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| yna@yna.co.kr 2023-04-07 10:02:40
SEOUL April 7 (Yonhap) -- "A few years ago, I ran into director Marco Velocchio at a restaurant in Lyon, France. I was nervous. I wanted to talk to him, however director was very quiet therefore I kept on staring at him while eating my soup."
Italian movie fans bursted into laughter when director Bong Joon-ho, who rose into fame as one of the world-renowned film director, described his encounter with director Marco Velocchio realistically by showcasing the motion of eating soup with a spoon.
At the "Master Class" held at the La Comfania Theater in Florence, northern Italy on the April 6 (Italy Time), Bong received loud applause for praising the long history of Italian films while being modest regarding his status as global director.
Bong's accumulated knowledge of Italian films began with director Vittorio de Sica's masterpiece "The Bicycle Thief" (1948), followed by Elio Petri and Velocchio, and Alice Lorwacker's "Happy Lazarus," which won the screenplay award at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
Bong received another enthusiastic response after he mentioned that he inserted Italian canchone singer Gianni Morandi's "Kneeling Before You" throughout the climax of the film "Parasite," which earned him four-time U.S. Academy Award honors.
"I watched a lot of Italian movies regarding politics when I was in college and studied a lot," director continued on by listing up various directors such as Petrie and director Velocchio one after another, and asked the panel, "I want to ask whether the tradition has faded into a void and who the successors are."
"Morandy's song comes out when the various characters fight in a group in the movie 'Parasite'," adding "It's a romantic song, but it fits so well with the violent scene that I intended therefore I decided to insert the track within the movie."
The event was held as one of the main events of the "Florence Korean Film Festival," which marks its 21st anniversary. All of the 470 seats within the cinema was packed, and most of the audience were Italian film fans who are young.
Director Bong introduced South Korean actor Song Kang-ho, as an actor who represents the director and delivers the message spot on, as "He is an actor who provides continuous stream of inspiration and courage to director throughout the production."
"For example, Song Kang-ho's act throughout the climax of the movie 'Parasite' might be controversial, and it may be difficult for the audience to agree upon, however there was a sense of relief that Song Kang-ho could persuade the audience and he might be the one of few actors who has the potential of do so," adding "The actor's presence affects the creation."
Moreover, director addressed upon the actor Park Hae-il, who has worked alongside director Bong in the movie "Memories of Murder," as "Actor Park Hae-il is a beautiful actor,” adding "His eyes are beautiful he has an eyes of a deer, at the same time, the actor has that odd psychopathic feels to him but with that comforting smell of soap."
"From the audience's point of view, it’s very complicated because one might want to believe that Park Hae-il is a serial killer, but in fact, that mind can be very dangerous," adding "Park Hae-il manages to showcase the complex character where he could be a criminal, but at the same time he might be innocent, and one might wants to believe that he is a criminal, but one receives a feels that he or she shouldn't. The movie ‘Memories of Murder’ would not have been possible without actor Park Hae-il.” addressed director Bong throughout the session.
Bong also introduced a story regarding actor Park Hae-il throughout the event by stating "One day Park Hae-il called me drunk at around 1 to 2 a.m. actor addressed that he wanted to know the truth despite the fact that audiences will not find out about it throughout the movie, whether he is the criminal or not, therefore I stated ‘You're not the criminal therefore try to act as innocent throughout the production, the more you try to act innocent the more the increase in suspicion regarding your role will skyrocket.’" adding, "Actor hung up with a major frustration."
Director Bong has marked his existence within the South Korean Film history with various productions such as, "Memories of Murder "The Host" and "Mother." Later on he won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for "Parasite," and won four Academy Awards, and became a world-class master.
He is famous for preparing his movies very thoroughly to a point where he received a nickname “Bongtail.” Director Bong, who was a cartoon fanatic to an extent where he dreamt of becoming a cartoonist when he was young, up till nowadays he is known to draw his storyboards himself.
Continuing on director Bong addressed "When I am working on a storyboard, I feel like I've become a cartoonist," adding "Each director has different styles of working, however I'm just doing it because I'm nervous. I feel uneasy if I don't draw it in advance. I feel peaceful when I have a storyboard that I like the day before the shooting."
Director Bong also addressed that he worked on a new movie "Mickey 17" outside London in 2022, "It's a SF movie, and it's an upscale movie however it incorporates my style and feel to it," adding, "There are many ridiculous characters which are not a superheroes."
Director Bong, who writes and directs the scenario himself, confessed his hardships. "It's hard and painful to write scenarios," he addressed with a smile, "I often dream of going to a mountain and digging up a box filled with amazing scenarios."
Throughout the event director Bong told the audience to raise their hands if there is a screenwriter amongst them, and sighed, "These many unfortunate lives..., When I write a scenario, I feel anxious and scared, so I want to show it to others and listen to what others feel about the scenarios and in my perspective the most important part there is to trust yourself without showing it to others and to just continue on with it.”
The well known characteristics of Bong's film are the period and sociality that are told through allegorical stories.
"No matter how personal you talk about it, if you put a microscope on to a small part of an individual, you will find the context and location of that individual," director carefully addressed. "The unfortunate truth is that it will always be about the segregation of class."
Director continued on carefully by stating, "I don’t usually start off by diving straight into social, and political manners, however it just happens at some point. ‘Parasite’ is one of the cases,” adding "So if you have no choice but to deal with social class issues anyway, I think it's better to break through it head-on even if the movie gets dark. Since I am living in such situation surrounded by these environmental factors which brings impact on my life I made a 'parasite' thinking that it would be better to face the problem straight forward."
"I was surprised that there were so many people who are engaged with writing scenarios," adding, "I personally knew a little about the history of Italian films, liked it and envied the strong tradition and history of Italian films. I firmly believe there will be a person within the audience who will bring light to the history of Italian films here," director bong stated while receiving a big round of applause.
When asked about his film philosophy, director humbly said, "There is no such thing. I'm working diligently everyday," adding "However I work very hard."
The Florence Korean Film Festival, organized by the Taegeukgi Cultural Association, has played a major role in promoting South Korean films in Italy for more than 20 years.
The 21st Florence Korean Film Festival, which kicked off on the March 30, will continue on until April 7.
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Joonha Yoo)
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