Quiet Success for Independent Films: 'The World of Love', 'People and Meat', 'Home Behind Bars'

[Financial News] The October releases 'People and Meat', 'Home Behind Bars', and 'The World of Love' are drawing significant audiences, each surpassing the 10,000-viewer benchmark that is considered a measure of success for independent films.
As of the 3rd, 'The World of Love' has attracted 65,627 viewers. The story follows an 18-year-old high school student named Joo-in, who becomes the only one to refuse a school-wide petition and subsequently starts receiving mysterious notes. This film became the first Korean movie to be officially invited to the competition section of the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). It also won two awards at the 29th Pingyao International Film Festival and secured a release in China despite the ongoing Korean Wave restrictions.
The 22nd Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), which concludes on the 9th, invited this film following the director’s previous works 'The House of Us' and 'The World of Us'. The festival praised the film, stating, “It delicately explores genuine human connections while brilliantly depicting the complex and subtle inner world of adolescence.”
'People and Meat', starring Park Geun-hyung, Jang Yong, and Ye Soo-jung, has benefited from strong word-of-mouth. The number of theaters showing the film increased from 57 in its opening week to 73 in its third week, marking a rare reverse trend. With the film nearing 30,000 viewers, it tells the story of three elderly people who come together by chance and embark on a quest to eat meat for free. The film is praised for handling potentially heavy subject matter with humor while still offering thought-provoking moments.
Following a relay of support from actors Choi Kang-hee, Teo Yoo, singer Yoon Sang, and director Jang Joon-hwan, Shim Jae-myung, head of Myung Film, commented, “I laughed and cried multiple times at the story of sick and impoverished elderly people who have become objects of hatred and contempt. By the end of the film, I was choked up, yet I experienced a strange warmth in my heart.”
'Home Behind Bars', starring Song Ji-hyo, has attracted a cumulative audience of 11,582. The film is noteworthy as the first feature-length project to emerge from the CJ Cultural Foundation’s short film creator support program. Directed by newcomer Cha Jeong-yoon and discovered through the 'Story Up' initiative, the story centers on a 15-year veteran prison officer who, after the death of an inmate’s mother, meets the inmate’s daughter, setting off a new narrative.
Story Up, which originated from the 2010 'Project S', has supported short film directors since 2018. It is the only domestic program that provides comprehensive support from script development and production to film festival submissions, and this year, it expanded to include feature films. To date, it has supported 202 creators and 39 directors. Notably, 'Forest of Echoes' by Yoori Lim, selected in 2022, was invited to the La Cinef section at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.
Meanwhile, CJ CGV has been running the 'Independent Film Support Campaign' in collaboration with the Association of Korean Independent Film & Video since last year, benefiting a total of 55 films so far. In November, trailers for films such as '404 Still Remain', 'The Moment the Bell Rings', and 'Tongjam' will be screened. Additionally, following the closure of the CGV Myeongdong Station Cine Library, two arthouse theaters will be relocated and operated at CGV Gangbyeon and CGV Dongdaemun.

jashin@fnnews.com Shin Jin-ah Reporter