Comedy opens film fest

ONE of Asia's top film festivals opened yesterday in Pusan by taking a lighthearted look at the South Korean presidency.

Jang Jin's "Good Morning President" playfully examines the personal lives of three successive heads of state - a former dissident conflicted by what to do with a winning lottery ticket; a dashing young politician who juggles a kidney transplant and a standoff with North Korea, and the country's first female leader whose husband's property deals beget a scandal that threatens the presidency.

The nine-day festival in the southern beach resort will show 355 movies from 70 countries, 98 of which will be world premieres.

"Pearl Harbor" star Josh Hartnett and "X-Men" director Bryan Singer will add Hollywood glamor. Hartnett is promoting his thriller "I Come With The Rain" and Singer will discuss his horror film "Trick 'r Treat."

Director Johnnie To and Venice Film Festival winner Jia Zhangke, both from China, are giving master classes at the festival.

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