The poster already revealed it. Film Fest Gent spotlighted South Korean cinema during its 49th edition. On the poster is South Korean composer Jae-il Jung, known for his scores for Parasite and Squid Game. For the first time, a composer appeared on the campaign image to also highlight the art of composition. Together with the music of five other compatriots, Jung's music was heard during the concert Korean Composers on 20 October.
"South Korean cinema has been one of the most interesting in the world for some time now. The fact that it is now so popular only confirms that. Moreover, South Korea has a very diverse film culture, with grand spectacles, gritty crime thrillers, stories with delightful twists, but also smaller films such as those by Hong Sang-soo. Cinema in South Korea is bursting with creativity and inventiveness, which among other things results in exciting genre films."
Wim De Witte • Programme Director Film Fest Gent
To highlight these exciting films and their music, two programmes were developed. A film screening programme Focus on South Korean Cinema featuring films by Sye-young Park and Sang-soo Hong, among others, and a film music concert Korean Composers in which Brussels Philharmonic conducted by Dirk Brossé performed iconic soundtracks.
The concert opened with a specially orchestrated version of "Way Back Then" from Squid Game (2021) composed by the man on the poster, Jae-il Jung. The series came out only last year, but is already finding its way into this Classics programme. This was followed by two early works by Jung, including "The Belt of Faith" from the Oscar-winning Parasite (2019). The work is described as a mini-symphony because of its pleasant fusion of classical and other styles.
This was followed by an impressive display of musical rhetoric. Hye-seung Nam's "Mr. Sunshine" from the film of the same name (2018) made phenomenal use of rests and silences to build tension. The viola and cello solos prove how powerful the music is on its own. Even without images, they gave me goosebumps as a listener.
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After works by Soo-chul Kim and Mowg, composer Byeong-woo Lee took a place on stage. On a self-designed "dual guitar", Lee performed with the Brussels Philharmonic. Humour, sound experimentation and technical precision were central to his performance. The final composer of the evening was Cho Young-wuk. With works spanning almost two decades of film music, he closed the evening. You can read more about him soon in an interview with Tim De Backer.
With six different composers, Film Fest Gent demonstrated the quality and musical diversity of South Korean cinema. Maestro Dirk Brossé was the perfect conductor to bring this repertoire to life. With his background as a versatile composer, he has a great feeling for the music performed. Together with his Brussels Philharmonic, he managed to convey the power of film music and moved both the audience and the composer.
WHAT: Korean Composers at Film Fest Gent
WHERE: Cultuurcentrum De Bijloke
MUSIC: Jae-il Jung, Yeong-wuk Jo, Byeong-woo Lee, Hye-seung Nam, Soo-chul Kim, Mowg
PERFORMERS: Brussels Philharmonic conducted by Dirk Brossé
WHEN: Thursday 20 October 2022
© Jeroen Willems © Jeroen Willems © Jeroen Willems © Jeroen Willems © Jeroen Willems
