Memory and Amnesia: An Interview with Korean Director Seong-Wook Moon

This interview took place at a cafe in New York City on August 19,2002 during Seong-Wook Moon's first trip to the US. He was in New York to screen his most recent film at the 2nd annual New York Korean Film Festival, and also to scout locations for his next-planned feature, a New York-based film on US/Korea bilateral relations. Ordering his espresso, Seong-wook Moon explained that he does much of his work in Seoul cafes, and parts of New York reminded him of the Korean city. We then spent the next few hours asking director Moon about his other cross-cultural experiences and impressions: Polish film school and movie-making in Korea; his thoughts on the state of contemporary Korean cinema; his status as an independent; as well as international directors and writers who have influenced and inspired him; the joys of digital filmmaking, and the latest feature he wrote and directed: the dystopic-but-lyrical Nabi {The Butterfly).