Streaming media feels so disposable these days. If a movie makes it to the theaters, it becomes a conversation. Whether it succeeded or failed, people will talk about it. A dozen new films seem to hit streaming services every month, many of which fade from the zeitgeist a week after their release. The sorry state of film distribution does a disservice to films likeJung_E, which could have been groundbreaking.
Director Yeon Sang-hoexploded onto the worldwide scene with his celebrated 2016 filmTrain to Busan. It’s a fast-paced action/horror thrill ride that revitalized the ailing zombie movie genre. Yeon went on to direct an animated prequel and a standalone sequel. His streaming seriesHellboundwas rightfully celebrated, and he’s on his way toward directing a live-action adaptation of Hitoshi Iwaaki’sParasyte. His most recent film doesn’t have the profile of the rest of his career, but it does deserve it.
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What isJung_EAbout?
Jung_Etakes place in the 22nd century afterthe Earth was ruinedby human-induced climate change and constant pollution. Humans were forced to flee the planet and live in over 80 space-faring domiciles. Three of the largest shelters band together, calling themselves the Adrian Republic and declaring war on the remaining 77 and the people of Earth. The remaining nations combine their armies to create the Allied Force to oppose the Adrian Republic. The war has been prolonged far beyond its natural conclusion due to a single disaster. The Allied Force’s mightiest soldierwas a mercenary namedCaptain Yun Jung-yi. Jung-yi failed her final mission, allowing the war to continue and tragically leaving her in a coma.
Luckily, the future features methods of keeping the brain alive beyond the body’s demise. An illicit technology company called Kronoid Laboratory works tirelessly totrain an AI versionof Captain Jung-yi. The project is led by the war hero’s adult daughter, Yun Seo-hyun. Seo-hyun tries desperately to save what’s left of her mother. She wants to rehabilitate Jung-yi’s reputation and let the world remember her as a hero. The owner of her company has other ideas, as do her fellow scientists. Seo-hyun is suffering from a terminal illness that places a ticking clock over her head, but as the AI fails to complete Jung-yi’s mission over and over, their work develops into something new. It’s anexceptionally grim science fictionfilm that finds a beating heart in its central relationship.
Who was Kang Soo-yeon?
Jung_Edid capture some headlines whenit dropped on Netflix, but not for its qualities. The film was the final project of beloved Korean movie star Kang Soo-yeon. Kang began acting at three, acting in a wide variety of low-profile movies and TV shows over her early life. Her breakthrough role came in 1986 when she portrayed a fragile young servant who enters into a torrid affair with a wealthy man in Im Kwon-taek’sThe Surrogate Woman. This would be a tremendous achievement for any performer, but it marked the first time a Korean actor won awards at any international film festival. Kang put Korean cinema on the map in a way that no one ever had. Throughout the 90s and 2000s, Kang became Korea’s first worldwide movie star.
Kang took a nine-year break from making movies before taking the lead role inJung_E.Jung_Efinished filming in January 2022. Kang suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage in May that tragically claimed her life. In January 2023,Jung_Ewas released, marking Korea’s first world star’s final film.Jung_Eis dedicated to Kang Soo-yeon, who delivered one more impeccable performance in her last project. Her legacy cannot be overstated, and the world mourned her loss. The novelty ofJung_Ebeing Kang’s final film was its biggest claim to fame.
Why Didn’tJung_EBecome A Hit?
The unfortunate answer is multifaceted.Jung_Ewas the #1 film on Netflix a few days after it dropped, though it fell from that slot swiftly. It maintained a place of popularity on the foreign language chart. The fact is, the tragic passing of the film’s star was the only thing that keptJung_Efrom slipping by unnoticed. Critics were divided,some praising its heart and creativity, while others saw faults in its premise. Netflix did almost nothing to marketJung_E, just as they do almost nothing to promote 80% of the original content on the service.Jung_Ewas kneecapped by a distribution company that didn’t seem to care whether anyone had heard of it.
Jung_Emight not be the most original film ever made, but it finds a new angleon its sci-fi tropes. It’s a gripping action drama with a lot to look at and so much more to think about. Some truly bracing exchanges in this film will force its audience to consider everything from the future of healthcare to the complications of motherhood.Jung_Eis still available on Netflix, and it’s a must-see for fans of sci-fi action, Kang Soo-yeon, Yeon Sang-ho, or intelligent family dramas. It may not have changed the world, butJung_Estill deserves to be seen.
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