Shin Sang-ok, "emperor of Korea"

He became known as a director and producer in the 1960s, making his best films and setting up his own production company, Sin Films, which quickly became South Korea’s biggest. 

He was kidnapped in 1978 with his actress wife Choi Eun-hee and taken to North Korea, where he was forced to make films for the dictator’s movie-loving son, Kim Jong-il.  The couple escaped in 1986 and then emigrated to the US. 

Shin, who made scores of films with his wife, died on 11 April 2006 and is recognised as one of the greats of the country’s film industry.  His work will be shown in new or restored versions.

Screenings

Evergreen Tree (Sangnoksu, 1961)

Prince Yeonsan  (Yeonsan-gun, 1961)

The Red Gate (Yeollyeomun, 1962)

Tyrant Yeonsan (Pokgun yeonsan, 1962)

The Eunuch (Naeshi, 1968)

Other films

Les Renaissances du cinéma coréen by Hubert Niogret (2005)

Retrospective put together with the Korean Film Archive (KOFA) and the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) and made possible by Pierre Rissient.

Shin Sang-ok

© DR / Coll Cahiers du Cinéma