Bong Joon Ho, despite the darkness in his films, identifies as an optimist. He believes in confronting harsh realities rather than sugarcoating them, suggesting true optimism is rooted in hope amid despair. His latest film, Mickey 17, exemplifies this perspective. It follows Mickey Barnes, an expendable character repeatedly sent on dangerous missions for space colonization. The film balances themes of mortality and resilience, with a humorously tragic twist, as Mickeys are reborn for their missions. This blend of dark themes and occasional hope resonates through his storytelling and character portrayals, emphasizing the ordinary struggles against unforgiving systems.
"It doesn't work to deny the dark reality, to just gloss over it... You need to be vicious in portraying how pessimistic our reality can be."
"Bong's characters aren't heroes - they're regular people trying to avoid getting pulverized in the gears of the impassive systems they have no choice but to live within."
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