Alive (2014 South Korean Film)
Alive (Korean: 산다; RR: Sanda) is a 2014 South Korean drama film written and directed by Park Jung-Bum. The film was produced as part of the Jeonju Digital Project for the 15th Jeonju International Film Festival.
Plot
The narrative follows Jeong-Cheol, a man struggling to maintain his livelihood and support his family during a harsh winter. His sister, Su-Yeon, suffers from mental illness and desires to move to Seoul, while his niece, Ha-Na, aspires to play the piano despite financial constraints. Jeong-Cheol seeks stability in his personal life and employment, eventually finding work at a bean curd factory, which serves as a central point for the film's exploration of his daily hardships.
Production and Release
Alive was developed under the Jeonju Digital Project, an initiative by the Jeonju International Film Festival to support independent digital filmmaking. The film held its world premiere at the 15th Jeonju International Film Festival on May 4, 2014. Following its festival run, it received a theatrical release in South Korea on May 21, 2015. The film has a runtime of 160 minutes.
Festival Screenings
The film was screened at numerous international film festivals, including:
- 67th Locarno International Film Festival (2014)
- 39th Toronto International Film Festival (2014)
- 19th Busan International Film Festival (2014)
- 25th Singapore International Film Festival (2014)
- 44th International Film Festival Rotterdam (2015)
- 38th Göteborg International Film Festival (2015)
- 58th San Francisco International Film Festival (2015)