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Exiled
It seems it has become a trend, that of directors engaging in “extra-curricular” activities. Jang Jin doing everything but directing is nothing new, but Park Heung-Shik produced a TV drama, Bong Joon-Ho had a cameo in a recent film, and both Kim Ki-Duk and Park Chan-Wook have transformed themselves into producers. Particularly interesting is Park’s case: his Moho Films produced the upcoming release 미쓰 홍당무 (Crush & Blush), also written by Park and, as we said, starring Bong in what might prove to be an interesting cameo. Still, Park Chan-Wook is at his best behind the camera, and it’s with his long-awaited 박쥐 (Thirst) we will see such comeback.
The fact Song Kang-Ho would star in this, as a priest turned quasi-vampire falling for his friend’s wife, was announced long ago; also, young Kim Ok-Bin of 다세포 소녀 (Dasepo Naughty Girls) accepted a very daring role (Korean press is saying “a la Tang Wei,” but that’s very likely just to create buzz), after quite a big roster of acclaimed young actresses turned it down. But the real news, as reported by Screen and most of the Korean media today, is that Hollywood’s Universal Pictures International and Focus Features will co-produce the film, along with CJ Entertainment. Although there were instances of foreign capital invested in Korean productions—think 무영검 (Shadowless Sword)—this is the first time a Hollywood major actively enters this kind of deal with Chungmuro. The plus, of course, is that Focus will release the film in North America, which should help the film tour more than the usual few markets. Film has completed around 85% of its shoot which started last April and is set to complete later this month, and is slated to release early next year.
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Reader Comments
Ard Vijn 09/12/2008 @ 4:42am
I’ve heard “Cyborg” had a rough time at the box ofice, despite of Park Chan-Wook being director and starring Rain. Do you think this will have had an effect on the making of this movie?
Are people more itchy about “Thirst” than is usually the case with Park Chan-Wook?
rustdog 09/12/2008 @ 9:00am
I’m a cyborg was a tough sell to any audience. Vampires seem to be the hot idea right now. True blood looks promising, and I can’t wait to see Let The Right One In. Didn’t Park do a vampire short in 3 Extremes?
X 09/12/2008 @ 9:13am
Itchy? Not really. This is like surefire 3-4 million tickets, maybe more. Cyborg wasn’t a success but they probably knew it wouldn’t do that well (when you step out of your image, the mainstream takes some time to adapt). But this? I wouldn’t worry. You’ll have droves of people happy Park is back to his “forte” going to theaters, Song Kang-Ho has his own pull, and plenty of other incentives, including horny teenagers with no interest in Cinema looking for the infamous “Tang Wei effect.”
Cut was more a black comedy, but it had a few hints to what he’d do here (and that “Live Evil” sounded a lot better than “Thirst”).
somaddict 09/12/2008 @ 2:08pm
Park’s short in 3 extremes was about an obsessed/jealous/maniacal extra and a director he worked for. Not a hint of vampire in it.
I hope this works out for Park, because Oldboy was such an amazing movie. I’m not a huge fan of vampires though, so I’m skeptical.
X 09/12/2008 @ 2:22pm
I don’t remember exactly, but I think the film inside Cut Lee Byung-Heon was shooting was a vampire flick called Live Evil, with Yeom Jung-Ah playing the protagonist or something.
rustdog 09/12/2008 @ 2:25pm
Got it. Thus the reference to it in the article above. Female Vampire in a blue dress. I could tell it was Park by the beautiful cinematography right when I saw it.
rustdog 09/12/2008 @ 2:27pm
Sorry you referred to it in your first post X.
rustdog 09/12/2008 @ 2:31pm
Can i just say this is an awesome site. I don’t know how much traffic it gets, but i know I check in daily. I use the Mastheads for my computers wallpaper all the time. Now if only i could get my hands on half the movies mentioned here. Keep up the good work.
TheDoug 09/13/2008 @ 5:48am
Ard Vijn I’m so “itchy” for Park Chan-Wook’s latest venture, that I’m counting the months when this gets release no matter the distributor. Hopefully this will prompt other majors in america to look at Korean films as viable product to promote!
san ku kai 09/14/2008 @ 10:35am
Somehow I always get shivers up my spine when “majors in america look at Korean or other, for example Japanese, films as a product to promote”, I always hope foreign film does not need that kind of “interference” ... support is great just as long as they don’t want to “mess with product” ... Hope this is not the case here ... Let’s just give it the benefit of the doubt and call it a “good thing” ...
Absolutely looking forward to this film. I love Park Chan-Wook’s work from “JSA” to “I’m a Cyborg, but that’s ok”. And Since I’m also a big fan of vampire movies, original one’s that is ... even more so ...