BUSAN, Oct. 9 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean director's newest film on wounded souls at a psychiatric ward will close South Korea's largest annual film festival this week, organizers said Thursday.
"I am Happy," directed by Yoon Jong-chan, will be screened on Friday, the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) said in a press briefing. Tickets to the film sold out in just over seven minutes.
The film festival in Busan -- as the southeastern port city is now spelled in English -- has been held annually since 1996. It had opened this year on Oct. 2 for a nine-day run.
Based on the novel "Mr. Cho Man-deuk" by the late Lee Cheong-jun, who left an enduring mark on South Korea's contemporary literature and film industry, the story begins as troubled Man-soo becomes an inpatient at a psychiatric ward.
Man-soo, who tries to hide himself behind a world of his own, has a broken family and a gambler brother who comes to the hospital and bullies him. Soo-kyung, a nurse, who watches Man-soo everyday, has a troubled life as well. She has a broken heart and also tries to recover from sad memories of her family.
Director Yoon, who received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University in the U.S. , won numerous awards at film festivals both in and out of South Korea for his short films, including "Playback," "Memento" and "Views."
Credits: ygkim@yna.co.kr, image from empas.com
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