Asian Pop-Up Cinema: The Beetle Project - South Korea

S. Korea | Comedy-Drama | 2025 | 102 minutes

In Korean w/ English Subtitles

Director: Jim Kwang-kyo

Starring: Sung Dong-il, Kim Bo-min, Jung Hye-sun

Film Source: Finecut

SYNOPSIS:

In North Korea, torrential rains force the dams open, sending floodwater into the south. Later, two kids in South Korea pick up a plastic bag carrying a beetle in the stream. When they learn that the beetle is a North Korean child’s school project, they raise the beetle for him. 

Showing kids grappling with similar issues on both sides of the border (sibling rivalry, absent parents, bullying, etc.), The Beetle Project is a compassionate film that transcends political or economic divide. Seeing children band together to raise the delicate beetle will undoubtedly melt even the hardest of hearts. 

Host or Publisher Asian Pop-Up Cinema