4 0f IU’s best screen roles as K-pop star’s concert film comes to cinemas

IU Concert: The Golden Hour offers fans of the K-pop star a chance to experience her performance on the big screen.

IU’s 2022 concert “The Golden Hour: Under the Orange Sun” at Seoul Olympic Stadium – the biggest stadium in South Korea – attracted more than 90,000 attendees over September 17 and 18.

The concert featured 25 songs in total, including “Celebrity”, “Palette”, “Blueming”, “Good Day”, “Hold My Hand”, “Love Poem”, and “You and I”.

The film – IU’s first global cinema release – is 171 minutes long and will be shown in 38 different countries and territories including Hong Kong, the United States, Japan, Germany, Australia and Mexico, starting from September 28.

“From the floating ‘strawberry moon’ balloon, to fireworks and a stunning drone show, the enchanting stage production is a must-see in cinemas,” cinema chain CJ CGV said in a statement.

The film was released in South Korean cinemas on September 13 and grossed US$753,000 on its opening weekend. There were special screenings for singalongs and for fans to wave the singer’s signature light sticks.

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Since her debut in 2008, the K-pop artist born Lee Ji-eun has been well received by the public. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of her debut, IU is staging a concert, titled “I+Un1ver5e”, at the KSPO Dome in Seoul this weekend.

IU is not just a singer – she has appeared in many hit television series, including Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016), My Mister (2018) and Hotel Del Luna (2019).

She has also appeared in films such as Shades of the Heart (2021) and Dream (2023), and took part in indie web series Persona (2019).

Here is our list of four IU films we think are worth watching.

1. Persona (2019)

This omnibus film is the work of four directors: Lee Kyoung-mi (“Love Set”), Yim Pil-sung (“Collector”), Jeon Go-woon (“Kiss Burn”) and Kim Jong-kwan (“Walking at Night”).

IU stars as four different characters in each director’s short film, ranging from a free-spirited femme fatale to a strong-willed girl who plots revenge against the patriarchy.

2. Shades of the Heart (2021)

Shades of the Heart was the second time IU had worked with director Kim Jong-kwan. While hers was a minor role, it proved that her star power could be seen even in film.

IU plays Mi-young, an elusive woman who recalls her past with novelist Chang-seok (Yeon Woo-jin).

3. Broker (2022)

This Hirokazu Koreeda-directed film won two awards at the 75th Cannes Film Festival – the ecumenical jury award for the best film and the best actor award for lead actor Song Kang-ho.

4. Dream (2023)

IU plays a documentary producer who is making a documentary about the team. This was IU’s first lighthearted role.