By Ica Hontiveros-Cheng
Of the last two space films that I’ve seen (Ad Astra, Life) I don’t think I’ve been so emotionally invested as I have been with South Korea’s own foray into space films, Kim Hyong hwa’s ‘The Moon’.
*‘The Martian’ has a special place in my heart because I read the book and I really like Andy Weir as an author, and that’s why I didn’t mention it earlier.
‘The Moon’ is so well made. From the set pieces, to the cinematography, I really liked the meteor shower and moonquake space scene. Hollywood should watch out, Korean films like this can give them a run for their money.
Using their strengths on drama, you just might find yourself wiping away a tear or two. ‘The Moon’ is not only a space action film, it also has themes on forgiveness and redemption and a beautiful reminder to see beyond country and personal gain, and that we are all citizens of one planet. As the story unfolds you will discover a story, within a story, the revelation like the blossoming of a flower, which makes the characters motivations ever more dramatic and believable.
Incredible acting from the whole cast. EXO’s Doh Kyong-Soo, Sol Kyung-gu, and Kim Hee-ae all deliver top-notch performances. There is also a nice balance of signature Korean comedy just to even things out. You have the comic relief, who manages to make the audience laugh, no matter how dire the situation, you have the spunky young apprentice who comes up with a fresh and unique solution to the problem at hand.
My only complaint about the movie? It was so cringe to hear the Caucasian cast deliver their lines, like can they actually hear themselves? It seemed like they were dubbed and it wasn’t a very good dubbing at that. It kind of reminded me of the Caucasian actors in Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’ -whoever is in charge of this, should review their process.
More than just a space-survival thriller ‘The Moon’ also has a lot of heart as it delves into our humanity and looking beyond nationality when it comes to helping out. ‘The Space Race’ may be about honor for country, and may have many political implications and motivations, but ‘The Moon’ reminds us that the moon does not belong to a single entity, but it belongs to the entire world. And that space programs and space exploration should always be geared towards a better future with the future of our children in mind.
If you want more Korean films to be distributed locally its best to support them when they come out, I know that there were a lot of fan screenings for ‘The Moon’ and that’s definitely a big help. I also know that the South Korean disaster-thriller film ‘Concrete Utopia’ is coming to local cinemas in September! To get you even more hyped up, it is South Korea’s entry to the 96th Academy Awards under the Best International Feature Film category. The film stars Lee Byun-hun, Park Seo-joon, and Park Bo-young.