South Korean filmmaker Kim Ki-duk dies of COVID-19 at 59

South Korean filmmaker Kim Ki-duk died of COVID-19 on December 11, 2020, in Riga, Latvia, at age 59. He had arrived in Latvia on November 20 to purchase a house on the Baltic Sea but lost contact with others. Kim was a major figure in international cinema, winning the Golden Lion at the 69th Venice Film Festival in 2012 for "Pietà," the Golden Leopard at Locarno in 2004 for "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring" (2003), and the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2004 for "Samaria." His 2011 documentary "Arirang" won the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes. Born on December 20, 1960, in Bonghwa, South Korea, he moved to Seoul at age 9 and later to Paris, where he taught himself screenwriting. His debut film "Ageo" (1996) was critical of South Korea's neocapitalist system. He gained international recognition with "The Isle" (2000). After a near-fatal accident on the set of "Dream" (2008), he experienced an existential crisis and temporarily withdrew from filmmaking. His work blended violence, irony, and Christian symbolism, exploring societal change. He also served as director, editor, cinematographer, screenwriter, set designer, and producer on many of his films.