| ▲This photo shows director Park Chan-wook during press conference of 'The Sympathizer.' (Yonhap) Seoul April 19 (Yonhap) -- Renowned director Park Chan-wook shed light on the casting process and creative decisions behind HBO's original series "The Sympathizer" during a press conference held on Tuesday.
The director explained the rationale behind entrusting Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. with the challenge of portraying four distinct characters in the series.
"In 'The Sympathizer,' we have four white male characters—a teacher, a filmmaker, a CIA agent, and a congressman. While they are different individuals, they collectively represent the system of America," Park elaborated.
He continued, "I wanted to convey the idea that these four characters are essentially one entity, showcasing different facets of the same existence. After careful consideration, I realized that assigning all these roles to a single actor could effectively communicate this concept to the audience."
Following Park's innovative concept, Downey Jr. enthusiastically accepted the demanding task of portraying four diverse roles in "The Sympathizer." Throughout the series, he transformed himself, donning various disguises and assuming entirely different names and professions for each character. | ▲This photo shows director Park Chan-wook during press conference of 'The Sympathizer.' (Yonhap)
Exploring the thematic depth of the series, Park delved into the significance of the protagonist's monologue, stating, "'I am a spy, a fixed spy, an undercover agent. I am a man with two faces.' This dialogue reflects the curse of seeing both sides of every situation."
The protagonist, referred to as "The Captain" and portrayed by actor Hoa Xuande, is a biracial spy fluent in both Vietnamese and English, operating in South Vietnam under the orders of North Vietnam.
Reflecting on the casting process, Park emphasized the challenges he faced. "Casting for this series was an immense undertaking. We held auditions across multiple countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Europe, and Asia, seeking Vietnamese actors from diverse backgrounds."
He added, "Some of the actors we auditioned were newcomers to the industry, while others came from various professions. Remarkably, one actor, a renowned director from Vietnam, expressed interest in participating in the project solely to experience my directing style, despite having no prior acting experience."
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Vietnamese-American author Viet Thanh Nguyen, "The Sympathizer" offers a compelling portrayal of pre- and post-war America and Vietnam through the eyes of a biracial double agent.
The seven-part series is available for streaming on Coupang Play in South Korea, with the first episode premiering on April 15th. Subsequent episodes will be released weekly on Mondays at 8:00 PM local time, with the final episode scheduled for May 27th. (END) |
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