London:
Korean director Bong Jun Ho, who made history with four wins at the 2020 Oscars, says that genre blending is the only way he knows how to make a film, and he was once even told himself that it was a genre.
In his first parasite, his latest film, Mickey 17, he weaves science fiction with comedy, telling the story of a former pastry chef who finds himself in an extraordinary predicament where he has to die for a living.
Based on the novel by Edward Ashton, Robert Pattinson stars as a so-called “consumables” on his mission to colonize a planet that he needs to die and return to life.
Reuters spoke with Bonn and cast members Naomi Ackie, Toni Colette and Stephen Yong.
Below is an excerpt edited for length and clarity. Bonn spoke through a translator.
Q: Why do you choose to mix genres within the film?
Bon: “From the beginning, I didn’t think I was merging different genres…I didn’t know any other way to make a film. In fact, at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019, “Parasite” was first shown, a journalist said… “We don’t need to define the parasite genre.
Q: What do you think genre blends will bring to Mickey 17?
Colette: “It’s like life, life isn’t just one genre, life is everything. Why isn’t our story all?”
Ackie: “It portrays science fees. If I’m watching fear, are you scared here, or if it’s a romance, when will they kiss?
Q: Why is this story right today?
Bon: “I think Mickey’s character resonates with many young people. Everyone wants to find an irreplaceable identity and presence that is important, but real society doesn’t treat them that way… If you quit your job, you can easily replace them with others. Reuters