Epic ‘Snowpiercer’ a human drama
Published: 22 Jul. 2013, 20:52

Veteran Korean actor Song Kang-ho as Namgoong Minsoo, carrying his daughter, played by Ko A-sung, in Bong Joon-ho’s “Snowpiercer.” Provided by CJ E&M
“I didn’t set out to film an international blockbuster,” Bong said yesterday at the movie’s premiere. “I just wanted to direct a movie about a novel that I liked.”
Bong discovered the French graphic novel “Transperceneige” by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette, at a bookstore in the Hongdae neighborhood in western Seoul nine years ago, and immediately read the whole story cover-to-cover. He wanted to turn it into a film, but first he would make “The Host” (2006) - the metaphorical monster tale that is the only Korean film ever to top 13 million admissions - and “Mother” (2009) - a small, but successful and highly regarded movie. At last, he was able to tackle “Snowpiercer.”
The graphic novel depicts a post-apocalyptic world frozen over in a global-warming experiment gone wrong; the only survivors, a few thousand very class-conscious people riding a train on a massive loop across the continents.

Tilda Swinton. Provided by CJ E&M
At the movie’s premiere screening in Korea yesterday, Bong, Song and Ko met with a huge throng of journalists to talk about their latest collaboration.
“It’s a massive, dynamic time capsule, I wanted to depict that,” said Bong.
Despite boasting an international cast with much of the story filmed in English, the movie is still “a human drama about the struggle between the weak and the strong,” said Bong. “It’s a universal message and in some ways it’s still very Korean.”

Chris Evans.Provided by CJ E&M
Ko plays Song’s daughter again, as she did in “The Host.” She said that she had to use her imagination to dream up what it must be like to have been born and raised on that surreal train, racing through the deadly cold.
“Train babies never saw the outside world, so they have a very different way of behaving,” said Ko.
Although Bong said he didn’t want to generalize, he did say there were noticeable differences between the Hollywood set and the rest.
“Hollywood actors are more likely to give their best, then retire to their trailers,” said Bong, adding that Swinton was “like a Korean actor” because she would watch what the others were doing even when she wasn’t filming.
Despite being one of the most expensive movies ever in Korea, Bong never really felt like his budget really was “that big.”

From left, director Bong Joon-ho, actor Ko A-sung and Song Kang-ho.[NEWSIS]
On the other hand, $40 million is nothing in Hollywood these days.
“Here we are, thinking it’s a big sum, meanwhile Chris Evans would be on an American TV show, talking about this project, saying, ‘I’m working on this small-scale film.’?”
But the numbers aside, Bong said he was pleased to have a chance to present a movie to more people than ever. While several of his films have had international releases, they were usually just to art house theaters. “Snowpiercer,” however, has been sold to 167 nations, and is being represented by The Weinstein Co. With Variety calling it “an enormously ambitious, visually stunning and richly satisfying futuristic epic,” this could be Bong’s big moment.
BY CARLA SUNWOO [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)