IFC Midnight Buys ‘Taste Of Money’: Cannes

CANNES (May 25, 2012) – IFC Midnight announced today from the 2012 Cannes Film Festival that the company is acquiring North American rights to THE TASTE OF MONEY directed by Im Sang-Soo (THE HOUSEMAID). The film, also with a screenplay by Sang-Soo, stars Kim Kang-Woo, Baek Yoon-Sik, Youn Yuh-Jung and Kim Hyo-Jin. Son Kwang-Ik and Kim Won-Kuk served as executive producers while Lee Nam-Hee and Seo Jung-Hun produced. The film had its world premiere earlier in the week in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

In THE TASTE OF MONEY, Korea’s greatest provocateur Im Sang-Soo takes us inside Korea’s most privileged family. Joo Young-Jak is the private male secretary of Baek Geum-Ok, middle-aged heiress and wife of a rich chaebol. Baek covets Joo’s young body, and he has already sold his pride for money a long time ago. What tangles up their relationship is the appearance of Baek’s daughter Na-Mi, a girl so different than her wealth obsessed parents. When romantic feelings begin to develop between the two, Baek is challenged with his conflicting desires for money and love.

Jonathan Sehring, President of Sundance Selects/IFC Films, said: “No one makes films like Director Im Sang-Soo. THE TASTE OF MONEY is his most decadent and sensual film yet while also a smart commentary on the lives of the rich and famous. We are honored to continue our relationship with him after our release of THE HOUSEMAID.”

Sundance Selects/IFC Films has a major presence at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The company announced yesterday it had acquired Ken Loach’s competition film THE ANGEL’S SHARE following the acquisition of Ben Wheatley’s Directors Fortnight entry SIGHTSEERS. They also came with four films screening at the festival: Walter Salles’ competition film ON THE ROAD which the company recently acquired and will release jointly under IFC Films and Sundance Selects; Cristian Mungiu’s competition film BEYOND THE HILLS which is being released under the Sundance Selects label; Adam Leon’s SXSW-winner GIMME THE LOOT which is also being released under Sundance Selects and is screening in Un Certain Regard; and Rodney Ascher’s Sundance sensation ROOM 237 which was acquired for IFC Midnight and is screening at Director’s Fortnight. This acquisition now marks the seventh film that Sundance Selects/IFC Films has screened at this year’s festival.