Ash Valley: Janyl is about Janyl who investigates strange behavior in livestock near a large oil rig. Something feels wrong, but her superior asks her to stay out of the investigation for her own safety. (PARK Sungho)

In the dead of night, Nadira escapes from a brothel in Delhi after fatally stabbing a police superintendent. With the law hot on her heels, she takes temporary shelter in a Northern Indian community of sex workers, assuming the Hindu name Renuka. There, she crosses paths with Devika, a young girl bound by a religious tradition condemning her to a life of prostitution. As their bond deepens into a forbidden romance, Devika defies her tyrannical mother and the oppressive age-old system, joining Renuka on a perilous journey through a treacherous maze of violence and brutality, all in the hope of outrunning the law and attaining their freedom. The Shameless is directed and written by Konstantin Bojanov. It was invited to the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, and Anasuya Sengupta who plays Renuka won the Best Performance Award.

In the early 20th century, Karoline, desperate to make ends meet while working at a textile factory that produces military supplies, suddenly finds herself out on the streets. Pregnant with an illegitimate child, she wanders through the alleys of Copenhagen, until Dagmar, offering a glimmer of hope, extends a helping hand. With the prospect of placing the child for adoption with a wealthy family, the two grow closer. However, the reality Karoline faces is far more wretched, and the truth about Dagmar is nothing short of horrifying. The Girl with the Needle feels like a strange and brutal fairy tale. In the woods, when a girl is lost and falls under the spell of a witch, what choice does she really have? Can it even be called a ‘choice?’ Throughout the consistently grim, monochromatic atmosphere, Karoline, with her weary expression, is not a girl dreaming of transforming a frog into a prince with a kiss. The girl with the needle clings to life, refusing to let go of her attachment to it, in a desolate attempt to escape the cruel wheel of misfortune. (Karen PARK)

This documentary chronicles the making of BTS leader RM’s second solo album, “Right Place, Wrong Person.” It tells the story of the final chapter of his twenties as he prepares for mandatory military service, and offers a deeply personal glimpse into the life of Kim Nam-joon. RM: Right People, Wrong Place opens with grainy shots that evoke a sense of nostalgia. It is a chronicle of youth, spanning from February 8, 2023, to November 10, 2023, with each section dated like a journal entry, documenting the progress of “Team RM’s” project. In a collaborative project that feels like a small festival, where like-minded friends with similar tastes come together to share burgers and whiskey, RM, or Kim Nam-joon, dreams of creating an album that is “entirely his own.” The film follows him as he travels to places where no one recognizes him, and the photographer captures him just as he is. RM: Right People, Wrong Place is both a film about the making of RM’s album and a very special record of a unique youth. (KANG Sowon)

The man in pajamas on the bed with a dog is Leos Carax. But it is also not him. This director’s double, who first appeared in Holy Motors (2012), moves from his room to a theater filled with ghostly spectators. In It’s Not Me, Leos Carax once again invites us on a dreamlike journey filled with the ghosts of cinema. The first of these ghosts is Jean-Luc Godard, whose voice plays through Carax’s answering machine. Carax collages archival footage of pivotal 20th-century events, such as the 1939 American Nazi Party rally at Madison Square Garden, with more recent images. Carax’s narration – distant and echoing just like Godard’s – overlaps with them. Carax and Godard share a pessimism about humanity’s future, observing how little we have learned from our past mistakes. It’s Not Me is also a personal reflection on Carax’s own cinematic history. Bad Blood and The Lovers on the Bridge... Here, too, the ghosts return: David Bowie and actors from Pola X, who have since passed. Yet It’s Not Me is not a mournful film. Carax’s daughter symbolizes hope, and the small puppet from Annette re-enacts Denis Lavant’s unforgettable sprint from Bad Blood. For Carax, the driving force behind his pursuit of cinema lies in youth and its vitality. (SEO Seunghee)

A Real Pain follows mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) who reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when old tensions between the odd couple resurface against the backdrop of their family history. A Real Pain is a 2024 comedy drama film, written, directed, and produced by American actor Jesse Eisenberg. With this funny and emotional drama, Jesse Eisenberg clearly displays impressive talent in directing and writing. Plus, Kieran Culkin delivers a superb performance throughout the film, stealing the show. When it premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, it became an audience favorite, with Jesse Eisenberg winning the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. A Real Pain is his second feature film after When You Finish Saving the World (2022).

When talking about the October 26 Incident of 1979, how many people remember Park Heung-ju, the secretary to the Director of the KCIA at the time? Land of Happiness brings to the forefront this man who was at the center of the incident but was quickly erased from history, executed by firing squad in just 16 days. Lee Sun-kyun portrays Park Tae-ju, a soldier inspired by this figure. From his resolute professional consciousness as a soldier who won’t abandon orders and rules, to the guilt of a man willing to pay the price for historical sins, and to the human spirit striving to remain dignified until the end. Lee Sun-kyun’s voice resonates deeper than ever, heavy yet calm; his proud profile cast in deep shadows; his posture upright and unwavering in the courtroom; his voice faintly trembling as if mixed with subtle tears in the final moments. We come to understand what it means for a single person to bear the full weight of history while caught in its whirlwind. This is Lee Sun-kyun’s final work. (JEONG Jihye)

At 24, Heewan (Kim Minha) struggles to find hope and the will to live. Then, her first love, Ramwoo (Gong Myoung), reappears after six years—but as a grim reaper. Ramwoo warns Heewan of her impending death and proposes that they spend her remaining week fulfilling her bucket list. Thus begins their week-long journey. The story traverses between their playful high school years and the present, weaving together a time-traveling adventure, a connection between the living and the dead, and a mix of secrets and love in this fantasy coming-of-age romance. Gong Myoung and Kim Minha gradually build the tender and poignant emotions of their characters. Directed by Kim Hyeyoung and Choi Hana, the talents behind two impressive debut features IT’S OKAY! (2023) and More Than Family (2020), with creator Roh Deok, known for her unique genre style, this drama offers everything from wit and depth to genre appeal. (JEONG Jihye)

Set in Southern Kazakhstan after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1993, Abel tells the story of a shepherd who faces new hardships when his collective farm is disbanded. When the farm where Abel spent his entire life herding sheep is disbanded in the wake of the changing political landscape, the farm’s workers wait for the farm property to be divided fairly. Unfortunately, corruption and deception run rampant among the leaders, and the rapid encroachment of capitalism proves too much for Abel and his family to handle. The film meticulously and realistically follows Abel and his family’s struggles with an unflinching, observational camera. The 13-and-a-half-minute one-shot scene in the first sequence, which intricately captures the dynamics between characters, and other well-crafted long takes showcase director Elzat Eskendir’s persistent and dedicated artistry. (PARK Sun Young)

Ernest Hemingway’s influential short story The Killers (1927), has been adapted to film by Robert Siodmak and Andrei Tarkovsky, while Edward Hopper’s painting Nighthawks (1942) is also said to have been inspired by the story. The Killers, an omnibus film comprised of four-shorts, takes motifs from these two classics and borrows some of their imagery as mise-en-scène. The 4 directors unfold the noir world of death and waiting with different senses and sensibilities. Kim Jong-kwan’s Metamorphosis, which depicts the awakening and manifestation of power following bloodsucking; Roh Deok’s Contractors, a pyramid of contract killings and subcontracted labor; Chang Hang-jun’s Everyone is Waiting for the Man, which tracks down a ghostly figure called a mysterious killer; and Lee Myung-Se’s Silent Cinema, an allegory of his longtime dream of cinema and the world. Notably, Actor Shim Eun-kyung appears in all four films, each time in a completely different role, adding to the delight. It’s an unconventional collection of emotional, psychological, and action-oriented films. (JEONG Jihye)

Method Acting is a film that deliberately aims to be funny, and its deadpan approach makes it even more amusing and poignant. The star in this remarkable comic film is, ironically, Actor Lee Donghwi (played by himself), who hates comic acting. Despite his efforts to reinvent himself, opportunities seem elusive, and he finds himself increasingly despondent. Unexpectedly, he receives a surprising offer to play a king in a traditional costume drama. Determined to perfect his portrayal of this majestic royal character, Donghwi dives into method acting. However, things quickly become unconventional in this historical drama. Method Acting skillfully balances the chaotic filming environment with family narratives, portraying the characters’ struggles while handling inventive elements with seamless precision, resulting in an outstanding comedy. Above all, the actors’ performances, which reach a level of trance, are truly exceptional. (HONG Eunmi)

In her first feature-length film following the shorts Romantic Machine (2019) and Coral Love (2022), director Lee So-jeong, who has consistently pushed the boundaries of cinematic imagery, expands her artistic vision to new depths and breadths. The film begins with a voiceover: “One day, a letter arrived with a reel of film. It was from him.” However, the film sent by “him” to “me” is blank, and “I” begin to discover other things within it. The voiceover, calm and precise, overlays images that seem more fitting for a scientist’s lab than an artist’s studio. While the letter from “him” and “my” voiceover invite the audience to imagine a certain fiction, the film rejects a human-centered, linear narrative. Because what captivates Lee So-jeong is the world of matter—cells, fossils, stars—that will persist even when humanity is gone. This film is a challenging cinematic experience where the voiceover sparks inspiration and unknown imagery awakens the senses. (KANG Sowon)