Goo Kwon-ho as the Villain: "Korea's Joker? My Role Was a Success" [Cannes★Interview] ②

*This content was translated by AI.

• Invited for Midnight Screening at the 79th Cannes International Film Festival... Interview with Director Goo Kwon-ho of the film 'COLONY'

Actor Goo Kwon-ho expressed satisfaction with being praised as "Korea's Joker."

On the 16th (local time), in the afternoon at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, Goo Kwon-ho held an interview for the film 'COLONY' (directed by Yeon Sang-ho), sharing stories related to the work. The film 'COLONY' was invited to the Midnight Screening section of the 79th Cannes International Film Festival and met audiences at the Grand Lumière Hall through its official screening on the 15th.

'COLONY' is a film about isolated survivors inside a building locked down due to an unidentified infectious outbreak, fighting against infected individuals evolving in unpredictable forms. Director Yeon Sang-ho, a regular at Cannes, was invited to the Cannes Film Festival for the fourth time, starting with his first feature-length animation 'King of Pigs' (2012, Directors' Fortnight), followed by 'Train to Busan' (2016, Midnight Screening), and 'Peninsula' (2020, Official Selection). Known for leaving a strong impression on the global film industry with genre films that blend Korean zombie themes with original twists, Director Yeon Sang-ho once again demonstrated his prowess as the father of Korean zombies through 'COLONY'.

In the film, Goo Kwon-ho plays Seo Young-cheol, a biological doctor who caused the infectious outbreak, acting as a villain with a new look never seen before.

When asked about his first impressions of entering Cannes, Goo Kwon-ho said, "I was nervous because it was the first screening, but seeing the audience applaud even from the lead-in film, I thought, 'This is a festival; let's enjoy it.' The overwhelming support and warm reception made all my tension disappear. I watched the film with the mindset of enjoying it. Coming to Cannes made me feel even closer to the film 'COLONY'."

Regarding the positive reviews for his character Seo Young-cheol, Goo Kwon-ho remarked, "You shouldn't cheer for a villain," and then added with a smile, "If people say they liked Seo Young-cheol, does that mean he was that terrifying?" He expressed his satisfaction with the response.

When asked about the reaction calling him "Korea's Joker," Goo Kwon-ho laughed and said, "Should I have held a Hwatu card?" He continued, "I feel great. I feel like I performed my role well. My position is to instill anxiety and fear. I thought about creating anxiety, fear, and suspense, entered the role simply, and now that it worked, I feel good."

Having worked with Director Yeon Sang-ho on four films, including 'Peninsula', 'The Wailing', 'Parasite: The Gray', and now 'COLONY', Goo Kwon-ho proudly confirmed his status as a member of the "Yeoniverse." He said, "This time, I felt that the director, while pretending not to notice, was observing us closely with a sidelong glance. Both myself and Hyun Bin often share meals and time with Director Yeon Sang-ho. Thinking back, I wonder if those moments were actually auditions. It wasn't like we were auditioning for the director's works, but now, looking back, it feels like those were auditions."

Meanwhile, 'COLONY', first unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival, will be released domestically on the 21st.

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*This content was translated by AI.