Son of Seoul: Korean Film Wins at Cannes
zita kisgergely
Whether you like Hollywood movies or not, there is no denying that they set trends. So, when the word got out about the amazing locations and film culture in Hungary that are well utilized by the big studios, it spread worldwide. This means productions from countries far abroad, such as India, are arriving to take advantage of all the benefits of film production in Hungary. Lately, we have become quite popular with Korean film as well, as a few features were recently shot here, with more on the way.
film still from Parasite
Korean film is seeing something of a golden age, with directors like Bong Joon-ho, Lee Chang-dong, and So Yong Kim making it big on the international stage. But it is aforementioned Bong Joon-ho’s latest offering, Parasite, that is really bringing Korean film to the attention of the public. The recently released film also won the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes film festival. Moreover, it won by unanimous vote, the first time since Blue is the Warmest Color achieved the same result.
The film concerns class relations and escalating entanglement between a wealthy family and an unemployed one. The plot doesn’t summarize well, nor does its categorization, which hits notes of both a psychological thriller as well as a black comedy. In America, where foreign language films don’t traditionally perform well, it had the best per screen opening since La La Land, and the best foreign language film opening ever.
film still from Parasite
film still from Parasite
Joon-ho himself is no stranger to big budget films that genre bend. His hit Snowpiercer and juggernaut film The Host were both films that stradled between genres, while were hugely popular with international audiences. Metacritic, a site dedicated to such things, put Bong on its list of the 25 most influential directors of the 21st century.
film still from Parasite
While to the best of our knowledge Budapest has never been used as a stand in for Seoul, the capital of South Korea, or any major Asian city, it may be only a matter of time. But with its world class sound stages, with expert and diligent crews, Budapest will surely only grow in reputation for Korean feature films and television series.
Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.