The Host (2006)

Synopsis - After a careless Morgue empties hundreds of bottles of formaldehyde into the sewers near Seoul's Han River, it gives birth to a terrifying mutant. The monster attacks and abducts a little girl, Hyun-seo. The family mourns her death but a cell phone from the girl proves that she is still very much alive. Meanwhile the South Korean government and US military quarantines everyone that has been in contact with the mutant, under the guise of the dangers of contracting a make-believe virus. The family breaks free from the governments control and confronts the monster. The family, government, and monster face off in a climactic battle.

Directed by Joon-ho Bong
Genre - Comedy, Drama, Horro, Scifi, Thriller, Monster

Released in 2006




Director:
Joon-ho Bong is a South Korean director and screenwriter. He was born in Seoul and attended Yonsie University as a sociology major in the late 1980's and completed a two-year program at the Korean Academy of Film Arts. His graduation work Memory in the Frame and Incoherence was invited to screen at the Vancouver and Hong Kong international film festivals.
His first feature film Barking Dogs Never Bit (2002) was a dark comedy about a professor antagonized by the barking of dogs and Memories of Murder (2006) is a drama based on South Korea's first know serial murders. The Host (2006) was his first commericial success and he gained critical acclaim for his film.

Characters:

Song Kang-ho (Park Gang-du) - Song first major role was in No. 3 (1997), as a gangster training a group of recruits. He won his first acting award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. Song played a supporting role in the 1999 box-office hit Shiri. His first leading roles as a wrestler in The Foul King (2000) directed by Kim Ji-Woon and as a North Korean sergeant in Joint Security Area (2000) directed by Park Chan-Wook. Recently he has received critical acclaim for his portrayals of a vengeful father in Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), another film directed by Park Chan-Wook; an incompetent rural detective in Memories of Murder (2003) directed by Joon-ho Bong; a barber who dotes on his only son in The President's Barber (2004) d; and a semi-intelligent but doting father in the The Host (2006) directed by Joon-ho Bong. He was also casted as The Weird for The Good, the Bad, and the Weird (2008) directed by Kim Ji-Woon. He won Best Actor in the 2007 Asian Film Awards.

Byeon Hee-Bong (Park Hee-Bong) - Was a cult TV in the 70's because of his eccentric roles. He is most well known for playing the grandfather in The Host (2006) for which he won awards at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival and Blue Dragon Film Awards.

Bae Doona (Park Nam-joo) - She is best known outside Korea for her role as the protagonist's political activist girlfriend, Cha Yeong-mi, in Park Chan-wook's film Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) and as archer Park Nam-ju in The Host (2006).

Ko Ah-Seong (Park Hyun-seo) - She began a child star portrayed in dramas such as Sad Love Story (2005) and Beating Heart (2005). She made her feature film debut in 2006 as Park Hyun-seo in the Host (2006). She has received several award nominations for her role in the film, and won "Best New Actress" at the 2006 Blue Dragon Film Awards.

Reception - The Host premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2006 and was released nationally in South Korea on July 27, 2006. By the end of its run on November 8, 2006, the film was seen 13 million times, making it the highest grossing South Korean film of all time. The film was released on a limited basis in the United States on March 9, 2007, and on DVD, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD formats on July 24, 2007. It won several awards including Best Film at the Asian Film Awards and at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. The Host won 18 awards and received a further 10 nominations.

Genre and Main Themes - The film is satricial and political. It depicts a monster film in a politically charged light. The Korean government is a puppet for the American military who are more concerned with their public image rather than the safety of the people. The government is oppressive and paranoid. They use the situation to control the public rather than assist them, not listening to Gang-Du as he tries to save his daughter. The protesters are comical and lack any substance. They stand and shout but do not realize the dangers that befall on them until the satirical Agent Yellow is deployed. The misfit family comes together for a common goal and face the monster to save Hyun-seo and they are the ones to finally slay the beast. The film is about family bonds and the desire to do what it takes to protect the ones you love.

Discussion Questions -
How does this film relate to other monster films such as the Japanese Godzilla and American Cloverfield?
Is the film essentially Anti-American or is it just anti-government/military?
Do you like the CG animated monster and does it work for you?

Interesting Facts:
- Several of the actors and actress have acted in films directed by Park Chan-Wook and Kim Ji-Woon, Song Kang in particular has worked with all three directors frequently.
- There is a American Hollywood remake in the works which is slated for a 2011 release
- A first person shooter video game based on the film is under development
- Three of the characters of the film worked together again in the drama God of Study (2010)



References -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468492/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Host_%28film%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byeon_Hee-bong
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_Kang-ho
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bae_Doona
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko_Ah-seong
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Study