# Im Kwon-taek's best films

From Mandala to his 100th film, Beyond the Years: Im Kwon-taek's key films, based on Wikipedia and the Korean Movie Database (KMDb).

- 0 votes · 13 items
- Jun 18, 2026 · Daeun Kim
- https://even.best/en/l/3335/im-kwon-taek-s-best-films

## Top 13

1. **Sopyonje (1993)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — A family of pansori singers; a critical and box-office success.
2. **Chihwaseon (2002)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The life of the painter Jang Seung-eop; best director at Cannes.
3. **Mandala (1981)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Two monks seeking enlightenment; the first Korean film invited to Berlin.
4. **The Surrogate Woman (1986)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Kang Soo-yeon won best actress in Venice.
5. **Chunhyang (2000)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The pansori tale on screen; the first Korean film in competition at Cannes.
6. **The General's Son (1990)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — A hit about the young Kim Du-han.
7. **The Taebaek Mountains (1994)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — From Jo Jung-rae's novel: left and right after liberation.
8. **Come, Come, Come Upward (1989)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Kang Soo-yeon won best actress in Moscow.
9. **Gilsoddeum (1985)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Former lovers reunited by the TV campaign for separated families.
10. **Low Life (2004)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — A gangster's life from the 1950s to the 70s.
11. **Festival (1996)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — A family holding their mother's funeral.
12. **Beyond the Years (2007)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — His 100th film, a companion to Sopyonje.
13. **The Genealogy (1978)** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The forced name changes under Japanese rule.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.