Maybe we wouldn’t be talking so much about the South Korean cinema that hits Argentine screens after the success of Parasiteof Bong Joon-hoo to the series The squid game. In recent years, South Korea has been transforming into a country that produces audiovisual shows, which alternates art with action and horror films.
A combination of all this is Survivors after the earthquakewhich offers, of course, images of the earthquake of the title, the dispute between those who have housing and those who do not, and the social criticism that could be smelled in Parasite. In other words: for two hours and ten minutes we will see more of a social drama than a catastrophe movie, like those seen in the ’70s.
That South Korea has sent this film as its submission to compete at the Oscar in the best international film category is striking in itself.
After the earthquake in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, only one building, the Hwang Gung Apartments, miraculously remains standing. Those who live there soon realize that there are many other Koreans who were left without shelter, shelter, or food. They do make, by vote, a determination: the residents are not going to allow non-owners to enter the property, nor will they be able to share food.
And a kind of caste is formed, as it is now fashionable to say. The owners will only worry about maintaining their “privileges”, although food is scarce, they assemble an army and elect whoever will be the delegate, the Leader of the anti-crime force. Of course the chosen one is not of clean wheat, something that we will discover as the film develops. That is, as long as there are attempts to enter the property, and the usual repression.
Movie with many characters
Not everyone agrees, and among the many characters in the film by director Tae-hwa Eom, there will be two, a couple, who enter into internal conflict when she decides to protect a woman and her child, while he believes it is a risk. unnecessary.
The lack of solidarity with others, with those who suffer the cold, is the social issue. The rest, the scenes of unleashed violence, the harsh dialogues and the visual effects, run as if in parallel towards action cinema.
Just like many American productions, there are inconsistencies or aspects of the plot that do not close. Days go by and there are no Korean organizations, or organizations from abroad, that can provide help? Was it necessary to include that the residents organize a karaoke festival?
As we said, there are actors from Parasite y The squid gamer, like Lee Byung-hun, or Park Seo-joon (Min in the Oscar-winning film). That’s enough to recognize a familiar face among so much malaria…
“Survivors, after the earthquake”
Action/Drama. Korea, 2023. Original title: “Konkeuriteu yutopia”. 130′, SAM 13 R. Of: Tae-hwa Eom. Con: Lee Byung-hun, Park Seo-joon, Park Bo-young. Salas: IMAX, Hoyts Abasto, Cinemark Palermo, Cinépolis Avellaneda and Recoleta.