“Concrete Utopia” director Um Tae-Hwa on his apocalyptic drama: “In Korea, the place where you live is who you are” – London East Asia Film Festival

The London East Asia Film Festival closed on Sunday evening with the UK premiere of Concrete utopiaKorea’s entry for the Best International Film category at the 2024 Oscars. After the event, the award for best film was presented to the Iron Maskby Kim Sung Hwan, artistic director Hyejung Jeon presented the Rising Star Award Concrete utopiaThis is Pak Bo-jong. Actress Park returned after the film to speak with director Um Tae-hwa to discuss the film’s themes of survival, which suddenly seemed shockingly relevant after recent events in Ukraine and Israel/Gaza.

Um’s film, starring Lee Byung-hun, is a dystopian fable reminiscent of British writer JG Ballard’s depiction of a South Korean skyscraper that somehow remains intact after a terrible earthquake rocks the country has. Although Lee steals the show as the charismatic leader, the story is seen through the eyes of a young couple – Ming-seong (Park Seo-joon) and (Park Bo-young) – who wake up one morning to find that their changed lives. changed, and in fact the whole world changed forever.

Director Um told presenter Ian Haydn Smith that he understood why people might describe it as a disaster film, but said he was looking for something deeper. “I would rather call it an apocalyptic film than a disaster film,” he said, “because I didn’t think the disaster itself was very important.” I focus more on what people do when they find themselves in such extreme circumstances. I tried to focus on the characters and their backstories, but I did it gradually. I provided the information piece by piece, making sure it didn’t interrupt the flow of the story.

Instead of unnecessary carnage, Um focuses on the hierarchies of society and how quickly neighbors turn on each other in stressful times: the residents of the high-rises soon begin to reject anyone who seeks shelter and send them to an icy grave. “Just to give you background,” he said, “in Korea you live who you are.” Where you live is your social rank. And I wanted to show that in the story. I think such social divisions exist everywhere, but in Korea it is much worse, maybe even stronger.”

To avoid spoilers, actress Park explained her character’s journey, noting that by watching this apocalyptic event transform her kind, humble husband into a man she doesn’t recognize, she goes from passive to more active.

“I don’t think anyone in this movie is completely bad or completely good,” Um said. “I think it’s a story you can watch and identify with the individual characters. And because you can identify with or understand every character, no matter who you choose, it makes the whole thing that much scarier. Why? Because these are all normal people who had to make decisions to protect themselves. And then you have to ask yourself: Is this right? is it okay When people find themselves in such extreme circumstances and overcome by fear, they face a situation where they have to choose between survival or dignity.”