Park Hae-soo Defends Controversial Film 'The Great Flood' Amid Mixed Reviews

The film 'The Great Flood' has sparked a wide range of opinions, and lead actor Park Hae-soo has stepped up to defend the project amidst criticism.

On the 23rd, Park Hae-soo, who stars in Netflix's 'The Great Flood,' was interviewed at a café in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Dressed in a black turtleneck and gray jacket, Park exuded a gentlemanly charm.

'The Great Flood' is an SF disaster blockbuster that depicts the struggle of humanity's last hope on Earth as they fight for survival in a submerged apartment on the final day of a catastrophic flood. Park Hae-soo plays Hee-jo, a member of the human resources security team at the AI research lab where Anna (played by Kim Da-mi) works.

In the film, the tension between Hee-jo and Anna could have been heightened with more scenes of their conflict. Park candidly shared his thoughts on the limited screen time and the unclear functional role of his character.

He explained, "Hee-jo has values that contrast with Anna's and poses questions to her. There were more scenes filmed, including ones where they fight together and Hee-jo helps Anna when she's in danger." He added, "At one point, the director called me and mentioned that my scenes might be cut. He explained that Anna needed to face challenges on her own, which I completely understood."

The film's genre-blending nature has also been a point of contention. While it was expected to be a disaster movie, it incorporates SF elements, motherhood, and AI, crossing genre boundaries excessively. Despite the grand flood setting, the film continually questions what choices Anna, a mother and researcher, will make for humanity's future.

Regarding the mixed reactions, Park stated, "People have countless emotions, and everyone has different expectations and values. I understand that there were many eyes on this project. But whether people like it or not, such interest is necessary for the next generation to take on new challenges." He also noted, "The script was unconventional. The sequences weren't clearly laid out, and I later realized scenes were repeating."

As for working with director Kim Byung-woo, Park shared, "Initially, it was awkward since we're both shy. We met at a coffee shop and found humor in our shyness. I wondered how such a shy director could write this script. Over time, I realized that at the core of his mind is a deep affection for humanity, which gives the film its unique energy."

While Park seemed satisfied with Kim's unique directing style, viewers still have mixed feelings. Having released four projects on Netflix this year, Park Hae-soo is set to return next year with 'Scarecrow' on ENA. The series follows a detective investigating a serial killer who unexpectedly teams up with someone he despises. Fans are eager to see Park's new role as an ace detective.

Ryu Ye-ji, TenAsia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr