BLACK REPUBLIC
Synopsis
In a coal-mining town on the brink of shutdown, Tae-hoon (Moon Sung-keun), a student fugitive wanted for his involvement in the pro-democracy movement, hides under the alias Kim Ki-young and takes a job at a coal factory. As he tries to assimilate into the life of the working class, he encounters many marginalized individuals. Among them is Young-sook (Shim Hye-jin), a woman working at a café that secretly operates as a brothel, worn down by the abuse of Seong-chul (Park Joong-hoon) - a man consumed by violence and madness. Amid these harsh conditions, Tae-hoon and Young-sook form a deep emotional bond. Their growing affection leads them to make a bold decision to escape together - beginning a journey fraught with raw emotion and reflecting the social realities of a dark era in South Korea.
Director's biography
Park Kwang-su (born 1955) is the current Chairman of the Busan International Film Festival. He began his cinematic journey by joining the Yallasung Film Group while studying Fine Arts at Seoul National University. After graduation, he founded and led the Seoul Film Group, emerging as a leading figure in the New Korean Cinema movement of the 1990s. His acclaimed works - including Chilsu and Mansu (1988), Black Republic (1990), and A Single Spark (1995) - are considered milestones of Korean cinema, known for their powerful reflections on the social contradictions and dark realities of South Korean society. Beyond being an award-winning director with recognitions from prestigious platforms such as the Blue Dragon Awards, Berlin International Film Festival, Locarno International Film Festival, Three Continents Festival, and Singapore International Film Festival, etc. Park Kwang-su has played a pivotal role in shaping Korea's film industry. As one of the founding members of the Busan International Film Festival, he helped establish it as one of Asia’s premier cinematic events. He also held key leadership positions in the Busan Film Commission, contributing significantly to transforming Busan into a thriving hub for filmmaking in Korea.