This weekend, the Hawaii International Film Festival -- the best film fest you should have heard of by nowi -- holds its second KFEST, putting on eight contemporary Korean films at the Dole Cannery Theaters in Honolulu (in the Iwilei Neighborhood). HIFF decided to do the second KFEST after last year's event fared quite well and also because Korean hallyu cinema is now maxing out art houses serving the bi-coastal set and even making inroads in the U.S. heartland. These movies are at turns surreal, at turns hilarious. My pick is, alas, a sequel; "My Boss, My Teacher." Protagonist Dook Sik must reconcile his odd and engaging bi-polar existence as a senior in college and ethics class instructor by day, bumbling thug by night. Some reviewers have said is a little slow but you can't please everyone. Tix are selling out fast so best to grab them online ASAP. (Note: Unlike a lot of regional U.S. film festivals, HIFF puts on a lot of U.S. premieres so it really is a great place to see things you won't see anywhere else in the country).

* Official HIFF Site / KFEST Tix
* IMBD Listing for "My Boss, My Teacher
* Dole Cannery Map

—Alex, 08/24/06