Vampire-Fest 'Thirst' Director Park: Grilled

“Oldboy,” “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance,” “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance” -- these three films constitute director Park Chan-wook’s "Vengeance Trilogy," a triumvirate that marked the arrival of South Korea on cinema’s world stage. “Oldboy,” a surrealist film noir about a former captive out for revenge, shocked audiences at 2003’s Cannes Film Festival, earning Park a Grand Jury Prize. His latest, “Thirst,” a character-driven vampire movie, took a special jury prize at this year’s fest.

Steven Spielberg will produce and maybe direct a remake of “Old Boy,” with “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance” and “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance” also being getting the Hollywood treatment. Park talks about the failure of prayer and the lure of Hollywood.

 

What is Spielberg’s involvement in “Oldboy”?
As far as I understand, it started out with him being in line to direct the film himself. Perhaps he may end up only producing it. I wonder if he knows himself. But I would be honored if he would direct the movie himself.

The studios seem to enjoy taking great films from Europe and Asia and making terrible American versions. Are you optimistic?
Either way, it’s all good. If a good film comes out at the end of the process, it means that my children will have all these great siblings. But if they come out to be poor versions of the originals, I can say, “Well, look, the original was better after all.”

I mostly would like the directors of these three projects to come up with something very different. The more different they are, the more I’ll be able to enjoy them. Of course, if they ask my opinion on the script or whatever, I’d be more than happy to give my views.

Would you consider coming to Hollywood?
I’m wondering, what is the reason for all these international filmmakers coming to Hollywood -- even though they know that the system works in certain ways and previously many people have tried the same thing and ended up making bad movies. Is it money? Is it fame? And if it is, are those reasons attractive enough or risk your reputation or risk your integrity?

I think it’s neither of these. I think it’s more because Hollywood has always been the center of filmmaking in the world and maybe these filmmakers want to experience what it is like to make a film there so that after they retire, in their old age they don’t have regrets. If it results in a good film, it’s brilliant. If not, they can shrug it off and go back to where they came from.


“Thirst” focuses on a priest who, during a blood transfusion, becomes a vampire. Is it meant to be a statement about the Catholic Church?
I wanted to deal with people who have faith, people who want to do good deeds by sacrificing themselves and dedicating their lives for the good of mankind.

 

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