Netflix Korean Actioner ‘Uprising’ Sets Controversial Precedent as Busan Film Festival Opener: ‘We Still Support Independent Cinema’

Programmers at the Busan International Film Festival have given their opening gala to “Uprising,” an action thriller with an all-star Korean cast that hails not from a traditional Korean studio, but from Netflix — the global streaming platform that has both disrupted and elevated the South Korean content industry.

Selectors have brushed aside criticism that the choice of a film that will skip a theatrical release and be available online within a couple of weeks is a troubling precedent. Instead, they have pointed out that the festival has long programmed TV series and also operates a content awards ceremony that is open to films, TV series and made-for-online content.

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At a press presentation for the opening title on Wednesday, festival programmer Park Dosin framed a response in terms of experimentation and exploration. “First, I enjoyed the film and was able to forget about the format while watching it. Second, independent films have long been our choices for opening night. But maybe it is time for a change. To try a more obviously popular film. We thought it would be worth giving this a try,” Park said.

Director Kim Sang-man was more sanguine still. “We all know that the industry is having a hard time at the moment. But this is a normal process,” said Kim. “It is not like the film industry is going to disappear.”

The current malaise of the Korean box office and the oft-criticized disruptive power of local and international streamers within South Korea, nevertheless make the film a controversial choice.

The picture’s lush production leans heavily into the craft and experience of Korea’s mainstream film industry. Park Chan-wook, director of “Oldboy” and “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance” was both co-screenwriter and producer of “Uprising.” It also boasts leading movie star Gang Dong-won (“Peninsula,” “Broker” “Kundo: Age of the Rampant”), in the role of a rebellious slave, and Park Jeong-min (“Hellbound” “Decision to Leave”) in another leading role.

Park did not show up at the Busan press event, but was a large unseen presence in Busan and during the filmmaking. “He was rarely able to join us on set, but the craft and the detail of his screenplay were huge contributions,” said Kim. “The way that he writes dialog provided real emotions and feeling for us to portray.”

But the press event inevitably hewed back to the film’s origin. “I want to make clear that Busan’s position as a supporter of independent film has not changed,” Park said after fielding a third or fourth question on the subject of Netflix.

“I know that this is a controversial topic. But maybe we should question the controversy itself. Is the size of the screen really the main criteria for judging whether something is a film or not?” Kim said.