"The Secret to Captivating the World? Family-Friendly Entertainment Movies"

Movie 'Seungriho' Director Jo Seong-hee "Message of Harmony Through Child 'Kkotnim'"
Despite Mixed Reviews, Netflix Ranks No.1 in Playback for Three Consecutive Days

The Netflix film Space Sweepers was unveiled on the 5th. Reactions are mixed. Praise for its entertainment and emotional impact coexist with criticism that it merely imitates Hollywood. The latter mostly comes from audiences familiar with space operas?action dramas set in space. They give low scores due to scenes reminiscent of the Star Wars series, Serenity, and Guardians of the Galaxy, bland plot development, lack of plausibility, and melodrama. Some dismiss it as only a technical achievement. However, Space Sweepers was released worldwide simultaneously and was the most streamed film for three consecutive days. It clearly has enough charm to captivate people of all ages. Director Jo Sung-hee explained, "Because we made it an entertaining movie that the whole family can enjoy for two hours."

- What do you think captivated the audience?

"Perhaps curiosity about space. I think people were curious about how a space chase and other elements were realized in Korea. I hope it becomes an opportunity for people to recognize that Korea produces a variety of films."

- There have been criticisms about the story development, etc...

"To make an entertaining movie, you need many elements like visuals, action, and characters. While we achieved some of these, we also missed many points. Due to time constraints, quite a few scenes were cut. The drama inevitably had weaknesses."

- Following your previous work Detective Hong Gil-dong: The Disappeared Village, a child (Kkotnim) appears again...

"The reason I keep including a child is because I am very interested in creating families. This time, it also aligns with the core theme of the film. From the perspective of the universe, nothing is disposable. I hoped Space Sweepers would be read as being led by Kkotnim’s hand. Just as all the crew members do not abandon him but unite."

- Which film influenced you the most?

"There isn’t a particular work I can point to. When I got stuck writing the script, I found help from the animation Coco. Watching the scene where the protagonist reunites with deceased family turned anxiety into certainty."

- You expressed the exterior of the Space Sweeper as rough and rugged...

"I wanted it to smell of manual labor even at a glance. The interior is the same. The spaceship is large, but the living space for the crew is cramped. Most of the space is taken up by cargo, concentrated at the front. I referenced trucks I saw in the U.S. They run endlessly on the road for days, but the only space to eat and sleep is the driver's seat. That means we have little time to enjoy life. The crew of the Space Sweeper are the same. They live day-to-day."

- There are scenes that seem designed with IMAX or 3D screenings in mind. Is it disappointing that it’s only streamed on online video services (OTT)?

"I feel more gratitude than regret. Meeting audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic is an incredible blessing. Many works finish production but cannot be released. Space Sweepers made a good choice."

- You said you paid a lot of attention so that the whole family could watch together...

"I can’t forget watching the Indiana Jones series in a movie theater when I was in elementary school. It was so much fun. I wanted children to feel that same emotion in Space Sweepers. So I minimized profanity and carefully depicted violence. The story was also adapted to be easy to understand. I had doubts about whether it was too mild, but those doubts have disappeared. I’ve heard many children ask to watch Space Sweepers again. That’s great. It’s rewarding."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.