Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-Liang (left) on May 3 responds to questions on his “Walker” film series at a news conference as part of this year’s Jeonju International Film Festival at Best Western Plus Jeonju Hotel in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do Province.
By Xu Aiying
Photos = Xu Aiying
Video = Jeonju International Film Festival’s official YouTube channel
A Buddhist monk clad in a red robe slowly walks barefoot through several cities around the world without incident or saying a word. He begins his journey in Taipei, Taiwan, and walks to Hong Kong, Kuching, Malaysia, Paris, Tokyo, Japan, and finally Washington.
This is the premise of the 10-episode “Walker” series by Malaysian-born Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-Liang, who has selected Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do Province, to film the 11th installment.
At Best Western Plus Jeonju Hotel in Wansan-gu District of Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do Province, Tsai on May 3 made the announcement on Jeonju as the shooting location at a news conference on his series held on the sidelines of this year’s Jeonju International Film Festival.
The director gained international recognition after his film “Vive l’amour” (1994) won the Golden Lion, the top prize at the Venice International Film Festival, in the same year. All of his feature films have been invited to the world’s top three film festivals including that in Cannes, France.
Tsai also directed “Face,” (2009), the first film to be owned by the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Tsai’s relationship with the Jeonju festival began in 2001, when his first digital short, “A Conversation with God,” premiered as part of the Jeonju Digital Project at the festival’s second edition.
This year’s festival will be the world’s first to screen all 10 “Walker” installments. Tsai decided to take things a step further by cooperating with the organizers t produce the 11th edition.
“I only film my ‘Walker’ series in pretty and special cities,” he said. “It’s an honor for me to shoot the 11th episode in pretty Jeonju, and I hope audiences get to know Jeonju through my film.”
“I don’t know yet how to film it, but I believe a fun and good production will result,” he added. “I’ll devote a lot of time to looking around and studying Jeonju.”
Taiwanese actor Lee Kang-sheng, who has played the lead in all of Tsai’s films, also attended the news conference.
“I’ve walked around the world for a decade thanks to the ‘Walker’ series,” he said. “I’m very glad to walk in Korea, too.”
Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-Liang (left) and compatriot actor Lee Kang-sheng on May 3 take a photo while holding the program of the special exhibition of this year’s Jeonju International Film Festival at Best Western Plus Jeonju Hotel in Wansan-gu District of Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do Province.
Tsai spared no compliments for Korean films. Calling it “a great fortune” to showcase his series in Korea, he said, “Korea is so advanced in the cinema and drama sectors that if there’s a TV, you can’t avoid seeing Korean content anywhere in the world.”
On what Korean films or dramas he likes, the director said, “I enjoyed ‘Parasite’ and ‘The Glory,’ and I sometimes re-watch works by director Lee Chang-dong.”
“Korea has many outstanding Korean directors but even more great actors.”
xuaiy@korea.kr
