The movie dealing with ideals and reality. Drawing the end of those who forget to get close to the ideal. The parts that may be overstated are moderate by properly arranging ideals and realities. And this moderation asks the audience a profound question.
It's a really good movie by a rookie director.
In particular, I think it's a topic that only a rookie director can do. As a person who likes movies, I want to keep cheering for Director Eom.
The directing, the script, the OST, and the acting of the actors are all worth watching. In particular, Lee Byung-hun's acting makes me fall more into this movie.
Concrete Utopia
2023 [KOREAN]
Action / Adventure / Drama / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Plot summary
The world has been reduced to rubble by a massive earthquake. While no one knows for sure how far the ruins stretch, or what the cause of the earthquake may be, in the heart of Seoul there is only one apartment building left standing. It is called Hwang Gung Apartments.
October 03, 2023 at 09:37 PM
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
Fairy tales for adults
Great disaster thriller
Best Korean film of the year (that I've seen so far).
It follows a group of residents in an apartment complex that's the only thing left standing after a devastating earthquake. Other survivors try to move in to escape the cold, but the residents won't have it. Thus begins an intense scenario where people have to try and maintain some sort of order while battling the elements and hostile invaders.
This is an impressive disaster drama that begins almost lightheartedly, but turns darker by the minute. There's a comedic flair to the film's first act, but it mostly dissipates by the second hour. However, no matter how any of the scenes are played, there's a bleakness to everything that unfolds. It's like your typical postapocalyptic premise as seen in modern western cinema, but slightly deeper and infused with existentialism. The characters are also more fleshed out than you'd expect. Far from being archetypal heroes or villains, these are flawed people who find themselves in a heavy situation and react to it accordingly.
The whole cast carries the film well (Lee Byung-hun being the standout), with impressive technical specs that make me wanna rewatch this on a bigger screen (if only). In any case, big, big recommendation for this one if you're into disaster thrillers.
P. S. The final scene is really cool and stylishly displays the inversion of common human values in times of crisis. You'll know when you see it.
Questioning the act of morals or survival.
After an epic earthquake disaster the concrete smoldering ruins of Seoul seem to stretch on as for as the eye can see.
In the centre of the massive disaster one building remains standing.
Dozens of outsiders from the surrounding area desperately seeking food and shelter from the cold. Feeling a threat to their very survival, the residents enact measures that questions the act of morals or survival.
Very well written, well done cinematography storytelling and great acting.
A must watch.
I had the opportunity to watch this at tiff this year. Tickets were sold out so I had to stand in Rush Line, two hours before the movie was being viewed,.
It was absolutely worth it.