'ma šta vi znate, sirovine jedne!'

[Ghoul]

Director Kim Ki-duk has apologised for his recent rants against Korean audiences and current box office darling "The Host" made during an emotional talk show appearance. After bemoaning the poor domestic reception for his latest film "Time", the director had gone on to make allegations as to how Bong Joon-ho's creature feature had achieved its success, snidely referring to it as "the apex where the level of Korean movies meets the level of Korean audiences". Predictably, this led to a burst of criticism from internet users for the director, who hit back by saying that this had come "out of an inferiority complex demonstrating their level of understanding".

Kim has since shown remorse for his comments in an email to the press, with the message for Bong: "I hope that he can forgive my statements, which were unbecoming of a person who has been in the film world longer". With regards to his claims that he would no longer allow his films to be shown in Korea he said "After winning several awards and seeing them screened overseas, I took the arrogant attitude of trying to educate Korean viewers, and I later regretted saying things that should not have been said. I hope that the public can forgive my brutal way of expressing the point that this is a market where it is difficult to release lower-budget films". Finally, he offered the self-reflective thoughts "The scolding I got from the public made me look back at my films, and I'm starting to think that I made miserable, self-regarding films and exaggerated the dark and ugly side of Korean culture in an overbearing manner and so made audiences uncomfortable", and "I became aware of the fact that I'm consciousness-disabled, and that makes it very difficult to live in Korea".

Could these comments be a sign of a newer, more cheerful Kim Ki-duk? What next - a comedy?

[taurus-jor]

[Ghoul]

Korean helmer Kim Ki-duk has cast Japan's Joe Odagiri and Korea's Lee Na-young in his pic "Bi-mong."

Odagiri will play a man who dreams he caused a car crash -- then discovers a real hit-and-run accident. Lee plays the driver arrested by police as the prime suspect, though she claims she was not responsible.

Shooting starts today and is skedded to wrap Jan. 25. Kim's previous pics include "The Isle," "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter ... and Spring," "3-Iron" and "Breath."