Director Yeon Sang-ho Finds Inspiration in True Crime for New Thriller “Face” - and Sees a Shift in Korean Cinema
Seoul, south Korea – Renowned director Yeon Sang-ho (“Train to Busan,” “Hellbound”) is breaking new ground with his latest project, the thriller “Face,” and is also offering a compelling perspective on the evolving landscape of Korean filmmaking. in a recent interview at a Seoul café, Yeon revealed the surprising inspiration behind the film: the popular Korean investigative journalism program, “I Want to No It.”
“Face” centers around a chilling mystery: the discovery of skeletal remains believed to be those of a mother who vanished 40 years ago, and the unraveling of the truth surrounding her death. Yeon explained that the structure of “I Want to Know It,” with its unfolding revelations and chapter-by-chapter approach, heavily influenced his vision for the film.
“I remember watching it with my wife and thinking how engaging it was,” Yeon said. “It doesn’t require the massive budgets of a typical movie, yet it’s incredibly compelling.” He consciously aimed to replicate that investigative feel in “Face,” envisioning a medium between a traditional film and the format of the true crime show.
The production of “Face” was remarkably efficient. Yeon leveraged his existing webtoon to expedite pre-production, completing it in just two weeks.Filming itself took only three weeks,encompassing 13 shoots,and was completed with a modest budget of approximately 200 million won (roughly $150,000 USD).
Yeon believes the Korean film industry is at a turning point. He noted the current investment system often prioritizes consensus and risk aversion, perhaps stifling innovative approaches. “We need to find breakthroughs,” he stated, suggesting a willingness to explore choice production models and storytelling techniques.
“The theater film system is changing significantly,” Yeon observed. “I think there’s room for more experimentation,and for films that don’t necessarily rely on huge budgets to deliver a powerful story.”
“Face” promises to deliver just that – a gripping, suspenseful narrative driven by a compelling mystery and a unique stylistic approach, signaling a potential new direction for the acclaimed director and Korean cinema as a whole.
[Image of Yeon Sang-ho – credited to Plus M Entertainment]
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