It's always fun to play the "best debut film" game, particularly when it comes to Chungmuro's last 7-8 years' output. You'd surely find names like Jang Joon-Hwan's 지구를 지켜라! (Save the Green Planet!), Im Pil-Sung's 남극일기 (Antarctic Journal) or Na Hong-Jin's 추격자 (The Chaser), but then things become a little more complicated when you move onto those prodigies' second and/or third projects. For instance, Jang might be working on the second installment of the 타짜 (Tazza) saga, but his sophomore effort comes after six years of trials and tribulation, and a good portion of those who debut with a bang end up falling prey to the proverbial sophomore slump. One notable exception is Han Jae-Rim, whose second effort 우아한 세계 (The Show Must Go On) is in many ways superior to his crafty and ironic debut, 연애의 목적 (Rules of Dating). But I trust his choice for the critical third project will surprise many. Because, well, it will be a superhero flick!

There's plenty of interesting names amongst the directors whose projects were selected for this year's Pusan Promotion Plan, including Lee Myung-Se, Hur Jin-Ho and Bong Joon-Ho - as you probably guessed, 설국열차 (Le Transperceneige). Big names to contend with, but Han's choice looks just as promising. His 트레이스 (Trace) will in fact be adapted from a webtoon by Nasty Cat (Go Young-Hoon), wildly popular all over the 'net and with over 1 million hits. The story goes something like this: thirty years in the past, two strange personages called "Trouble" and "Trace" appear amongst humans. Trouble, a monster able to assume human form, attacks and oppresses humans without any regard, with the only hope for mankind coming in the form of Trace. In traditional superhero fashion, Trace is a human with supernatural powers, taking matters into his own after discovering his peculiar gifts from nature (or, well, from wherever he got them). Think of it as a more action-oriented Korean version of Heroes - before it seriously went south - and you'll probably get the idea. Still no word on any casting or release date for the blockbuster, but we'll keep you informed.

[Korean Film Archive]