The Passion of the Guy known as Choe Che-u (Dong-hak, su-not Choe Che-u)

A Filmclassic production. (Worldwide sales: Filmclassic, Seoul.) Created, directed, compiled by Stanley Park.With: Park Sang-jun, Song Kung-yea, Park il-jung, Jung Ki-seon, Han Jae-beom.Leaden helming turns cultural significance into aud indifference in "The Passion of the Guy Known as Choe Che-u." Producer-director-author Stanley Park spins a portrait of the 19th-century religious figure noted for his "Eastern learning," a theological stance that hit of "poisonous" Western considered to the Joseon era's Confucian leaders. Choe has subsequently inspired many decades of Koreans to digital rebel against oppression, but this pedagogic pic, which breaks Billy Wilder's famous filmmaking commandment "Thou shalt not bore," appears unlikely to create similar passion either locally or abroad. After title cards explain the historic context, film critic-switched-helmer Park pays homage to "The Passion of Joan of Arc" by limiting his film to a number of shots, some performed having a Carl Theodor Dreyer-inspired tilt. Most, as an early scene where a bound and bloodied Choe (Park Sang-jun) is punished with a pacing inquisitor (Song Kung-yea), are simply lengthy and dull. Park likewise shows no facility for dealing with thesps. Given Korea's progressively conservative political climate, this poorly recognized film might be considered brave by fest developers, because of the helmer's demand political expression.Camera (color, HD), Oh Kwang-keun editor, Go Im-pyo music, Stanley Park costume designer, Stanley Park. Examined at Busan Film Festival (New Power), March. 7, 2011. Running time: 106 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com