검은 머리 (Black Hair). 1964. Directed by Lee Man-Hee

Film

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검은 머리 (Black Hair). 1964. South Korea. Directed by Lee Man-Hee. With Moon Jeong-suk, Jang Dong-hwi, Lee Dae-yub, Kim Woon-ha. In Korean; English. 105 min.

Lee Man-hee’s brooding crime melodrama marks a pivotal moment in Korean cinema’s transition from postwar reconstruction narratives to psychological realism. Moon Jeong-suk delivers a haunting performance as Yeon-sil, the wife of a ruthless gangster (Jang Dong-hwi), who is cast out after she is raped by a blackmailing opium addict. Her husband’s rigid criminal code demands punishment, leaving her scarred and forced into prostitution. Working within the constraints of 1960s Korean studio production, Lee demonstrates remarkable formal sophistication, employing stark chiaroscuro cinematography and expressive CinemaScope compositions that suggest the influence of both film noir and German Expressionism. The film’s unflinching examination of violence against women within patriarchal power structures—unusual for its era—scandalized contemporary audiences but established Lee as one of Korean cinema’s most important auteurs. Lee and Moon later married.

This film accompanies Seoul After Dark: Personal Memories of Korean Cinema.

Past events

Mon, Feb 16, 4:00 p.m.

MoMA, Floor T2, Theater 2

The Roy and Niuta Titus Theater 2
Sat, Feb 7, 4:30 p.m.

MoMA, Floor T2, Theater 2

The Roy and Niuta Titus Theater 2

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