“Art movies are difficult and complex”: Kyuhwan Jeon, Director of ‘Lost Horse’

Goa:28/11/24; Three captivating films from South Korea, Hungary, and Panama have delighted cinephiles at the 55^th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Featured in the Cinema of the World section were the South Korean film Lost Horse by Kyuhwan Jeon and the Spanish-language Panamanian film They Call Me Panzer by Rodrigo Quintero Arauz. The Hungarian film Lesson Learned, directed by Bálint Szimler, is also competing for the ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi Medal. The directors of these films participated in a press conference today.

Lost Horse

Jeon Kyu-hwan’s film portrays the struggles of an elderly man, Kim, whose 20 cherished horses mysteriously vanish from his pasture on Jeju Island. Learning that illegal immigrants are butchering stolen livestock in the forest to sell meat, Kim forms a crackdown squad to raid the area.

Discussing his film, Jeon revealed the challenges of creating an independent movie, noting the difficulty such films face in gaining recognition despite the global popularity of K-dramas. He emphasized the complexity of art films but credited OTT platforms for enabling their production. “I am fortunate to have supportive producers and the opportunity to showcase my films at festivals like IFFI,” he said.

They Call Me Panzer

Panamanian filmmaker Rodrigo Quintero Arauz’s film draws inspiration from the life of Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez, the legendary Panamanian and Tenerife footballer, showcasing his passion, perseverance, and the transformative power of sports. Rommel tragically passed away in a car accident in 1993 at just 27.

Rodrigo highlighted the film’s focus on Rommel’s balancing of family responsibilities. “Rommel became Panzer when he left Panama,” the director noted. Many who knew Rommel personally contributed to the film, including his sister Jacqueline, who shared key moments from his life. Rodrigo described the film’s turning point as Rommel’s decision to leave his family to pursue his dreams. “‘A film on dreams and family love’ is how I’d sum it up,” he said.

Speaking about the film industry in Panama, Rodrigo said that it is difficult to screen movies for a longer duration in his country. Hence, people don’t get many opportunities to see movies there. “In the country with a small population of 4 million people, there are hardly 100 filmmakers”, he added.

Lesson Learned

Hungarian filmmaker Bálint Szimler’s ‘Lesson Learned’ reflects his aim to create films that serve as a mirror to society. The story follows Juci, a young teacher challenging outdated school methods, and Palkó, a newcomer struggling to adapt to Hungary’s demanding education system. “Their personal stories offer insight into an oppressive system, reflecting the broader Hungarian society,” Bálint explained.

Bálint, who moved from the U.S. to Hungary at age nine, drew from personal experiences of adapting to a new education system. “The education system is doubly oppressive. As a society, we’ve grown accustomed to rigid rules. I felt compelled to highlight these issues through film,” he said.

Nineteen producers collaborated on the project, completing the script and shooting in just five months. Lesson Learned had its Asia premiere at the 55th IFFI.

Watch the Press conference here: