(LEAD) Korean films set for back-to-back release after 'The Odyssey,' 'Spider-Man' hype

South Korean cinemas are gearing up for a blockbuster month in September, with a pack of six major films set to premiere, aiming to capitalize on the Chuseok holiday and outshine Hollywood hits The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Leading the charge is the poignant family drama Portrait of a Family, featuring Ryu Seung-ryong, Ha Ji-won, and Kim Si-a, premiering on September 1st.

The film delves into the strained marital relationship of a former baseball star and actress couple, who must navigate the revelation of the husband's affair with his former wife's daughter.

Just a fortnight later, on September 16th, the Korean remake of The Intern starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway will hit theaters. However, director Kim Do-young has infused the remake with Korean elements, such as generational conflicts and modern office culture, rendering the lead characters as authentic representations of Korean society.

Three films are scheduled to release on September 23rd, just a day before the four-day Chuseok holiday. First, Possible Love, starring a stellar cast of Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Cho Yeo-jeong, and Zo In-sung, has been selected by the Korean Film Council as a representative work for South Korea's Oscar submission. The movie explores the intricate relationship between a laid-off worker, his wife, and a documentary filmmaker and her affluent husband.

Next, the historic drama The Assassin(s) starring Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho, commemorates a 1974 assassination attempt against the late President Park Chung-hee that resulted in the death of the first lady. The film has been invited to the prestigious Venice International Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival.

Lastly, Tazza: Song of Beelzebub, the final installment in the 20-year-long Tazza crime franchise, stars Byun Yo-han and is set to separate from the franchise's previous films by creating an independent universe. The action-comedy Reawaken Man: the Red, based on the webtoon of the same name, will wrap up the September releases on September 30th. The film follows the story of Seok-hwan, an unemployed job seeker who gains the supernatural ability to resurrect three days after his death.