'The Journals of Musan' Triumphs at Rotterdam Festival

Published on 2011/02/11 | Source

Three feature films shared the Tiger Awards at the 40th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR – Jan. 26-Feb. 6), including "The Journals of Musan" by Korean director Park Jung-bum.

"The Journals of Musan", which also captured the FIPRESCI (international film critics) award, is about a North Korean defector who struggles to adapt after his flight to the South. It is Park's first full-length feature, and earlier also won prizes at the Pusan International Film Festival and the Marrakech Film Festival.

The Tiger Awards jury statement on "The Journals of Musan" read: "A strongly constructed narrative. A survivor's story. Throughout the film the character, immersed in an ethical disorientation, keeps a constant demeanor. A mature debut film for a new director. This social drama provides us with another dimension or perspective on the Korean situation".

On the occasion of IFFR's 40th jubilee edition, the Return of the Tiger Award was awarded to two filmmakers who got their start at the festival. One of the winners of the shared honors was Korean director Hong Sang-soo for "Oki's Movie". Hong won a Tiger Award in 1997 for his feature debut "The Day a Pig Fell Into the Well".