London Korean Film Festival 2023: 5 movies not to miss from this year's event

This year’s London Korean Film Festival (LKFF) not only celebrates the 140th year of a relationship between Korea and the UK, but also 40 years of the Korean Academy of Film Arts.

Taking place from November 2-16, and across seven screening locations, LKFF is showing 40 different films.

Here is our pick of directors and films we think you should keep on your radar.

A Normal Family

The LKFF opened on November 2 at the BFI Southbank with director Hur Jin Ho’s A Normal Family. This adaptation of Herman Koch’s novel The Dinner centres on two wealthy families who meet for dinner to discuss and decide how to handle a violent crime committed by their children. Hur Jin Ho has won multiple awards, including the Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Director in 2007.

Nocturne

Jeong Gwanjo’s Nocturne is showing on Thursday November 9 at 6.30pm at the ICA. The documentary was filmed over 11 years and explores the dynamic within a troubled family: Eun Seongho, a talented pianist with autism; his supportive mother Minseo; and his neglected younger brother Geongi.

Mother Land

Park Jae-Beom’s stop motion animation Mother Land, which won awards at the Bucheon International Animation Festival and the Busan International Film Festival in 2022, narrates the tale of Mother Nature's decline, a young girl's quest to save the world, and the vitality of the natural realm, emphasising the value of safeguarding the ancient "mother's land”. Mother Land will be showing on Friday November 10 at 8pm at Picturehouse Central.

A Table for Two

Kim Boram's A Table for Two delves into the heart-wrenching connection between real-life mother and daughter Sang-ok and Chae-young. Exploring their history and present struggles, it highlights how women's bodies relate to social conditions and close relationships. A Table for Two will be screened on Saturday November 11 at 6pm at Picturehouse Central.

Dr Cheon and the Lost Talisman

Dr Cheon and the Lost Talisman, directed by Kim Seong-Sik, is a supernatural comedy-thriller in which a phoney exorcist is confronted with an authentic encounter with the supernatural. Dr Cheon and the Lost Talisman will be shown on Thursday November 16 at 6pm at BFI Southbank.

For further details and tickets, visit the London Korean Film Festival website.