Through "Odyssey," director Christopher Nolan, who has finally come to Korea, delivered a message to Korean audiences.
On the morning of the 3rd at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, a press conference was held for the film 'Odyssey's' visit to Korea. The press conference was attended by director Christopher Nolan, producer Emma Thomas, and actors Matt Damon and Charlize Theron, who spoke about the film.
The film 'Odyssey' (director Christopher Nolan, imported/distributed by Universal Pictures), set to open domestically on the 5th, is an epic about the hero 'Odysseus,' who led the Trojan War to victory and fights the wrath of the gods to return home.
On the day, Odyssey producer Emma Thomas attracted attention by appearing wearing a norigae ornament. She said the norigae was given by Universal Korea and that it was very pretty. She noted it especially seemed to fit the Odyssey theme well. She said she understood it was a traditional Korean accessory and felt honored to receive such a gift and be able to wear it.
Director Christopher Nolan has previously been greatly loved by Korean audiences for films such as Inception, Interstellar and Oppenheimer. He said he had wanted to bring his films to Korea for a long time, and that he thought that desire began with Interstellar. He knew Korean audiences really liked Interstellar and that it played in cinemas for a long time. He said it was surprising and pleasing that people in a country he had never visited liked his films, and that it made him want to visit. He said he wanted to bring the film, talk to audiences and hear their impressions. He added that he had planned to come to Korea for Tenet but could not because of COVID-19, and that he was finally in Korea with Odyssey and was very happy and curious to meet Korean audiences for the first time.
Especially, Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas visited the Ikseon-dong streets and tried salt bread as soon as they entered Korea. Director Christopher Nolan said they had a little time so they were able to look around Seoul, walk along the Han River, and that it was very beautiful. He said it was very hot but there were many cool places to be, so they could sightsee and eat salt bread, which was very tasty. He also spoke with fans, who welcomed them warmly, and he said it seemed like a truly great city and he wanted to spend more time there.
Emma Thomas also said she loves Korea very much. Like Chris said, she walked along the Han River and was amazed at how beautiful the natural scenery was. She mentioned there were birds and many pleasant places for people to relax, and that she went to Olive Young, dragging Chris along though he found it tiring, but she enjoyed it. She said her son's girlfriend is Korean American and helped them know what to do in Korea, and among the things they did was eat salt bread, so they did as much as possible.
Matt Damon, who watched a KBO League game at Gocheok Sky Dome wearing a Kiwoom Heroes uniform with his family, said he coincidentally had a friend who is a baseball agent whose player plays for the Kiwoom Heroes. He said he heard a lot about how good Korean baseball is and wanted to see it, and that it was fun. He said each team had its own cheering, which was very novel because they do not do that in the United States. He thought the energy and fan passion were tremendous, and that although it was the same sport, the different cheering styles were very interesting and enjoyable.
Charlize Theron, who said she had come to Korea a few months earlier on a family trip, said at the time she had visited Korea with her daughter because they love Korean culture and enjoy hanging out with friends here. She said she was very happy to be able to return, especially to come for Odyssey. She added that she has friends in Korea, that she made friends on her previous visit and met them and ate a lot of Korean food. She said she paid attention to skin care and that upon arrival the energy changed, which she and a friend had discussed. She described Seoul as very beautiful and culturally rich and said she felt that as soon as she landed at the airport, and that it is similar yet different and she was very happy to be in Korea for the official schedule.
Matt Damon, collaborating with Christopher Nolan for the third time, leads the film in the role of Odysseus. He said when the director called and said he wanted to entrust him with the role, he thought from that moment it would be the best opportunity and the greatest career experience. He said he had worked on two previous Nolan films with smaller roles but that Nolan's working process was excellent, and he expected this project to be similarly ambitious and challenging in approach.
He continued that the project started from a very ambitious idea and that the director's decision to shoot the entire film on IMAX was unprecedented. He said it was enormous, and hundreds of staff worked every day for that. He noted it was the first time he had worked with staff and actors so passionately and diligently. He said it was also the first time he was 100% sure on set that he wanted every single person there. He said it was an honor to work with actors and staff with such passion, and though filming with people devoted to the film and sweating was difficult, it was equally enjoyable, and it was a greater experience than any he had hoped for.
Charlize Theron, who plays the sea goddess Calypso, said the director was always very consistent and that she felt that. She said this was her first time shooting with the director and that she joined in the latter part with some nervousness. She said it was a very good experience and that she could ask Matt many questions to prepare for the set. She said she was moved that the director created an intimate atmosphere on set, warm like an independent film, which she did not expect given the grand scale. She described a scene where she and Matt walked by the sea, and as they and the staff worked with waves rolling in and the sun setting, a helicopter appeared in the sky to film. She said everything was systematically organized and the helicopter appeared at exactly the right timing. She said it was an honor to have such a lucky experience and expressed admiration for how methodically they worked.
Matt Damon lamented not receiving the compliment "PerfecT" from director Nolan, saying he had not heard the word "PerfecT" but hoped he would soon. He joked that he expected to hear it someday and that they often joked about it. He said the director once gave the compliment to Zendaya, and Tom Holland was there too. He said they joked that they hadn't heard it.
He said it felt like filming seven movies at once, with each location being difficult and challenging and each chapter having its own story. He noted that when they mastered the skills needed at one location, they had to develop new skills for the next. He added that if you work with Nolan, you would likely say yes to the next project because participating in a Nolan film is a different story that all actors would envy.
By contrast, when asked about the regret of not receiving the compliment "PerfecT," Charlize Theron drew a line by saying, "Not at all," which elicited laughter. She said she very much liked the direction and needed no other direction, and that she was enjoying filming so much she did not even realize she had not heard the word "PerfecT," while Matt Damon apparently did need it. She said she hoped he would do well in the future and added humorously that her phone number remains the same, so he should call her immediately if there is another project.
Regarding her role as Calypso, she said she just followed the script, which was detailed enough to let them know what the director wanted and what was needed. She said it was an eye-opening experience. She thought Calypso might be a one-dimensional character, but Nolan's Calypso was human, with ambivalent feelings and many personal complexes, which made the role interesting. She noted the costume included a net-like garment that made the character feel human and revealed aspects of Calypso people might not have imagined. She said creating previously unseen parts of a character is always an interesting experience for an actor. She added that she has not often had the chance to play such a static character, was glad to have the opportunity, and was happy to be able to show something. She said the interpretation of Calypso requires opening her heart and trusting Nolan after reading the script. She joked that Matt Damon was just so-so but the director was perfect.
When asked why audiences should see Odyssey in theaters, Christopher Nolan said the theater offers an experience of sharing a story with audiences that other mediums cannot provide. He said even though the camera can present a first-person perspective for an individual, the collective experience of being in a theater allows psychological, subjective insights to be emotionally exchanged with other viewers, making it both a personal and a group experience. He said that aspect is unique, different from other media, and valuable.
He said of course films can be accessed through many channels other than theaters, which is fine, but that the theater experience best defines a film creatively when it is first seen and when it first comes out. For a story like Odyssey, he said they made the film with the intent of inviting audiences on Odysseus's journey, filming so viewers could feel part of the journey, like being on the ship and climbing the mountain together. He urged audiences to experience that journey live on screen with other viewers.
Regarding the message he wanted to deliver to audiences, he said he wanted viewers to naturally accept, experience and come up with the answers they wanted. He said he hoped people would experience the film, and that while some Korean audiences may not know this story, they made it as accessible as possible. He added that they made it entertaining as an adventure story and hoped people would enjoy it.
Matt Damon said he felt a little nervous and that it was an exciting and nerve-racking moment to present the film to everyone. He said he was curious what people would think and want to say. He noted that, as with the original work, the resonance differs depending on where someone is in their life, and that because it contains many rich themes, people will be able to relate to it from various perspectives.
Charlize Theron said that the best part about going to the theater is having a personal experience and that leaving the cinema often starts new conversations, which is beautiful. She said she usually does not watch trailers and prefers to enter knowing nothing and embark on the journey. While it is hard to predict how people will respond, she hoped audiences would enjoy it and have a good experience. She said she hoped it would spark good conversations and that people she met had varied opinions about what kind of person Calypso is—some called her a villain, others a hero, and that interpretations depend on perspective. She said hearing diverse views is fun and exciting and encouraged everyone to see the film in theaters and share their thoughts.
Emma Thomas said she simply wanted audiences to enjoy the film. She said she appreciated the comments from those who have watched it and that many are giving opinions. She described film and theater as collective experiences where people communicate, empathize and experience bonding, and she hoped many people around the world would watch it that way. She noted the film includes various themes and that one of them is connection and bonding, which is the same as three years ago, and she hoped many would empathize with that.
Meanwhile, Odyssey opens domestically on the 5th.
[Photo] OSEN reporter Ji Hyung-jun
[OSEN]