In 2015, South Korea selected Lee Joon-ik’s “The Throne” as their official Oscar submission for Best Foreign Language Film. Based on the life of the Crown Prince Sado, it was crafted around a rather sadistic premise where said prince was ultimately forced to be locked up in a rice chest until death. Unsurprisingly, the Academy snubbed the film, as they have routinely done with Korean entries in the past. This year, however, the East Asian nation may finally have a chance with Kim Jee-woon’s “The Age of Shadows.” Exploring another dark period in Korea’s past, this handsomely produced spy thriller will surely prove to be more accessible and rewarding for general audiences.
Read more at The Awards Circuit