The world has been reduced to rubble by a massive earthquake. While no one knows for sure how far the ruins stretch, or what the cause of the earthquake may be, in the heart of Seoul there is only...
With an opening that immediately grabs your attention and draws you in, director Um Tae-hwa’s post-apocalyptic disaster film “Concrete Utopia” is an entertaining genre project that levies a searing social critique about the haves, the have-nots, and the idea of the “other.” It’s compelling, smart, and has a lot to say about class, kindness, and the unchecked tribalism that is slowing rotting the heart of modern society.
When a massive earthquake leaves the world in a state of ruin, the city of Seoul has been reduced to a pile of rubble. Every building has been destroyed with the exception of one lone apartment complex, the Hwang Gung. With their high rise the only thing left standing, Min-seong (Park Seo-jun) and Myeong-hwa (Park Bo-young) realize they must rely on their instincts and do anything to protect their property and their home. But when dozens of survivors show up at their door, freezing, starving, and begging to be let inside, they and the other tenants must make a difficult choice. Do they offer humanitarian aid or slam the door on those who post a threat to their own survival?
It’s a story that blends elements of “Triangle of Sadness” with “Lord of the Flies,” especially as the apartment residents work to restore order. They create their own micro-society with a well-organized schedule of rules, regulations, and job assignments that have everyone pitching in and serving a purpose. Everything seems to be running smoothly and it’s easy to look on with admiration at how these citizens are banding together to make the most of a bad situation, until you stop and realize that they’re doing so by sentencing hundreds of others to a certain death without food, water, or shelter.
It’s all too easy for the less affluent residents of the Hwang Gung to turn their backs on those seeking aid, because the rich houses are the ones that were destroyed. After years of looking down on them, the tables have now turned. The poorer people are in control, and the power has shifted dramatically.
Desperation sets in as the story unfolds, turning ordinary people into extraordinary monsters. Some of the male residents form a scavenger group that becomes a roving gang of pilferers and pirates. There’s violence. There’s murder. There’s even hints at cannibalism. Disasters bring out the best in people, but also the worst in people.
While “Concrete Utopia” is well directed and acted, it’s also repetitive and too long, especially with its bleak, sad tone. There are a couple of surprising and very effective plot twists, however, which keep the story humming, and the disturbing theme of class warfare is handled in an interesting (it not entirely original) fashion.
