`Flowery Island` By Song Il-Gon Competes in Venice Film Festival

The debut film of director Song Il-Gon, `Flowery Island,` is officially invited to the competition area of the 58th Venice Film Festival, recording the fifth invitation of Korean film to Venice. The predecessors of `Flowery Island` list `Membrane` by Lee Du-Yong, `Surrogate Mother` by Lim Kwon-Taik, `The Lie` by Chang Sun-Wu, `Island` by Kim Gi-Deok. However, the invitation of a debut film is exceptional.

The `Flowery Island` will compete with 20 films of the internationally renowned film directors including Woody Allen and Eric Rohmer in Venice.

The plot of `Flowery Island` is a journey of three women to `Flowery Island,` which is legendarily known as a place free from sorrows. The movie will open in September. A short film `The Picnic` by director Song won a Grand Prix by the screening committee of the Cannes Film Festival in 1999.

Kang Sue-Jean sjkang@donga.com