"For almost 50 years, master director IM Kwon-taek has chronicled the tremendous events of Korea's twentieth century through the detached lens of the camera. This comprehensive volume of essays, interviews and biographical information from renowned film critic CHUNG Sung-ill delves deeply into the man behind the epics ""Sopyonje,"" ""The Taebaek Mountain,"" and ""Chihwaseon."" IM was born in 1934 in Jangseong, Jeolla Province, and lived through the Japanese colonial occupation, the polarization of the political factions that led to the Korean War, decades of dictatorship, the dawn of democracy, and a rapidly changing society forgetting its past. This volume is a brilliant orchestration of the historical backdrop for IM's works with insight into the film director's psychology and personal experience. Korean Film Directors Created by the Korean Film Council, this series offers deep insight into key directors in Korean film, figures who are not only broadening the range of art and creativity found in Korean-produced commercial films but also gaining increasingly strong footholds in international markets. Each volume features: - critical commentary on films - extensive interview - biography - complete filmography"

"CHUNG Sung-ill formerly served as Concurrent Assistant Professor at the Korean National University of Arts’ School of Film, TV, and Multimedia, and as a Visiting Lecturer at the Korea Film Academy. He is an honorary member of the editorial committee for the weekly magazine Cine 21, and has served as Editor-in-Chief of the monthly film magazines Road Show (’89-’92) and Kino (’95-’00). He has also served as a member of the executive committee for the Seoul Short Film Festival (’93-’96) and served as Program Coordinator for the Jeonju International Film Festival (’99-’00). His written works include Korean Film Research 1: IM Kwon-taek (1987, Oneul) and IM Kwon-taek Speaks of IM Kwontaek (2003, Hyeonmunseoga). CHUNG is also author and compiler of Kim Ki-duk, Wilderness or Scapegoat (2003, Haengbokhan Chaekilkki) and the Japanese edition of Kim Kiduk, Wilderness or Scapegoat (2005, Byakuya Shobo). For 30 years, CHUNG has immersed himself in the life and works of director IM Kwon-taek. CHUNG has confessed it is through IM he came to realize the meaning of film, and praises IM as the father of modern Korean cinema."

"Preface His Thoughts 1: Eyewitness to History (1962-1992) His Thoughts 2: Returning to His Roots (1993-Present) Interviews Biography Synopsis Filmography Endnotes References About the Author"