The New Film Couldn't Be Stranger Than the Sci-Fi Psychological Drama It's Adapted From
Greek surrealist filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos specializes in distinctly odd movies. His unique screenplays defy convention, such as The Lobster, in which single people are compelled to form relationships or face changed into beasts. In adapting another creator's story, he frequently picks source material that’s rather eccentric also — more bizarre, possibly, than his cinematic take. Such was the situation with 2023’s Poor Things, an adaptation of the novel by Alasdair Gray delightfully aberrant novel, a pro-female, open-minded spin on Frankenstein. The director's adaptation stands strong, but in a way, his particular flavor of weirdness and Gray’s neutralize one another.
Lanthimos’ Next Pick
His following selection to interpret similarly emerged from far out in left field. The original work for Bugonia, his newest collaboration with star Emma Stone, comes from 2004’s Save the Green Planet!, a confounding Korean fusion of sci-fi, black comedy, horror, satire, dark psychodrama, and police procedural. The movie is odd not so much for its plot — even if that's decidedly unusual — rather because of the frenzied excess of its tone and narrative approach. The film is a rollercoaster.
The Burst of Korean Film
There likely existed a creative spirit in South Korea in the early 2000s. Save the Green Planet!, the work of Jang Joon-hwan, was part of a surge of daringly creative, innovative movies by emerging talents of filmmakers like Bong Joon Ho and Park Chan-wook. It debuted alongside the director's Memories of Murder and Park’s Oldboy. Save the Green Planet! isn't as acclaimed as those iconic films, but it’s got a lot in common with them: extreme violence, dark comedy, pointed observations, and bending rules.
The Plot Unfolds
Save the Green Planet! revolves around a troubled protagonist who captures a business tycoon, convinced he is an extraterrestrial from the planet Andromeda, plotting an attack. At first, this concept is presented as broad comedy, and the young man, Lee Byeong-gu (Shin Ha-kyun known for Park’s Joint Security Area and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance), comes across as a charmingly misguided figure. Together with his childlike circus-performer girlfriend Su-ni (the actress Hwang) don slick rainwear and bizarre masks adorned with psyche-protection gear, and employ menthol rub in combat. Yet they accomplish in seizing inebriated businessman Kang Man-shik (Baek Yun-shik) and taking him to a secluded location, a dilapidated building assembled in a former excavation in a rural area, where he keeps bees.
A Descent into Darkness
Hereafter, the narrative turns into ever more unsettling. Lee fastens Kang to a budget-Cronenberg torture chair and inflicts pain while ranting bizarre plots, ultimately forcing the innocent partner away. Yet the captive is resilient; driven solely by the conviction of his innate dominance, he is willing and able to subject himself awful experiences in hopes of breaking free and dominate the clearly unwell protagonist. Meanwhile, a notably inept police hunt to find the criminal begins. The cops’ witlessness and lack of skill is reminiscent of Memories of Murder, even if it’s not so clearly intentional in a film with a plot that appears haphazard and spontaneous.
Unrelenting Pace
Save the Green Planet! continues racing ahead, fueled by its manic force, trampling genre norms underfoot, even when you might expect it to calm down or lose energy. At moments it appears like a serious story about mental health and overmedication; in parts it transforms into a symbolic tale regarding the indifference of the economic system; alternately it serves as a claustrophobic thriller or a bumbling detective tale. Director Jang brings the same level of hysterical commitment to every bit, and the lead actor is excellent, even though Lee Byeong-gu constantly changes between visionary, lovable weirdo, and dangerous lunatic in response to the film's ever-changing tone in tone, perspective, and plot. It seems that’s a feature, not a mistake, but it might feel rather bewildering.
Intentional Disorientation
Jang probably consciously intended to disorient his audience, of course. In line with various Korean films from that era, Save the Green Planet! draws energy from an exuberant rejection for stylistic boundaries partly, and a profound fury about societal brutality on the other. It’s a roaring expression of a culture gaining worldwide recognition during emerging financial and cultural freedoms. One can look forward to see how Lanthimos views the original plot from a current U.S. standpoint — arguably, a contrasting viewpoint.
Save the Green Planet! is available to stream at no cost.
