ID :
53085
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 14:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/53085
The shortlink copeid
Award-winning Korean director draws attention with vampire film
By Lee Youkyung
SEOUL, March 31 (Yonhap) -- When South Korean award-winning movie director Park Chan-wook confided his idea of creating a vampire film in 1999 to actor Song Kang-ho, it was over breakfast after the two finished shooting scenes in a field of reed for ???Joint Security Area.???
"I vividly remember his reaction to the plot. He seemed intimidated,??? Park
recalled his meeting with Song a decade ago at a news conference in Seoul
Tuesday, during which the production of his vampire film, "Thirst," was
announced.
Song gave his approval to the director's comment.
???It was a mystery to me at that time that one could make such a film that is
original, provocative, and artistic. I was confused if it were even possible to
complete this kind of movie,??? Song recalled. "It was beyond my understanding."
Now an internationally acclaimed director, Park is returning to the theater with
the final product of what he had discussed with Song, way before he won the 2004
Cannes Grand Prize of the Jury with "Old Boy."
A considerable turnaround from his latest romantic comedy, ???I'm a Cyborg. But
That's Okay,???to a dark plot that the director is better known for, ???Thirst???
describes a Catholic priest who becomes a vampire during a failed medical
experiment and his desperate but helpless attempt to escape from the fateful
dilemma as he falls in love with his friend's wife.
Nominated for best actor at Hong Kong International Film Festival, Song played
the vampire-priest, collaborating with Park in a male-lead role for the first
time in seven years since ???Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance??? in 2002.
Park said he sees a lot of himself in the priest character, especially with his
coward and self-justifying reactions to flee from the unavoidable dilemma instead
of facing it.
In "Thirst," the vampire-priest is conflicted between his religious calling and
what he thinks is immoral -- sex, adultery, and murder.
The movie will be released nationwide on April 30.
(END)
SEOUL, March 31 (Yonhap) -- When South Korean award-winning movie director Park Chan-wook confided his idea of creating a vampire film in 1999 to actor Song Kang-ho, it was over breakfast after the two finished shooting scenes in a field of reed for ???Joint Security Area.???
"I vividly remember his reaction to the plot. He seemed intimidated,??? Park
recalled his meeting with Song a decade ago at a news conference in Seoul
Tuesday, during which the production of his vampire film, "Thirst," was
announced.
Song gave his approval to the director's comment.
???It was a mystery to me at that time that one could make such a film that is
original, provocative, and artistic. I was confused if it were even possible to
complete this kind of movie,??? Song recalled. "It was beyond my understanding."
Now an internationally acclaimed director, Park is returning to the theater with
the final product of what he had discussed with Song, way before he won the 2004
Cannes Grand Prize of the Jury with "Old Boy."
A considerable turnaround from his latest romantic comedy, ???I'm a Cyborg. But
That's Okay,???to a dark plot that the director is better known for, ???Thirst???
describes a Catholic priest who becomes a vampire during a failed medical
experiment and his desperate but helpless attempt to escape from the fateful
dilemma as he falls in love with his friend's wife.
Nominated for best actor at Hong Kong International Film Festival, Song played
the vampire-priest, collaborating with Park in a male-lead role for the first
time in seven years since ???Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance??? in 2002.
Park said he sees a lot of himself in the priest character, especially with his
coward and self-justifying reactions to flee from the unavoidable dilemma instead
of facing it.
In "Thirst," the vampire-priest is conflicted between his religious calling and
what he thinks is immoral -- sex, adultery, and murder.
The movie will be released nationwide on April 30.
(END)
