A Study of South Korea’s Social Landscape
High Society (2018) directed by Byun Hyuk, tells the story of Jang Tae-joon (Park Hae-il) a university instructor who aspires to a political career, and his wife, Oh Soo-yeon (Soo Ae), a deputy curator at an art gallery. Together, they try to climb the social ladder and, in the process, get involved in an intricate web of deceit and moral compromises. The interplay of ambition and identity, and what people are willing to sacrifice to attain their objectives, are key themes in the film.
The People: The Characters and Their Stories
Park Hae-il: Since 2002, when he starred in Oasis, and later in The Host (2006), Park Hae-il has drawn audiences to his characters. Tae-joon is the first role in which he portrays the inner conflict of a character whose ambition drives him to a political thorn moral quandary, a first in the industry for a performer of his standing.
Soo Ae: Her role as Soo-yeon is not new for the actress. She has consistently resonated with women willing to compromise their ethics. Over the twenty years of her career, Soo Ae has proven to be a versatile actress. Her role as Soo-yeon is not new. She has consistently resonated with women willing to compromise their ethics. Over the twenty years of her career, Soo Ae has proven to be a versatile actress. She has consistently dedicated her work in a manner that meets her characters’ expectations and challenges societal norms.
Lee Jin-wook: As an artist entangled in the moral complexities of a couple’s ambitions, where he plays the role of Shin Ji-ho, Lee Jin-wook plays an important part in expanding the intricacies of the storyline. His performance as an artist in a morally difficult situation, in part, mirrors his own artistic duality in the industry as he juggles commercially successful roles while also giving award-winning performances.
Connecting with the Indian Audience: Cultural Resonance
High Society’s themes correlate with an Indian audience as class-based exploitation and the attainment of power are dominant features of Indian society. As the film depicts a character’s obsession with upliftment while also losing their identity, it vividly describes the driving societal ambition placed on an individual in India. Characters portrayed in the film tactically depict the indirect Indian ethos of losing moral grounding while navigating frictional societal obstacles in the quest for elevated social status.
Behind the Scenes: Crafting the Narrative
Creating High Society came with its own set of challenges. While the production team sought take the critical tone of the film and balance the iridescence of the elite world with its portrayal. For the art gallery scenes, the set and costumes were elaborately constructed to mirror the ambitions of the characters. Director, Byun Hyuk, focused on the need for the performers to embrace a minimalist approach to acting, suggesting that subtle facial and body movements may dramatically encapsulate the characters’ struggles.
Stage chemistry among the primary cast members was one of the most important elements to the film’s success. For their characters’ complex marriage, opposites Tae-joon and Soo-yeon, Park Hae-il and Soo Ae participated in numerous joint rehearsals, and devised a captivating relationship for the camera.
Audience Reactions and Critical Reception
When High Society premiered, the film was instantly a hot topic, celebrated for its complex characters, bold narrative and outstanding lead performances. Others argued the pace and structure of the narrative undermined the films overall brilliance. This film was able to ignite intense debates on ambition, morality and class, despite a negative critique. Most audience members connected the film to their own socio economic structures.
Legacy and Impact
High Society serves as proof to the intricacies and contradictions of one’s ambition and the social frameworks governing individual membership and participation. The film’s contemplative character and moral conflict representation invites disparate reception and discourse. It articulates the class and ambition framework enabling the audience to reflect and examine their social structure and the moral trade-offs involved in attaining it.
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