The American media highly praised the American drama 'The Sympathizer' (original title: The Sympathizer), directed by Park Chan-wook.
On the 10th (local time), HBO held a preview screening of 'The Sympathizer' and received favorable reviews from major local media outlets that had seen the work first.
Time, an American current affairs magazine, highly praised “HBO’s spy thriller ‘The Sympathizer’ is a bold, ambitious and dazzling TV series.” Time commented on Park Chan-wook's colorful adaptation, saying, “People were worried when they heard that Hollywood was adapting a book like the Pulitzer Prize-winning 'The Sympathizer.' It was well received.
He continued, “This Korean director, who made hits such as ‘Oldboy,’ ‘The Handmaiden,’ and ‘Decision to Break Up,’ has been making films for decades that combine beauty and ugliness, genre metaphors and literary layers, and commercial films and artistic imagination.” “Director Park, along with co-showrunner Don McKellar, has created a vibrant, faithful and bold work that goes well with the excellent original novel,” he said.
The Hollywood Reporter also said, “The three episodes in which director Park Chan-wook is behind the camera have fun twists on the original work in various ways that can be said to be his trademark,” adding, “Director Park is known for his unique camera positions and the power of unexpected editing and color.” “I know it well,” he said.
'Sympathizer' is a spy thriller that tells the story of a North Vietnamese intelligence agent who infiltrated South Vietnam's secret police in the 1970s. It is based on the novel of the same name by Viet Thanh Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American writer who won the Pulitzer Prize in 2016.
Director Park Chan-wook participated as a co-showrunner and led the process from directing to production and scriptwriting. This is director Park Chan-wook's second time directing a series, following BBC's 'The Little Drummer Girl' (2018).
In this work, he was in charge of directing up to part 3 of the 7 parts, and the remaining four parts were divided between British director Mark Munden and Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles, known for films such as 'City of God' and 'The Two Popes'.
Local media also paid attention to the performance of Robert Downey Jr., who played four roles in this drama. The Hollywood Reporter praised him, saying, “It is almost certain that Robert Downey Jr. will take home the Best Supporting Actor Award for the first time at the Emmy Awards held in September this year.” Time also gave a favorable review, saying, “Downey plays all the main white men next to the main character with genius talent.”
The first episode of 'Sympathy' will be released on the 14th on HBO and streaming platform Max. Afterwards, six episodes will be aired sequentially every Sunday night.
In Korea, it will be available through Coupang Play within this month.
(SBS Entertainment News Reporter Kim Ji-hye)
