*

3.29.2009

the unlikely stars of old partner

The Los Angeles Times has an interesting story on Choi Won-kun and wife Lee Sam-sun, elderly farmers who became unlikely overnight celebrities after their appearance in the documentary Old Partner broke box office records in South Korea: To a South Korean farmer, this cow was sacred.

Old Partner chronicles two years in the lives of the hard-working couple as they await the death of the aging cow that has served them faithfully for 40 years. Doesn't sound very exciting, but the movie has shattered box office records, and has been heralded as a fable bout love, loyalty and rural Korean values.

The film has also made the couple reluctant celebrities. Since the movie's January premiere, the family's home has apparently been bombarded by curious visitors and photographers on a daily basis. This, of course, gets in the way of their daily routine. They just want to be left alone!

You can watch a trailer for the film on YouTube here, but without any English subtitles. I missed this film earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. Somehow, a South Korean documentary about an old farmer and his cow didn't make it on to my list of viewing priorities. Now, I really want to see it.