Disaster thriller film “Concrete Utopia” got the unanimous vote to compete in the International Feature Film category at the 96th Oscar Awards, the Korean Film Council announced on August 17.
The council had two options to submit to the prestigious American film awards show, which as “Concrete Utopia” and “Cobweb.” But the disaster survival film get the unanimous nod of the judges who selected this year’s entry to the Oscars.
In a statement, the council revealed that a major factor in their selection process is finding a film that has a distinct Korean feel but can keep up with the global standard. They also wanted an entry that features a good mainstream and artistic balance. In addition, it must strike a cord with the often conservative Academy Awards.
To explain why they picked “Concrete Utopia,” the judges said, “In Korea, an apartment building symbolizes class and wealth. After only the low-income housing complex Hwang Goong Apartments was left standing [in ‘Concrete Utopia’], the various desires of the characters struggling for survival were well-portrayed. It is an original story well-led by Lee Byung Hun.”
The film council also cited the relatability of the story to everyday life.
“At a time when global recession and natural disasters are hitting every corner of the globe, ‘Concrete Utopia’ features not heroes, but ordinary people trying to survive. It touches on the themes of class found in the award-winning film ‘Parasite.’”
“Concrete Utopia,” which tells the story of the devastating aftermath of an earthquake for its survivors, stars Lee Byung Hun, Park Seo Joon, Park Bo Young, Kim Sun Young, Park Ji Hu, and Kim Do Yoon. It is helmed by “Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned” director Um Tae Hwa.
