Seoul Int'l Women's Film Fest to explore 'villainesses' in cinema

The 28th Seoul International Women's Film Festival is set to open on August 20th, featuring a special program that delves into the complex history and portrayal of female antagonists in cinema. Titled 'Mad or Bad: The Sociology of the Villainess,' this exhibition will present eight films that trace the lineage of 'villainesses' from mythological figures to contemporary genre characters.

The selected films explore how societal norms and expectations surrounding female desire, power, and physicality have influenced the creation and evolution of these characters. The lineup includes a diverse range of works, such as Pier Paolo Pasolini's 'Medea,' Alice Diop's 'Saint Omer,' John Cassavetes' 'A Woman Under the Influence,' and Isabelle Huppert's vampire tale 'Blood Countess.' Korean films like 'Save the Green Planet!' and 'My Dear Enemy' are also featured, alongside 'Ugly Sister' and 'Carmen.'

Hwang Hye-rim, the festival's executive programmer, stated, "We want to ask, through these works, why certain women are called 'mad or bad women,' and how we can re-examine those labels today." The festival aims to provide a platform for critical discussion on the representation of women in film and the societal constructs that inform these portrayals.

In addition to the 'Villainess' program, the festival will host a special exhibition on Japanese women filmmakers, showcasing seven representative and new works from four directors across different generations. Another significant retrospective will honor the late Korean actress and producer Kim Ji-mee, a prominent figure in Korean cinema, by re-examining key films from her extensive career. The festival will run until August 26th at Megabox Sinchon and the Korean Film Archive, screening 121 films from 33 countries.

“

We want to ask, through these works, why certain women are called 'mad or bad women,' and how we can re-examine those labels today.