Proof of Pinoys love for Koreanovelas lies on the local success of the Korean soap operas “Kim Sam Soon,” “Stairway to Heaven,” and “Lovers in Paris,” all of which have Filipino versions, too.

Korean movies are making waves not only here but also in Hollywood. Two of these are “Siworae” or “Il Mare” which became "The Lake House" starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, and "My Sassy Girl" with Elisha Cuthbert and Jesse Bradford.

Korean cinema, however, goes beyond either the heavy drama or lightheartedness of Koreanovelas.

A case in point is “Old Boy,” which leads the lineup of this year’s Korean Film Festival that is ongoing till Sept. 29 at the Shangri-La Plaza. The festival is being held in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Philippines-Korea diplomatic relations.

Released in 2003, “Old Boy” swept honors at South Korea’s Grand Bells Awards in 2004 and at other international film festivals including the Grand Prix at Cannes. It tells the story of Oh Dae-soo (played by Choi Min-sik) and how his quest for answers for his unwarranted 15-year imprisonment leads to the rediscovery of a schoolboy secret that has claimed a life, causes his present troubles and may imperil his future.

Director Park Chan-wook cooked up a bizarrely beautiful movie loosely based on a Japanese manga (or comics) that tests one’s tolerance for violence and raises provocative questions.

He showed total control of the material that the viewer remains glued, even in moments when the action waned, the twist turned illogical or the premise became unacceptable. Indeed, Chan-wook ensured that the entire production – particularly the editing, cinematography, and acting – was at par with his vision.

Choi Min-sik’s character, Oh Dae-soo, may be a drunk and a troublemaker but he is in no way deserving of being imprisoned in what appears like a cheap hotel room for 15 years. He is a picture of vengeful rage as he battles his tormentors but when his nemesis – the one who got him into the private jail – hits his Achilles’ heel at their final showdown, his defenses crumble and he is reduced to a wailing dog.

Dae-soo’s romantic interest, Mido (played by actress Gang Hye-jung) has the beauty, innocence, and tenacity that endear and engage the character to the viewer to the point that they worry for her should she find out about her lover’s secret.

Yoo Ji-tae played Oh Dae-soo’s nemesis, Lee Woo-jin, with coolness even if he’s behind the sinister plan and tenderness in scenes involving his character’s sister – the motivation for all the madness.

Aside from “Old Boy,” the rest of the lineup – “Barking Dogs Never Bite,” “Sa-kwa," “Beyond the Years,” “Driving with My Wife’s Lover,” “The Show Must Go On,” and “Forbidden Quest” – are worth checking out.