Director Park Chan-Wook on the “Crisis of Korean cinema”: “We cannot ask the public to come if the films are not fun”

In an interview on September 21 on SBS News of the 8Park Chan-Wook discussed his latest film No other choicewhich was previewed in competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Although the film received enthusiastic reviews from critics and was considered a strong contender, in the end he did not win a prize.

“I had expectations”, Park admitted. “When you see the reviews and rankings of the critics who put you at the top, it would be a lie to say that it does not hope.” Despite the loss, he underlined that the audience’s response seemed to win a prize. “It was extraordinary. For the first time with one of my films, everyone seemed to enjoy it without division, with laughter and applause everywhere. I didn’t believe it.”

No other choice It tells the story of Mansoo (Lee Byung-Hun), a man who seemed to have everything until he is suddenly fired. Determined to protect his wife, his children and his house earned hard, he undertakes his battle to survive and reuse. Park explained that he wanted to interpret the house as a central “character”, highlighting his symbolic role in the narrative.

On the title of the film, he revealed that the original novel was called LeavesA metaphor for work resolution. “But keeping that title may have led people to associate it with my violent works of the past or to think literally like a weapon. I instead wanted something that transmitted the inevitability of the situation”. He explained.

Park shared that he had worked on adaptation for over a decade. “From the moment I read the novel, I knew I wanted to turn it into a film. His power did not vanished over time and I believed that he would always resonate”, he said.

With the film set for the home release on 24 September, he has already risen to the top of the early booking charts. However, Park recognized the pressure: “The Korean theaters have lost many audiences after the pandemic and people have not returned in full. There is a sense of responsibility that my film can help bring them back. I hope it will convince them to return to cinemas.”

Face concerns about the so -called “Korean cinema crisis”, the park was Frank: “It is a vicious cycle. We cannot continue to ask the public to come if the films are not fun. The solution is with us: the filmmakers must create fresh and richer works to overcome this.”

Looking to the future, Park made fun of his next project: “I worked on a western that I would like to do in the United States for years. Seeing No other choice Finally completed, he encouraged me not to surrender. I still want to try it. “

Sources: Daum

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