The Irony and Paradox of 'The Sympathizer'... Director Park Chan-wook's Meticulous Design Method (Press Conference)

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"It's a story that never truly ends. It's not just someone else's tale. It will deeply resonate with us as well." (Director Park Chan-wook)

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Director Park introduced 'The Sympathizer', a story told through the perspective of a man who doesn't belong anywhere. The duality is emphasized through this character with two faces.

Although it's a story set in another country, it ultimately mirrors our own.

"Haven't we also experienced war? I believe it will strike a chord with us," he remarked. Irony, paradox, and absurdity are at the core of this narrative.

Once again, Park's signature style shines through. His distinctive humor and wit stand out. To a potentially heavy story, he adds funky music, instantly shifting the mood to a lively one.

At the climax, he abruptly cuts the scene. Time rewinds. Then, another story unfolds. This is how he draws in the audience.

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'The Sympathizer' held a press screening and conference at Megabox COEX Dolby Cinema in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, at 2 PM on the 18th. Director Park Chan-wook was in attendance.

'The Sympathizer' is a story about a Vietnamese-American youth who seeks asylum in the United States after the fall of South Vietnam in the 1970s, caught between two ideologies.

It is based on the novel by Vietnamese-American author Viet Thanh Nguyen.

Director Park Chan-wook serves as the co-showrunner and executive producer. He has overseen all aspects of the production, including writing and directing.

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It's a story about America and Vietnam. What does it mean to direct a story set in a foreign country?

"While there may be a sense of distance, as citizens of countries sharing similarities in modern history, there's also a feeling of empathy," he said.

He was particularly drawn to the intriguing tale set in the Cold War era.

"There's a term called the 'New Cold War'. It has never truly ended. In South Korea, the ideological conflicts are intense. It didn't feel like someone else's story," he shared.

For example, the military tensions and ideological struggles between North and South Korea.

"The fact that these two elements, along with civil war, were experienced with powerful nations in the background. This history and reality are like the air we breathe," he explained.

Director Park said, "I utilized my own identity in making this. There were advantages and disadvantages.

" He layered various elements into the film, including ideological confrontations and conflicts between East and West.

He meticulously studied the regions, histories, and events featured in the story.

"I had many conversations with the original author. I was able to understand his intentions. I tried to respect that as much as I could while employing cinematic expressions," he shared.

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The drama is primarily set around the scenes where the Captain (played by Hoa Xuande) is confined in a solitary cell, writing his confession.

The film unfolds through the contents of his statement.

Director Park explained, "In literature, inner thoughts are fully written out. In contrast, films only include actions and dialogues.

That's why adapting the original work into a screenplay was incredibly challenging."

He meticulously designed the details. "The most important aspects to keep in mind for this work are irony, paradox, and absurdity," he emphasized.

"What's visible on the surface isn't everything. There are completely opposite meanings hidden within."

Two narrative devices were established: the person writing the confession and the one forcing him to recall his memories.

As the Captain makes his statement, the story flows, and the enforcer's intervention pauses the scene.

"At that moment, the scene returns to a specific point," he explained. "As it replays, information different from what was just seen is presented. It combines literary devices with cinematic techniques."

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All the characters from the original work make an appearance.

The Captain is a man on the boundary of everything.

It starts with his background. He is of mixed Vietnamese and French heritage. He is a secret police officer in South Vietnam and a double agent for North Vietnam.

The character Director Park is most fond of is the General (played by Toan Le).

"He's a clown wearing a crown. At a glance, he seems ridiculous, but he's an incredibly cruel and terrifying person," he described.

Claude (played by Robert Downey Jr.) is portrayed as a representative figure of the Western world.

"He does bad things, but as an individual, he plays a father-like role to the Captain. He guides his divided self," he said.

Loda Joo takes on four roles: a CIA agent, professor, congressman, and film director. Director Park crafted him as a symbolic character embodying the vast American system and capitalism.

Park Chan-wook said, "I realized that 'they are ultimately one being.' I wanted to make that clear. I wanted the viewers to instantly grasp that. We had numerous discussions to achieve that."

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The primary focus was on comedy.

It required more than the cynical metaphors and intriguing wit found in the original work. Director Park meticulously depicted the environments and spaces the characters inhabit.

"I used elements and tools not present in the literature to humorously reveal the absurdity of these situations," he shared.

"It's the part that differs the most from the novel and where I put in the most effort."

'The Sympathizer' is a challenging work for Park Chan-wook as well. Understandably so, as he conducted countless auditions in Vietnam. He even cast non-actors.

ry basics, like camera positions. It was a joy to grow together with them."

The way he hired directors is also distinctly Park Chan-wook. There are multiple directors. Park directed episodes 1-3, Fernando Meirelles directed episode 4, and Mark Munden directed episodes 5-7.

In particular, Fernando Meirelles has a completely opposite style to Director Park.

"Episode 4 is a standalone story, so it required a director with a different style. There couldn't be anyone more opposite to me. He will showcase a vibrant directing style," he hinted.

Multiple directors telling a single story.

There are concerns about consistency. "Since I write the scripts and handle post-production, consistency is guaranteed," he explained. "I discussed the intentions with the directors line by line in advance."

Director Park said, "These days, viewers enjoy binge-watching. I made this while thinking about the anticipation for the next week when watching a thrilling drama as a child."

He continued, "Ruthlessly cutting off at the climax may be considered a 'cheap trick,' but I enjoy that taste. I hope you wait and savor it."

Lastly, he remarked, "It's a work with a lot of humor. You might wonder if it's okay to laugh, but it's made for that purpose. It's not uproarious laughter, but I hope you relish that humor as you watch."

'The Sympathizer' will release two episodes on Monday, the 22nd. Every Monday at 8 PM, one episode will be released on HBO

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