KCrush BIFF 2023 – Interview with Yeon Je-gwang, Writer and Director of THE GUEST
November 20, 2023 | 3844 Visits
Not every guest is welcome, and certainly not those at a creepy motel located in the middle of nowhere. Written and directed by Yeon Je-gwang, The Guest is a psychological thriller that asks what would you do if you see someone’s worst nightmare begin to unfold before you.
Based on his original short film which screened at the Cannes Film Festival and won Best Thriller at the LA Independent Film Festival, The Guest had its world premiere at the 2023 Busan International Film Festival, and is Yeon’s feature debut.
It stars Oh Hye-won, Jeong Sook-yo, and Lee Ju-seung and Han Min as Min-cheol, and Young-gyu respectively, two friends working to pay off a debt by secretly recording the private interactions between the guests of the motel.
Voyeurism is a premise that’s been used before in film, but Yeon ups the ante and layers to this already disturbing act by subtly asking the question what men can and should men do when they watch a woman be violated not only by an attacker, but they themselves when their actions of voyeurism as violations themselves.
Following the film’s world premiere, I had the opportunity to have a sit-down interview with Yeon to speak about his inspiration for the film, and how it’s premise of voyeurism and violation relate to the real world as recording women in public and private spaces are acts of violence, giving his female character an arc that gives her self-determination and agency.
Interview interpretation done by Park Chan-yeon
Carolyn Hinds
Freelance Critic, Journalist & Podcaster
African American Film Critics Association Member, Tomatometer-Approved Critic
Co-Host & Producer So Here’s What Happened! Podcast
Bylines at http://Authory.com/CarolynHinds
Twitter & Instagram: @CarrieCnh12
Thank you for the opportunity to talk about Lemiti U and this very personal project. Below are the responses to your interview questions: 1. Can you introduce Lemiti U & the story behind its formation? Lemiti U was born from the creative urge to... Read More
Is there any singular moment in our lives that is ever truly without meaning? In his debut feature film Ulysses, Japanese filmmaker Uwagawa Hikari seeks to find this out through seemingly random improvised sequence of events and discussions... Read More
From gritty lyricism to turbo-charged beats, SC4F has quickly carved out his name in Korea’s rising underground hip-hop scene. Known for his high-octane “Twin Turbo” series and dynamic collaborations with MADII, SC4F continues to push sonic... Read More
For her debut feature film Sumbisori, writer and director Lee Eun-jung uses the unique culture and community of Korea’s famed Haenyeo, to explore the strained relationship between a daughter, Hae-jin (Lee Sun-bin), and her mother Ok-ran (Seo... Read More
Based on the 2016 award-winning novel “Winter in Sokcho” by Elisa Shua Dusapin, filmmaker Koya Kamura’s adaption and debut feature film, is a quiet introspection on what identity, beauty, and self-confidence looks like in modern day South... Read More
For her second feature length film Mistress Dispeller, documentarian Elizabeth Lo follows a wife, her husband, his mistress, and the dispeller, the woman hired to cast out the mistress like a spell created to break the fragile bonds of marriage.... Read More
How far would a husband and father run to escape the grief howling at his howls like a dog begging to be noticed and acknowledged? How much can his children go before the exhaustion of refusing to face this monster nipping at their heels drags them... Read More
🎤 In this exclusive interview with KCrush America Magazine, we sit down with Microdot, the Korean-New Zealand rapper, for an honest and inspiring conversation about life, legacy, and his highly anticipated ‘WITHER’ EP. Following his raw and... Read More
Since their debut, YOUNG POSSE has been making waves in the K-pop scene with their dynamic rap style and fresh energy. Fresh off their Texas tour and with the release of their emotional new track “Cold”, the group is proving their versatility.... Read More
Following “SUPERWOMAN” and “You Don’t Know,” what message does your new comeback title track convey? Is there a connecting story between these three songs? HYEONJU : ‘SWICY’ is a song where you can see UNIS’s... Read More
Leave a Reply