Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
The movie 'Concrete Utopia' (director Eom Tae-hwa) captivated audiences around the world through its gala premiere screening at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival.

'Concrete Utopia', which raised the expectations of audiences around the world by being selected as one of the 10 most anticipated films of the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival by Forbes, successfully completed its gala premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada at 5 p.m. on the 10th (local time).
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
At the red carpet event held prior to the gala premiere screening, director Uhm Tae-hwa, Lee Byung-hun, Park Seo-joon, Park Bo-young, and Park Ji-hoo attended and received a lot of attention from reporters and fans. They responded to the pouring heat of coverage with relaxed smiles and greetings, while also sparing no fan service in response to the enthusiastic cheers of waiting fans, and repeatedly expressed their gratitude for the support towards 'Concrete Utopia'.

As soon as the movie began screening, 'Concrete' filled the running time, from the suspense provided by the unpredictable developments of those who survived the earthquake and the various human groups encountered in extreme situations, to the actors' excellent performances that delicately expressed them, to the highly complete directing. The audience finished the viewing with a mixture of laughter and tension due to Utopia's unique style.

The applause and praise from the media and the public immediately after the screening proved that the story of 'Concrete Utopia' has captivated global audiences, reaching universal consensus that transcends nationality. In particular, Awards Watch said, "It is the fruit of director Uhm Tae-hwa's directing and technical achievement," and Screen Daily said, "Along with 'Parasite' and 'Squid Game,' interesting films with well-built characters and clever plots, Korea's It is receiving rave reviews from foreign media, including “A story about a class that will rise to the ranks of masterpieces.”
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
Praise poured into the ‘Concrete Utopia’ (48th TIFF)
At the GV event that followed, Lee Byung-hun expressed his special affection for the character, saying, "The most important thing was to portray the gradual change of 'Young Tak' as he took power, and it was a very enjoyable part to film," and Park Seo-joon said, "It was a very enjoyable part to film." “I am very excited as it is my first time coming to a film festival, and seeing a movie in such a large theater feels very special, and being able to meet so many audiences is a very honorable and magical experience,” he said at the Toronto International Film Festival. He expressed his feelings about attending.

In this way, the movie 'Concrete Utopia', which captivated audiences not only domestically but also globally, continues to be a long-term box office hit with a message that transcends borders and generations.

'Concrete Utopia' is a disaster drama that tells the story of Seoul, which has been devastated by a major earthquake, with survivors gathering in the only remaining palace apartment. It was released on the 9th of last month.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr