“Doomsday Book” Korean Theatrical Poster
Director: Kim Ji-woon, Yim Pil-sung
Writer: Kim Ji-woon, Yim Pil-sung
Cast: Ryu Seung-beom, Kim Kang-woo, Song Sae-byok, Song Young-Chang, Kim Gyu-Ri
Running Time: 115 min.
By HKFanatic
“Doomsday Book” is an occasionally awkward mish-mash of off-kilter comedy and big sci-fi ideas; its anthology format tells three stories in total. In development since 2006, the film represents a collaboration between two of South Korea’s most creative directors: “Hansel & Gretel’s” Yim Pil-sung directs the opening and closing portions, while Kim Ji-woon of “A Tale of Two Sisters” and “I Saw the Devil” fame handles the middle story. Despite the presence of more than one filmmaker behind the camera, “Doomsday Book” feels remarkably cohesive in both its visual style and playful tone.
The first segment would make notorious vegan Morrissey proud as director Yim Pil-sung does his best to turn everyone in the audience into vegans. Cow lovers beware: Pil-sung traces a widespread viral outbreak back to a night of stir fry and in the process shows the entire journey a slab of beef takes in reaching your dinner plate. You might think twice the next time you order Korean Bar-B-Q. This off-kilter intro story is not the most convincing zombie apocalypse glimpsed onscreen in the past few years, but it’s entertaining enough and Korean movie buffs will likely recognize Ryu Seung-beom (“The Unjust,” “Arahan”) in the lead role.
The real heart of “Doomsday Book” is Kim Ji-woon’s middle chapter about a guide robot at a Buddhist monastery who claims to have achieved enlightenment. This poses the question: if a robot can reach nirvana so easily, what does that say about humanity’s continued struggle and failure to find internal peace? This tale strikes a decidedly more serious tone than the rest of the project, and there’s a palpable air of tension as the robot’s manufacturer moves in to try and shut their creation down. The robot’s visual design is also just plain superb – there’s a reason it’s been featured so heavily in “Doomsday Book’s” trailers and cover art.
The last segment arrives from Yim Pil-sung and details what happens when a young girl’s online purchase has unforeseen consequences. This closing chapter attempts to color the end of the world in a quirky, almost optimistic light. In lieu of the troubling issues facing our planet these days, it just about succeeds. Although most of the action is confined to one family’s safety bunker, this portion of the film proves to be as visually satisfying as the rest. Look for Bae Doona of “Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance” and “The Host” fame in a short cameo.
Anthology films are a tricky beast as each individual story is rarely given enough time to make an impression. “Doomsday Book” manages to sidestep this issue for the most part since its three stories feel linked by their darkly comic tone and far-reaching ideas; they all task the viewer with stepping outside themselves and considering the world around them – whether it’s the way we manufacture food; the “Blade Runner”-esque question of whether or not a machine can have a soul; or the importance of family. “Doomday Book” is true speculative science-fiction; it’s two of the finest filmmakers in their region offering audiences a glimpse of a future that is right outside their door.
HKFanatic’s Rating: 7/10
