Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho’s 2006 monster movie “The Host” is among Paris-based distributor The Jokers Films’ recent releases, made available for the first time ever as a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition.
The Jokers’ other new French release, the 4K restoration of Bruce Weber’s 1988 Chet Baker doc “Let’s Get Lost,” also screened at the Lumière Festival in Lyon with Weber in attendance.
Describing the film’s sound and 4K restoration as “sublime,” The Jokers head Manuel Chiche says, “‘Let’s Get Lost’ is now a timeless classic not only about life but also about art and creation.”
“Let’s Get Lost” is due to hit French theaters in summer 2024.
“The Host,” meanwhile, premiered earlier this year in France with a special screening, along with the Oscar-winning “Parasite,” and master class by Bong at Paris’ famed Grand Rex theater and also unspooled at the Institut Lumière in Lyon as part of a Bong retrospective.
“The Grand Rex event was amazing prior to the release – 3,000 people,” says Chiche. “Bong was there and introduced the movie in conversation with [Cannes and Lumière Festival director] Thierry Fremaux.”
The film went on to sell more than 28,000 admissions in French theaters.
The Jokers, which is attending the Lumière Festival’s International Classic Film Market (MIFC), will also be presenting showcases of Kim Jee-woon and Wong Kar-wai in theaters this year.
The Kim series, which hits theaters on Nov. 15, includes 4K restorations of the directors early works: “The Foul King” (2000), “A Tale of Two Sisters” (2003) and the director’s cut version of “A Bittersweet Life” (2005).
Premiering on Dec. 20 will be the Wong showcase, including “Chungking Express” (1994), “Fallen Angels” (2005), “Happy Together” (1997) and “The Hand” (2004) – all restored in 4K by the filmmaker.
Asian films make up a significant portion of The Jokers’ catalogue, Chiche notes.
“Asian cinema is our DNA and I bet than in a few years from now Korean cinema will rule the entertainment world.”
