The Korean zombie blockbuster 'Train to Busan' opens in Argentine cinemas on Jan. 12 with the Spanish title 'Invasion Zombie.'
The 2016 blockbuster "Train to Busan," which attracted 10 million theatergoers in Korea, and over 100 million across Asia, North America and Europe combined, pulled into Argentina on Jan. 12.
Released under the Spanish title "Invasion Zombie," the movie swiftly climbed the box office charts there, occupying the number three spot one week after its opening.
Leading up to the official release, there was a lot of media buzz thanks to the movie's international track record in box offices around the world. On Jan. 7, Perfil, a Buenos Aires newspaper, covered the movie in anticipation of its opening in an article titled "The arrival of the Korean zombies" (Los zombies ahora vienen desde Corea). For the piece, the interviewer sat down with the movie's director, Yeon Sang-ho, to hear his thoughts on the elements that led to the film's success.
"Though we hadn't realized it yet, the new generation of theatergoers was more than ready for the kind of zombie movie that 'Train to Busan' is," said director Yeon in response to what made the feature into a global sensation. "I think the fact that the movie takes place in the most ordinary of locations made it easier for people to relate to the story as a whole, " he added.
Yeon Sang-ho, director of 'Train to Busan,' explores the dark side of human nature when it's faced with extreme circumstances, like a zombie apocalypse or having no Wi-Fi.
Director Yeon, who was previously best known for his animated works, succeeded in creating a modern and visually creative movie with a strong social message with his first feature-length film. "All of my previous work ran on similar themes, but for 'Train to Busan' I was really able to spread my wings and explore all the possibilities, without too many limits. I think that movies become most powerful when they walk the line between fiction and reality, whether it's an animation or an actual film" said Yeon.
"Through this film, I made a point of observing the chaos that ensues in restricted spaces. I placed a lot of emphasis on creating a world that mirrored reality. I zoomed in on individuals as they came face-to-face with extreme circumstances. The zombies are really just a catalyst for setting up a situation for which people are unprepared, so that we can observe how quickly people lose their reason in an apocalyptic world," explained Yeon.
Asked about the key element of the zombie action genre, Yeon replied that it's that moment when a person inflicted with the virus loses any sense of what makes them human, and turns into a zombie. "At that specific moment, whether we realize it or not, we can see past our sadness and identify with the humanity that connects us all."
By Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: IMDB
hlee10@korea.kr
