Program Note
In a basement comic book store in Garibong-dong, individuals with their own stories gather. Among them are Dong-pal, a gangster on the run, Ki-young, a student activist fleeing from the police, and Yu-jin, an aspiring writer. Though their reasons differ, for these people with nowhere else to go, the madam’s comic book store becomes a place to return to after sunset, a good place to hide, and a foundation for continuing their daily lives. Rosy Life, the feature debut of director Kim Hong-joon, who started his career in film on directing team of director Im Kwon-taek, centers around an old comic book store in a corner of Seoul and captures the diverse human figures pushed to the margins of society and the bleak landscape of the times. The comic book store, also a refuge for those with no place to lay their weary bodies, showcases the rich popular culture of the era and the oppressive period, vividly showing scenes such as watching movies on late-night illegal videotapes, a wholesaler reciting a list of legendary comic artists, the peaceful alleyways where people return with new books, and university students being chased by Baekgoldan for opposing dictatorship. The film serves as a detailed social and cultural report on Korean society in the 1980s. To mark its 30th anniversary, a restored version of the film will be specially screened. (MO Eun-young)