Director Wong Kar-wai's first drama "Blossoms" is landing in Korea.
On the 26th, SBS Drama Production and distributor Studio S announced that Wong Kar-wai's first TV drama series "Blossoms" (繁花, Blossoms Shanghai) will premiere for Korean viewers on July 7 through SBS F!L UHD. This release will include a greeting video from Wong Kar-wai to Korean viewers, along with the main poster, stills, and teaser trailer, generating excitement among fans.
Studio S, responsible for domestic import/distribution, conveyed the confirmed news of "Blossoms" airing in Korea, noting that Wong Kar-wai's unique aesthetic that resonated deeply with film fans will also be evident in the drama. In particular, the classic song "Let's Twist Again" by Chubby Checker featured in the teaser trailer will further highlight the director's distinctive sensibility and originality.
Wong Kar-wai's new challenge: the human tableau amidst the glamour of 1990s Shanghai
Wong Kar-wai, who has a solid fan base in Korea through films like "In the Mood for Love," "Chungking Express," and "Happy Together," has established himself as a renowned director representing 1990s Asia with his delicate direction and unique visual style. His first TV drama, "Blossoms," is a period piece set against the backdrop of 1990s Shanghai, depicting the journey of a poor young man named Abao (played by Hu Ge) who enters the world of capital and grows into a millionaire during the reform and opening-up era.
The work intricately portrays the dramatic narratives of characters as Abao navigates love, ambition, and loneliness entangled with three women: Lingzi (played by Mai Li), Miss Wang (played by Tang Yan), and Lili (played by Xin Zhilei). This is expected to provide viewers with deep immersion, enhanced by Wong Kar-wai's unique portrayal of character psychology and his sensuous visual style.
The power of the original work and the director's craftsmanship
"Blossoms" is based on the novel of the same name by author Jin Yucheng, published in 2012, which won the Mao Dun Literature Prize, China's top literary award, acknowledging its literary quality. Wong Kar-wai, who grew up in Hong Kong and is originally from Shanghai, purchased the rights to "Blossoms" in 2014 due to his special affection and interest in his hometown, completing the drama after about seven years of preparation and three years of filming.
Grand scale and detailed authenticity
One of the co-production companies, Shanghai Film Group, provided large-scale filming locations in Shanghai to realistically recreate the dazzling night view of the city depicted in the drama, restoring streets like Huanghelou (河路) and Jinxianlu (路) to a 1:1 scale. Additionally, every detail, including the neon signs in the drama, the floor patterns in hotel interiors, and props like stamp albums, underwent meticulous historical verification. For this purpose, Wong Kar-wai and the cast conducted a campaign to collect old items related to Shanghai from that era.
Acknowledgement of both popularity and artistry
This drama, which aired simultaneously in December 2023 on Chinese CCTV-8 and Tencent, recorded the number one spot in OTT popularity throughout its run and is being acclaimed as a well-made drama that garnered both critical and public acclaim during various award ceremonies in 2024. It also stirred considerable interest among Korean fans, having been recognized with the Best Work Award at the Asia Content Awards held alongside last year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).
Wong Kar-wai's first TV drama "Blossoms" will premiere in Korea on July 7 at 10 p.m. through the SBS F!L UHD channel, and will be available for viewing from the following day, July 8, on various platforms such as KT Genie TV, SK Broadband Btv, LG U+TV, HomeChoice, KT Skylife, Tving, Watcha, and Wavve.
[Photo] Provided by Studio S.
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