This year’s Korean box office hit, “A Taxi Driver,” is on track to be the most successful Korean film of the year. Directed by Jang Hoon, the movie stars veteran actor Song Kang-ho, who attended the 2002 Hawaii International Film Festival with his film, “YMCA Baseball Team.”
“A Taxi Driver” is one of the few Korean films to have sold more than 10 million tickets. Currently ranked as the 10th most successful film in Korea, it sold over 11.9 million tickets at last report and is expected to break 12 million.
It is now playing at Consolidated’s Pearlridge West and also at the Doris Duke Theatre as part of the Korean Cinema series, which will screen “A Taxi Driver” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $12.
Here is the synopsis provided by Honolulu Museum of Art:
“In the midst of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, a critical event in modern South Korea, Song Kang Ho (‘Snowpiercer’) plays a down-on-his-luck Seoul taxi driver hired by a German journalist (Thomas Kretschmann of ‘The Pianist’) who wants to cover the unrest. What begins as an easy fare becomes a life-or-death odyssey.”
THIS WEEK’S SYNOPSES
“Breezy Love”
Episodes 26-27
>> Today, 6:30 p.m.: Shinae acts the part of Deokcheon’s granddaughter. Hayeon asks Jango to go somewhere and they end up getting engaged. But Jango can’t shake Mipoong from his mind and decides to marry her.
>> Today, 7:45 p.m.: Mipoong and Jango marry but Keumshil refuses to acknowledge it. Cheongja discovers Shinae’s true identity and tries to kick her out. Shinae persuades her against it, saying the only way to get rid of her is to pay her off. Shinae is shocked when a child calls her “Mom.”
“Distorted”
Episodes 17-18
>> Monday, 7:45 p.m.: Suk-min is shocked to learn that Chul-ho’s killer is the man with a tattoo on his wrist. Moo-young is shocked to learn of Chul-ho’s involvement in the fabricated case five years ago. So-ra rushes to find Moo-young after confirming Chan-soo’s autopsy report.
Episodes 19-20
>> Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: The Splash Team seeks out Nam Kang-myung to determine the truth about the fabricated case. At that very same time, Yun-soo announces she’ll arrest Nam Kang-myung, who’s been living under the radar since the embezzlement. Suk-min and Yoo-kyung find puzzling info in Chul-ho’s note.
“Into the World Again”
Episodes 25-26
>> Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: An informant calls about a 12-year-old murder case. Hae-sung now has a lead to prove his innocence. Jung-won throws a surprise birthday party for Min-joon. Hae-sung and Min-joon attend a Chungho Department Store event and confront the flustered Chairman Cha.
Episodes 27-28
>> Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: Through the art teacher, Hae-sung and Jung-won discover the secret Tae-hoon’s mother has been hiding. Min-joon is shocked to see Hae-sung in Jung-won’s graduation album. He heads for Hae-sung’s gravesite.
“Band of Sisters”
Episodes 39-40
>> Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Ki-chan remembers assembling toy robots in a room as a child. He is in agony over the conflicted relationship he had with Gongryong Group. Se-kyung gets drunk and leaves Yong-ha in a burning house.
>> Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: Ki-chan sends the clothes he wore as a child to Chairman Goo, who is shocked and confronts Ki-chan. Ki-chan tells everyone he’s Se-ho’s close friend and that he made an association with the family for his friend’s sake.
Jeff Chung is general manager of KBFD-TV, which televises Korean dramas with English subtitles. Reach him at 521-8066 or jeffchung@kbfd.com.
