July 8th: THE HOST (Bong Joon-ho, 2006)

A dysfunctional family rallies together to save a young daughter abducted by a toxic waste-created monster.

South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho is one of the most prominent voices in modern Asian cinema, with worldwide acclaim and fans. A film school graduate, he began working in the industry as a writer and assistant director before making his debut, the black comedy Barking Dogs Never Bite. Bong followed with the crime procedural Memories Of Murder, a financial and critical success.

The Host would be Bong's most ambitious work to date, and one of South Korea's most expensive productions ever. Inspired by an actual court case regarding pollutant dumping in Korea by the U.S. military, the screenplay satirizes international relations, local government bureaucracy, and political activism, sparing no side.

What sets the film apart from its horror/action contemporaries is the attention given to the family at the center of the story's crisis, the eclectic roster of characters, and the talents of the actors playing them. Bong reunites with previous collaborators Song Kang-ho (Thirst) and Byun Hee-bong as well as young newcomers Bae Doona (Cloud Atlas) and Go Ah-sung. Veteran American actor Scott Wilson (Dead Man Walking) also appears.

The film was shot on location in Seoul, including inside actual sewers near the Han River. In addition to practical effects, extensive computer effects were also required to realize the enormous creature. Work was done by Korean artists, Peter Jackson's WETA Digital, and San Francisco-based The Orphanage. Bong had heavy involvement in the monster's design as well as its on-screen movements.

The Host screened at the Cannes, Toronto, and New York film festivals, securing a wide international release. In South Korea, it became the highest grossing film of all time, selling 13 million tickets in a population under 50 million people. It placed on various American critics' Top 10 lists, and received Best Film honors at the Korean and Asian film awards.

Running time is approx. 2 hours.