Will the 'Revelation,' directed by Yeon Sang-ho and acclaimed director Alfonso Cuarón, captivate global fans?

On the morning of the 18th, a production briefing for the Netflix film 'Revelation' was held on the second floor of Hotel Naru Seoul-MGallery in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Attendees included lead actors Ryu Jun-yeol, Shin Hyun-bin, Shin Min-jae, and director Yeon Sang-ho.

'Revelation,' based on the original comic of the same name, depicts the story of a pastor (played by Ryu Jun-yeol) who believes punishing the perpetrator of a missing person case is God's revelation, and a detective (played by Shin Hyun-bin) who is tormented by the ghost of her deceased brother, as they both chase their own faith. This is a new work by director Yeon Sang-ho, who created 'The King of Pigs,' 'Colossal,' 'Train to Busan,' 'Psychokinesis,' 'Peninsula,' 'Jung-ii,' 'Hell,' and 'Parasitic.'

This work stands out for the collaboration between director Yeon Sang-ho, who poses sharp questions about human nature and offers new and unique genre fun, and writer Choi Gyu-seok, who is recognized for his provocative and fresh materials and immersive storytelling. Notably, the film features famed director Alfonso Cuarón, known for both commercial success and artistic quality with films like 'Roma' and 'Gravity,' as the executive producer, drawing significant interest and anticipation for the meeting of the two creators. Additionally, the powerful performances of actors Ryu Jun-yeol, Shin Hyun-bin, and Shin Min-jae, who showcase remarkable synergy with their captivating acting skills, create an intense atmosphere.

Director Yeon Sang-ho, mentioning the title, noted, "It is a series of things that feel like various revelations. That’s why I chose 'Revelation.' It's a story about the downfall and salvation of characters who only see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe. Unlike my previous films, I tried to create a realistic tone and an intimate seamless thriller format, excluding fantasy elements."

The difference between the original and the comic is that, "While it follows the major content of the original, there are tonal differences as well. The original comic starts with a secular character. However, Ryu Jun-yeol suggested that rather than starting from a secular character, having a more relatable, ordinary, and devout stance would make the overall character appear stronger. So, I reflected that aspect of Ryu Jun-yeol."

On this day, director Alfonso Cuarón appeared in a video and said, "I participated as the executive producer of 'Revelation.' I’m sorry that I can’t be there in person today. Still, I'm grateful to be able to send a few words via video," he said. "This film explores how our beliefs shape us, as well as the subtle boundaries between faith, humanity, truth, and good and evil. It is also a deeply engaging psychological thriller completed by the overwhelming performances of Ryu Jun-yeol, Shin Hyun-bin, and Shin Min-jae. I hope this movie leaves a lasting impression on you and sparks various discussions. "

Yeon Sang-ho said, "Director Alfonso Cuarón is highly influential among my peers. 'Children of Men' had a great impact on me. He is a master of long takes and always adds cinematic inventions when making films," and added, "One day, director Alfonso Cuarón contacted my production company to say he wanted to work together. He mentioned that he would be open to working on a Korean film, not just an English one."

He continued, "It was around that time that I thought of the idea for 'Revelation.' The projects I had worked on had strong genre characteristics, so 'Revelation' had a lot of Korean elements. When I was pondering whether it could appeal globally, I first spoke with director Alfonso Cuarón," adding that, "We discussed whether a Korean story could be made in a global way, and he liked this idea. He said it seemed like 'a universal story rather than just a Korean one,' so we started producing it. Even after that, we shared various versions of the edited footage to communicate about it."

Ryu Jun-yeol passionately played the role of Pastor Seong Min-chan, who believes he has received a divine revelation to punish the perpetrator of the missing person case.

Ryu Jun-yeol said, "I made the most of my imagination within the universe of the series, and there were reasonable and flashy moments on set. I filled it from start to finish, and it was very enjoyable to film. The universe was beyond imagination."

Director Yeon Sang-ho remarked, "Ryu Jun-yeol asks a lot of questions. Hearing his questions makes me feel like my ears will bleed. However, the quality of those questions is good. When he asks a question, I feel the need to provide an answer, and that's a collaborative thinking process. It was enjoyable to find answers during that process, and I think that’s where direction emerges."

Ryu Jun-yeol shared about his chemistry with Shin Hyun-bin, saying, "It’s hard to meet someone of the same age on set. It felt like fate, not coincidence, that we met. It allowed us to create a good atmosphere. Being friends, we could act comfortably and happily." He also noted, "Shin Min-jae was considerate of me. As we considered each other, the set was very enjoyable. The director also helped create that atmosphere. Time passed so quickly that I thought, 'What if we extended it longer?'"

Shin Hyun-bin portrayed detective Lee Yeon-hee, who is troubled by the ghost of her brother, while Shin Min-jae played Kwon Yang-rae, a felon suspected in the missing person case.

Shin Hyun-bin stated, "While our movie can't be merely enjoyable and has some heavy and dark scenes, director Yeon Sang-ho allowed us to act freely and comfortably. It was a great joy to film. Before shooting, hearing about director Alfonso Cuarón was fascinating, and I found it hard to believe. During the process of working on the project, listening to the discussions and watching the videos was a new experience that showed me what was possible. "

She also noted, "To well express the character of a detective, I cut my hair short and made changes. It was the first time I didn’t do this much makeup. I tried to express the sense of justice and faith that this person is trying to overcome the inner fears they are experiencing, as much as their external appearance."

Shin Min-jae, who said, "Working with director Alfonso Cuarón is both nerve-wracking and exciting," is already collaborating for the fourth time with Yeon Sang-ho. He joked, "People say it’s because we resemble each other, but that’s not the case. (laughs) Even when I went elsewhere, director Yeon Sang-ho was mistaken for me. I really do think we look alike."

Regarding his experience working with Alfonso Cuarón, Yeon Sang-ho shared, "When I first expressed my desire to work together, I was known overseas for 'Train to Busan,' so I wondered if the reason was to make a film like 'Train to Busan.' When I talked about the idea for 'Revelation,' I told him that it would be a different movie from 'Train to Busan.' Director Alfonso Cuarón actually liked that aspect. He confirmed it wasn’t about making a film similar to 'Train to Busan.' He appreciated that I wanted to make a different film."

Additionally, he mentioned, "Surprisingly, director Alfonso Cuarón had been following me long before. It started when 'The King of Pigs' went to the Cannes Film Festival, which was 14 years ago. It amazed me that he had been watching since then." He continued, "The most important thing was what vision the film holds when we first talked. I made an effort to convey my vision for this film. He listened carefully to my vision and proceeded with his work during that time. Even later, during the editing phase, he would remind me about that initial vision, discussing what edits would be suitable to preserve it. He communicated about it even at the marketing stage, often asking whether 'this trailer conveys the director’s vision well.' I felt he was someone who aimed to fulfill that initial vision until the final launch."

Lastly, Ryu Jun-yeol stated, "Some may worry that based on the trailer, it resembles an occult or scary story, but it’s a realistic story that anyone can relate to. I have no doubt that viewers around the world, not just in Korea, will enjoy watching it," while director Yeon Sang-ho added, "'Revelation' is quite meaningful. Starting as an indie animation, I’ve made various films until now, and with 'Revelation,' I feel like I’ve consolidated and refined my color. If someone hasn't seen any of my past works, they should watch just 'Revelation.' It represents the essence of my work."

Meanwhile, 'Revelation' will be released globally on Netflix in over 190 countries on the 21st.

[Photo] Reporter Min Kyung-hoon

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