The poster gives it away already. During its 49th edition, Film Fest Ghent put South Korean cinema in the spotlight. On the poster is South Korean composer Jae-il JungJung, 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. Along with the music of five other compatriots, Jung's music could be heard during the concert Korean Composers on October 20th.
"South Korean cinema has long been one of the most interesting in the world. The fact that it's 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 like those by Hong Sang-soo. The cinema in South Korea is bursting with creativity and inventiveness, which results, among other things, in thrilling genre films."
To showcase these exciting films and their music, two programs were developed. A film screening program Focus on South Korean Cinema featuring films by Sye-young Park and Sang-soo Hong, among others, and a film music concert Korean Composers where Brussels Philharmonic under the direction of Dirk Brossé brought 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 only came out last year, but is already finding its way into this Classics program. 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 pleasing 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 managed to give me goosebumps as a listener.
© Jeroand Willems
Following works by Soo-chul Kim and Mowg, composer Byeong-woo Lee took to the stage. On a self-designed "dual guitar" Lee performed alongside the Brussels Philharmonic. Humor, sound experimentation and technical precision were central to his performance. The last composer of the evening was Cho Young-wuk. With works spanning almost two decades of film music, he closed out the night. You can read more about him shortly inan interview with Tim De Backer.
With six different composers, Film Fest Ghent showcased 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 wonderful feel for the music performed. Together with his Brussels Philharmonic, he managed to showcase the power of film music and moved both audience and composer alike.
WHAT: Korean Composers at Film Fest Gent
WHERE: Culture Center 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 October 20, 2022
© Jeroand Willems © Jeroand Willems © Jeroand Willems © Jeroand Willems © Jeroand Willems
