Considered a prime example of Korean New Wave cinema, the provocative, visceral thriller Oldboy has been digitally re-mastered and re-screened in South Korea on Nov 21, to mark the 10th anniversary of its release.
The film’s visuals have been revamped with color correction and a cleanup process, to be free of scratches and dust. Its editing and audios remain the same.
“It’s very old, as it was made during the analog age. It was a pity to see dusty, streaked prints being screened all over the world. I’ve wanted to make a digital version for a long time.” Director Park told
Yonhap News.
Oldboy was the second of Park’s Vengeance Trilogy. (Preceded by Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and followed by Sympathy for Lady Vengeance.)
Based on a Japanese manga, the film follows the story of one Oh Dae-su who is mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years without knowing his captor’s motives. When he is finally released, he sets out
on a vengeful journey to find the person responsible for locking him up.
“The element that attracted me was that it took place in a private incarceration facility.The room was described in the manga as being between the seventh and eighth floors–somewhere that nobody can really know exists. And in this place, one of our neighbors, who is known to be missing, is incarcerated. That starting point was something that mesmerized me. I thought the set-up was rather brilliant.” Park told The Boston Globe.
Oldboy won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival with high praise from jury head Quentin Tarantino, and received generally positive reviews from Western critics. It helped establish Park’s
reputation in the international film scene.The upcoming American remake helmed by Spike Lee is scheduled to be released on Nov 27. It stars Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Samuel L. Jackson, Sharlto Copley.
Director Park and cast members reunited for the 10th anniversary photo shoot on Oct 23.
Source : Hollywood Reporter