Zhang Lü, a Chinese-Korean filmmaker, was born on May 30, 1962, in Yanbian, Jilin, China, to a family of ethnic Korean descent. This third-generation Korean individual initially made a name for himself in China as a respected author of novels and short stories, including the acclaimed "Cicada Chirping Afternoon" published in 1986.
Before embarking on a career in cinema, Zhang Lü was a novelist, but an argument with a film director friend led him to take a bet that "anyone can make a film." Despite having no technical training, he received support from industry friends, including renowned filmmaker Lee Chang-dong, and set out to direct his first short film, "Eleven" (2001).
This nearly silent, 14-minute vignette tells the story of an 11-year-old boy's encounter with a group of soccer players his own age in a post-industrial wasteland. The unexpected success of "Eleven," which was invited to compete at the 58th Venice International Film Festival and other international film festivals, prompted Zhang Lü to decide to become a full-time filmmaker.
Zhang's subsequent films have primarily focused on the disenfranchised, particularly ethnic Koreans living in China, including "Grain in Ear" (2006),"Desert Dream" (2007),"Dooman River" (2011),"Scenery" (2013),and "Gyeongju" (2014).
