CELEBRATING CINEMA FILM CLUB:
OLDBOY INCL. INTRODUCTION
For this month’s Celebrating Cinema Film Club, we turn our focus to Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy (2003)—a cornerstone of the Korean New Wave that propelled South Korean cinema onto the world stage. In connection with our latest podcast episode on the movement’s bold aesthetics and storytelling innovations, this screening offers a chance to explore how Oldboy exemplifies the era’s fearless approach to genre. Revenge thrillers often follow familiar formulas, but Park subverts expectations at every turn, crafting a film that is as psychologically complex as it is visually striking.
Ahead of the screening, our podcast host Kiriko Mechanicus will introduce the film by unpacking its place within the Korean New Wave—examining its fusion of stylized violence, deep emotional resonance, and sharp social commentary.
Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy follows Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a man mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years and then set free without explanation. His relentless search for answers leads him down a path of shocking revelations and brutal confrontations. With its unforgettable performances, meticulous cinematography, and operatic intensity, Oldboy remains one of the defining films of 21st-century cinema—a testament to the daring spirit of the Korean New Wave.
