'The Old Woman With the Knife' invited to Beijing film fest
Director Min Kyu-dong's action-thriller "The Old Woman With the Knife" has secured an official invitation to the 15th Beijing International Film Festival's Panorama section, marking another international recognition for the film following its screening at the Berlin International Film Festival and Brussels Fantastic Film Festival.
The Beijing International Film Festival, to take place April 18-26, ranks alongside the Shanghai International Film Festival as one of China's premier cinema events. "The Old Woman With the Knife" will screen out of competition in the Panorama section, the festival's most eclectic program known for showcasing films of artistic merit across genres.
Min expressed his excitement about the invitation. "I'm thrilled that 'The Old Woman With the Knife' will be screened in Beijing. I hope the film's entertainment value and emotional depth will resonate with audiences there," he said.
The film's selection carries additional significance as Korean productions have historically had a limited presence at Chinese film festivals. It follows the 2024 invitation of box office hit "Exhuma" to the festival's Midnight Thrill section.
"The Old Woman With the Knife" stars veteran actor Lee Hye-young as Hornclaw, an aging killer with nearly five decades of lethal expertise. Her carefully controlled life begins to unravel when she encounters Bullfight (Kim Sung-cheol), an ambitious young killer whose obsessive pursuit suggests motives far deeper than professional rivalry.
The 131-minute film, based on Gu Byeong-mo's bestselling novel, features the 61-year-old Lee in an unconventional role that puts an older woman at the center of an action-driven assassin narrative. Following its world premiere at Berlin in February, the film is scheduled for release in South Korea on May 1.
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