summaryPlot summary

an alternative future where the Korean peninsula is still a part of Japan

Sakamoto is a Japanese Bureau of Investigation (JBI) agent of Korean birth

Saigo is his Japanese partner they try to solve a strange case

where Pro-Korean nationalist "terrorists" attempt to steal a strange archaeological artifact.

an alternative future where the Korean peninsula is still a part of Japan

Sakamoto is a Japanese Bureau of Investigation (JBI) agent of Korean birth

Saigo is his Japanese partner they try to solve a strange case

where Pro-Korean nationalist "terrorists" attempt to steal a strange archaeological artifact.

Plot summaryPlot summary

Sakamoto is later removed from the case because his father had some involvement with the terrorist group.

Sakamoto's desire to solve the mystery threatens the powerful Inoue Foundation.

This makes him more passionate to find out more on his own.

he discovers that reality isn't what it seems.

his new mission is to restore history to its rightful path.

Sakamoto is later removed from the case because his father had some involvement with the terrorist group.

Sakamoto's desire to solve the mystery threatens the powerful Inoue Foundation.

This makes him more passionate to find out more on his own.

he discovers that reality isn't what it seems.

his new mission is to restore history to its rightful path.

BackgroundBackground

The film shows an alternate history:suppose that Hirobumi Ito was not

assassinated by An Jung-geun in Harbin, China, in 1909;

In this case, Ito would guide Japan as an ally with the United States against Germany in World War II 

The atomic bomb would be dropped on Berlin in 1945

Japan would keep all of its wartime conquests and peacetime annexations, including Korea.

The film shows an alternate history:suppose that Hirobumi Ito was not

assassinated by An Jung-geun in Harbin, China, in 1909;

In this case, Ito would guide Japan as an ally with the United States against Germany in World War II 

The atomic bomb would be dropped on Berlin in 1945

Japan would keep all of its wartime conquests and peacetime annexations, including Korea.

BackgroundBackground

The film takes place in 2009, one hundred years after Ito should have been killed.

the theme of the film represents a desire in Korean cinema to "transcend time and memory“

This theme is reflected in contemporary films as Flower Island (2001), Il Mare (2000), and Bungee Jumping of Their Own (2001).

The film takes place in 2009, one hundred years after Ito should have been killed.

the theme of the film represents a desire in Korean cinema to "transcend time and memory“

This theme is reflected in contemporary films as Flower Island (2001), Il Mare (2000), and Bungee Jumping of Their Own (2001).

Opening scenesOpening scenes

The opening sequence shows the following differences in the historical timeline:

The March 1st movement is referred to as a terrorist uprising.

Japan joins U.N. Security Council as a permanent member in 1960.

Japan launches the Sakura 1 satellite in 1965. (Indicating that it was a huge player in the space race).

The opening sequence shows the following differences in the historical timeline:

The March 1st movement is referred to as a terrorist uprising.

Japan joins U.N. Security Council as a permanent member in 1960.

Japan launches the Sakura 1 satellite in 1965. (Indicating that it was a huge player in the space race).

Opening scenesOpening scenes

Nagoya is awarded the 1988 Olympics (instead of losing by one vote to Seoul).

Lee Dong-Gook is shown in a Japanese soccer uniform playing in the "2002 FIFA World Cup Japan" (not 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan).

Korea is never referred to as Hanguk 韓國 

the Republic of Korea, never existed. Instead it's called Chosen in Japanese,

and Choson in Korean.

Nagoya is awarded the 1988 Olympics (instead of losing by one vote to Seoul).

Lee Dong-Gook is shown in a Japanese soccer uniform playing in the "2002 FIFA World Cup Japan" (not 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan).

Korea is never referred to as Hanguk 韓國 

the Republic of Korea, never existed. Instead it's called Chosen in Japanese,

and Choson in Korean.

Differences in SeoulDifferences in Seoul

2009 Seoul is called ‘Kyongsong’ (경성 ,京城 ), a name for Seoul that fell out of use after Korea gained independence from Japan in real life.

The Governor General Building still stands in front of Gyeongbok palace (instead of having been demolished in 1996).

Gwanghwamun was never restored (instead of having been restored during Park Chung Hee's presidency).

2009 Seoul is called ‘Kyongsong’ (경성 ,京城 ), a name for Seoul that fell out of use after Korea gained independence from Japan in real life.

The Governor General Building still stands in front of Gyeongbok palace (instead of having been demolished in 1996).

Gwanghwamun was never restored (instead of having been restored during Park Chung Hee's presidency).

Differences in SeoulDifferences in Seoul

A statue of Toyotomi Hideyoshi on a horse in full samurai gear stands in downtown Seoul (instead of a statue of the man who defeated him, Yi Sun Shin).

The Chungmuro district of Seoul, where Sakamoto lives, is still called Honmachi, as it was during the Japanese rule.

Traffic flows on the left side, instead of on the right.

A statue of Toyotomi Hideyoshi on a horse in full samurai gear stands in downtown Seoul (instead of a statue of the man who defeated him, Yi Sun Shin).

The Chungmuro district of Seoul, where Sakamoto lives, is still called Honmachi, as it was during the Japanese rule.

Traffic flows on the left side, instead of on the right.

www.imdb.com: Not just an action movie

www.imdb.com: Not just an action movie

“To say this is just a great film doesn't really do it or those involved justice.“

“A great police drama with a sci-fi twist and great amount touch of heart and patriotism.”

“Not being familiar with any of the cast or crew involved or the overall history of Korea, I was surprised how much this movie touched me.“

“To say this is just a great film doesn't really do it or those involved justice.“

“A great police drama with a sci-fi twist and great amount touch of heart and patriotism.”

“Not being familiar with any of the cast or crew involved or the overall history of Korea, I was surprised how much this movie touched me.“

www.imdb.com: Not just an action moviewww.imdb.com: Not just an action movie

“Great action as in most Asian films.” “The cast did an amazing job, not least of

which was the young boy...I was truly moved.”

“Looking forward to seeing more from this director and cast.”

“I got a real sense of the patriotism the filmmakers wove into what could have been a standard action movie.”

“I will definitely recommend this movie to everyone I know.“

“Great action as in most Asian films.” “The cast did an amazing job, not least of

which was the young boy...I was truly moved.”

“Looking forward to seeing more from this director and cast.”

“I got a real sense of the patriotism the filmmakers wove into what could have been a standard action movie.”

“I will definitely recommend this movie to everyone I know.“

director and actorsdirector and actors

Director/writer: Lee Si-myungAlmost no info on the Internet

ActorName: Kil-Kang Ahn ...Myung-Hak LeeHangul: 안길강Birthdate: August 24, 1966Birthplace: South KoreaHeight: 185cmBlood Type: A

Director/writer: Lee Si-myungAlmost no info on the Internet

ActorName: Kil-Kang Ahn ...Myung-Hak LeeHangul: 안길강Birthdate: August 24, 1966Birthplace: South KoreaHeight: 185cmBlood Type: A

Actor: Dong-gun Jang Masayuki Sakamoto

Actor: Dong-gun Jang Masayuki Sakamoto

2004: Blue Dragon Film Awards - Best Actor : Taegukgi

2001: Blue Dragon Film Awards - Most Popular Actor 2001: Asia Pacific Film Festival - Best Supporting Actor:

 Friend 2000: Blue Dragon Film Awards - Popular Award 1999: Blue Dragon Film Awards - Best Supporting Actor 1997: Blue Dragon Film Awards – Best New Actor 1997: MBC - Best Actor for "Medical Brothers" 1997: Baeksang Art Awards - Most popular performer 1994: Baeksang Art Awards - TV's best new actor

2004: Blue Dragon Film Awards - Best Actor : Taegukgi

2001: Blue Dragon Film Awards - Most Popular Actor 2001: Asia Pacific Film Festival - Best Supporting Actor:

 Friend 2000: Blue Dragon Film Awards - Popular Award 1999: Blue Dragon Film Awards - Best Supporting Actor 1997: Blue Dragon Film Awards – Best New Actor 1997: MBC - Best Actor for "Medical Brothers" 1997: Baeksang Art Awards - Most popular performer 1994: Baeksang Art Awards - TV's best new actor

Actor: Nakamura ToruShojiro Saigo

Actor: Nakamura ToruShojiro Saigo

Birthdate: 1965-Sep-05 Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan Height: 184cm Star sign: Virgo Blood type: A

39th Daejong Film Festival (in Seoul, South Korea): Best Supporting Actor for "2009 Lost Memories" (2002)

12th Annual Japan Academy Awards: Lead role in the winner of The Most Talked About Movie Award (Abunai Deka 2, 1989)

11th Annual Japan Academy Awards: Lead role in the winner of The Most Talked About Movie Award

25th Annual Golden Arrow Awards: Best Actor (1987) 32nd Annual Eran'Dor Awards: Best New Actor (1987)

Birthdate: 1965-Sep-05 Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan Height: 184cm Star sign: Virgo Blood type: A

39th Daejong Film Festival (in Seoul, South Korea): Best Supporting Actor for "2009 Lost Memories" (2002)

12th Annual Japan Academy Awards: Lead role in the winner of The Most Talked About Movie Award (Abunai Deka 2, 1989)

11th Annual Japan Academy Awards: Lead role in the winner of The Most Talked About Movie Award

25th Annual Golden Arrow Awards: Best Actor (1987) 32nd Annual Eran'Dor Awards: Best New Actor (1987)