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Here's Why We Think 'Concrete Utopia' Is Worth Watching

'Concrete Utopia' was picked to represent South Korea in the selection for Best International Feature Film at the 2024 Academy Awards. Here are our thoughts about t

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Leah Puyat

<p>In the movie <strong><em>Concrete Utopia</em></strong>, Seoul has been rocked by an earthquake caused by a meteor. There is death and destruction, confusion and chaos everywhere. No government, no resources, no rhyme nor reason. </p><div><br/></div><p>But one apartment complex still stands and the “Chosen People” have to survive. In doing so, all the best and worst of humanity emerge: leadership becomes a nebulous show of power; values are a messy flow of internal and external questions. And the biggest question of all is, who gets to live or die?</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/e696ec83-c995-4e40-9552-38a0b26463dc_cu_pos_m01_original-002.png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt=""/></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p><strong>Lee Byung Hun</strong> delivers a searing, stunning performance as the Delegate. <strong>Park Seo Jun</strong> is his de facto second in command who gives a nuanced, affecting performance as the conflicted Everyman, swinging between grim reality and his own conscience. </p><div><br/></div><p>The nation’s favorite <em>ahjumma</em> <strong>Kim Sun Young</strong> is the looming mother figure of the story who dictates the story’s ebb and flow. <strong>Park Bo Young</strong>, a conscientious nurse who is also Park Seo Joon’s wife, is the complex’s beating heart, and contrary to her usual bubbly and energetic roles, underacts quietly with effective luminosity. While <strong>Park Ji Hu </strong>only comes out in the movie’s last half, she plays her pivotal role with raw emotion and impactful eye contact.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/5183f6a4-8693-45a7-b28a-20053116398e_concrete utopia - charac - lee byung-hun - resized.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Lee Byung Hun in Concrete Utopia"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Lee Byung Hun</span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/b9cbac95-0d7c-4d1f-956e-d33dedae2043_concrete utopia - charac - park seo-jun - resized.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Park Seo Jun in Concrete Utopia"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Park Seo Jun</span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/fb15e1b6-8243-4765-a446-a702005794d6_concrete utopia - charac - park bo-young - resized.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Park Bo Young in Concrete Utopia"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Park Bo Young</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p><em>Concrete Utopia</em> is a powerful gripping action thriller on the surface, as well as social commentary and psychological drama all in one. Black humor peppers the scenes to leaven the heavy subject matter. This is not mere entertainment.  </p><div><br/></div><p>The film has hints of other dystopian works such as <em>The Hunger Games</em> and <em>Animal Farm</em>, brought home with its acting master class. It raises important questions. What would I do if my life was on the line? Who is worth saving and who should be left to die? </p><div><br/></div><p>When Thomas More wrote his work <em>Utopia</em>, he knew it was about an impossible dream, and still he wrote it.  Maybe that is the best part of being a human being, always going for more than what we can see.</p><div><br/></div><div class="youtube-iframe"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LB7Dtqm4zo8?si=DLDD5CxyRKsmNTi8" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p>The <strong>Korean Film Council</strong> (KOFIC) has unanimously chosen the disaster epic <em>Concrete Utopia</em> to represent <strong>South Korea</strong> in the selection for <strong>Best International Feature Film </strong>at the<strong> 2024 Academy Awards</strong>.</p><div><br/></div><p>Directed by <strong>Um Tae-hwa</strong>, <em>Concrete Utopia</em> is loosely based on Part 2 of the hit webtoon “Joyful Outcast” (“Pleasant Neighbors”) and stars an ensemble of A-list Korean actors including Lee Byung Hun, Park Seo Jun, Park Bo Young, Park Ji Hu, Kim Do Yoon and Kim Sun Young. </p><div><br/></div><p>The <strong>2024 Academy Awards</strong> will be held on March 10, 2024. The final list of nominees for Best International Feature Film will be announced on January 23. Prior to the Oscars, the acclaimed South Korean film will have its North American premiere and gala presentation at the <strong>48th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)</strong> on September 9. <em>Concrete Utopia</em> stars Lee Byung Hun and Park Seo Jun will be participating TIFF’s audience-pleasing “In Conversation With…” series, which features in-depth conversations with film artists, writers and cultural figures about their creative process.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/bae7d0fd-e24d-4e87-8c29-780b0adc0516_concrete utopia - sneak previews3.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Be among the first to see Concrete Utopia in the Philippines! Catch sneak previews in your favorite cinemas on September 11 and 12, one week before the regular showing on September 20. "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Be among the first to see Concrete Utopia in the Philippines! Catch sneak previews in your favorite cinemas on September 11 and 12, one week before the regular showing on September 20.</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><em>In cinemas September 20, Concrete Utopia is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.</em></strong></div>

'Concrete Utopia' was picked to represent South Korea in the selection for Best International Feature Film at the 2024 Academy Awards. Here are our thoughts about this disaster epic movie