South Korean survivors, drama and catastrophe with the actors of Parasite and The Squid Game

Maybe we wouldn’t talk so much about South Korean cinema arriving on Argentine screens after the success of ParasiteFrom Bong Joon-hoor the series The squid game. In recent years, South Korea has transformed into a country that produces audiovisual shows, alternating art, action and horror films.

A combination of all this is Survivors after the earthquakewhich obviously offers images of the earthquake of the title, of the dispute between those who have a house and those who don’t, and of the social criticism that could be smelled Parasite. In other words: for two hours and ten minutes we will see more of a social drama than a disaster film, like those seen in the 70s.

The fact that South Korea sent this film to compete for the Oscar in the Best International Film category is surprising in itself.

After the earthquake in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, only one building, the Hwang Gung Apartments, miraculously remained standing. Those who live there quickly realize that there are many more Koreans left without shelter, shelter or food. They make, by vote, a decision: residents will not allow non-owners onto the property, nor will they be allowed to share food.

And a sort of caste is formed, as it is now fashionable to say. The owners will only worry about maintaining their “privileges”, even if food is scarce, they assemble an army and elect who will be the delegate, the leader of the anti-crime force. Of course the chosen one is not of clean grain, which we will discover as the film develops. That is, until there are attempts to enter the property and the usual repression.

Film with many characters

Not everyone agrees, and among the many characters in director Tae-hwa Eom’s film, there will be two, a couple, who enter into internal conflict when she decides to protect a woman and her son, while he believes she is a risk. . unnecessary.

The lack of solidarity with others, with those who suffer from the cold, is the social issue. The rest, the scenes of unleashed violence, the harsh dialogues and the visual effects, run in parallel towards action cinema.

As in many American productions, there are inconsistencies or aspects of the plot that are not resolved. Days go by and there are no Korean organizations, or foreign organizations, that can provide help? Was it necessary to include having residents organize a karaoke festival?

As we said, there are actors from Parasite AND The squid gamer, like Lee Byung-hun, or Park Seo-joon (Min in the Oscar-winning film). This is enough to recognize a familiar face in the midst of so much malaria…

“Survivors, after the earthquake”

Action/Drama. Korea, 2023. Original title: “Konkeuriteu yutopia”. 130′, SAM 13 R. From: Tae-hwa Eom. With: Lee Byung-hun, Park Seo-joon, Park Bo-young. Rooms: IMAX, Hoyts Abasto, Cinemark Palermo, Cinépolis Avellaneda and Recoleta.