KJ (China)
Opening June 16
Documentary. Directed by Cheung Kingwai. Eleven-year-old prodigy Ka-jeng (KJ) has won numerous prestigious awards -- including for top pianist at the Hong Kong Schools of Music Festival -- and performed at famous concert halls around the world. Yet he begins to struggle as he loses his purpose in life, finding no meaning in attending his classes and practices. In this emotional cinematic account of a troubled young soul, Cheung follows KJ from his shining moments on stage to his troubled teenage years, as he becomes extremely unhappy despite his enormous talent.
Dr. Jump (Korea)
Opening June 30
Drama. Directed by Yoon Seong-ho. Won-sik (Na Soo-yoon), a young man whose girlfriend Woo-jeong (Park Hee-bon) wants to break up with him, asks her for a month to prove his worth. Knowing Woo-jeong wants to see something “big, high and confident” in him, Won-sik desperately tries to think of something to impress her and save their relationship. One day, he gets a random suggestion from a track and field coach named Jeon Young-rok (Park Hyuk-gwon) to try pole vaulting and eventually participate in a competition. Won-sik is not really interested at first, but soon realizes pole vaulting can actually be something “big, high and confident.”
In A Better World (Denmark)
Opening June 23
Drama. Directed by Susanne Bier. Anton (Mikael Persbrandt) is a Swedish doctor who goes back and forth between his home in a Danish town and his work in a Sudanese refugee camp. In the African country he often treats patients victimized by one particularly sadistic warlord. One day the warlord visits him for treatment himself. While his staff and locals are against the idea, Anton treats the man. However, after the warlord insults his victims, Anton loses his patience and allows him to be killed by the locals.
Poongsan Dog (Korea)
Opening June 23
Drama. Directed by Jeon Jae-hong. A young man named Poongsan (Yoon Gye-sang) crosses the border between South and North Korea to deliver goods requested by members of the two Koreas’ separated families. One day, he receives a secret request by the South Korean government to safely bring In-ok (Kim Gyoo-ri), the lover of a high-ranking North Korean defector, to Seoul. Poongsan and In-ok cross the border together, overcoming many life-threatening situations. They develop feelings for each other during the dangerous journey, though they never express them. When they finally arrive in Seoul, however, Poongsan suddenly is taken away by South Korean agents, while In-ok finds herself disappointed with her long-time lover who she thinks has become a different person.
The Lincoln Lawyer (U.S.)
Opening June 16
Crime drama. Directed by Brad Furman. Criminal defense lawyer Mickey Haller (Matthew McConaughey) operates around Los Angeles County out of a Lincoln Town Car driven by a former client working off his legal fees. Haller has spent most of his career defending street criminals, until he lands a case that he thinks could be life-changing. It is the case of Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), a Beverly Hills playboy accused of the brutal beating of a prostitute.
