FIND IT AT 5TH:
The Host
CREATURE FEATURE EXAMINES INTERSECTION OF CLASS AND ENVIRONMENTALISM SONG KANG-HO AS PARK GANG-DU IN THE HOST (2006). COURTESY OF MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY. LTD.
MILO LOZA MILO LOZA
Find It It AtAt 5th Ave. is is a recurring column thatthatdent at PSU with a degree media artsinand been some of social a Love Story.to 5th Avenue is known and loved for Find 5th Ave. a recurring column reviews, previews “I in saw it first 2010,have when myabout sister gotsort really into struggle,” Bong In addition being a timely ecologically-focused ins reviews, previews and explores running and upfilm from Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts. Johnson said. “For the people who have seen playing foreign films like these, especially filmsHost corre and explores running and upcoming films at PSU’s independent Joon-ho’s movies and she was like, ‘you’ve got to see The Host!’” to the theater’s May lineup, Johnson said The coming films at PSU’s independent movie theater, “I’ve seen this movie probably four or five Parasite, it’s so relevant because it deals really which relate to contemporary issues. movie theater, 5th Avenue Cinema. While completing their associate’s degree in media arts, the with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage “I think [The Host] has a lot of qualities that 5th Avenue Cinema. times,” Johnson said. “It’s all about ecological well with class struggle, and this movie is very animator of The Host’s monster came to the school to talk about Other Asian movies played this year include In the mismanagement by the city government, na- similar in that way. The ones I’ve seen have all a lot of movie-goers like,” Johnson said. “It This weekend,Portland Portland State’s willandhis Johnson the film two more times. Comrades: Almost Love Story. 5th A This weekend, State’s 5th5th Ave-Avenue tionalCinema government theprocess—and impacts of ecologihadrewatched class dynamics involved and sort of deal Love, hasDevdas humor, and tension, action—and theapolitical “That’s on when I was really like, ‘damn this is a sweet movie,’” known and loved for playing foreign films like these, e be The (2006), South Korean directed by nuescreening Cinema will beHost screening The aHost (2006), calfilm disaster and mismanagement people.” with political questions.” themes aren’t heavy-handed. You can really Johnson said. to contemporary issues. Bong Joon-ho. a South Korean film directed by Bong Joon-ho. Johnson said they were first introduced to “[The Host] is very related to class, but films justwhich enjoy relate the movie.“ Hostfollows followsPark ParkGang-du Gang-du (Song Bong’swho filmsowns through family. through the lens ofspotlight ecologicalafter impact,” There [The are very pre“I think Host]few hasbarriers a lot of which qualities that a lot o The Host (Song Kang-ho) a theirBong was thrust into the international theJohnson sucsawHee-bong it first in 2010,cess when re-Parasite, Kang-ho) who a small snack with bar byhis the continued. people impacted moregoers ventlike,” viewers from enjoying though Johnson said. “ItThe hasHost, humor, tension, act small snack barowns by the Han River father“I Park ofmy hissister 2019got film which“Poor was the firstare South Korean Han River with his father Park Hee-bongof (Byun into Bong Joon-ho’s movies and she was Award drastically by climate change—in thisthe case atheJohnson ofaren’t a grossheavy-handed. scene where the (Byun Hee-bong). When hundreds bottlesally of formaldehyde film to receive Academy recognition. Parasite was also politicalwarned themes You can r Hee-bong). of bottles of formallike,strange ‘you’ve got to see The chemical monster regurgitates a person. are pouredWhen downhundreds a drain which leads to the river, sightfirstHost!’” non-English language film tospill.” win an Oscar for best picture. enjoy the movie.“ Johnson called The Host a film about politidehyde are poured down a drain which leads to While completing their associate’s degree “If you don’t like that kind of thing, if you get ings quickly follow suit. “From my experience, all [of Bong’s films] have been about There are very few barriers which prevent viewers fro the river, strange sightings quickly follow suit. in media arts, the animator of The Host’s mon- cal accountability, and the ways climate and grossed out, I’d say you could pass,” Johnson An amphibious creature is spotted more and more frequently, some sort of social struggle,” Johnson said. “For the people who ing The Host, though Johnson warned of a gross scene w An amphibious creature is spotted more and ster came to the school to talk about his pro- ecological preservation are still not being met. said. as fishfrequently, in the river begin diebegin off. Once creatureJohnson finally rewatched have seenthe Parasite, relevant becauseasititdeals well monster regurgitates a person. more as fish in thetoriver to die thecess—and film twoit’s so “It’s just as relevant was in really 2006,” Johnson The only other thing which would possibly “If you don’t like that kind of thing, if you emerges from the water, Gang-du and his family try to escape with class struggle, and this movie is very similar in that way. off. Once the creature finally emerges from the more times. said. “It feels like governments are failing to the deter someone is the subtitles. Johnson re-get grosse say you could pass,” Johnson said. the riverside to avoid its attacks, but his daughter Hyun-seo (Go The ones I’ve seen have all had class dynamics involved and sort “That’s when I was really like, ‘damn this is a same degree, if not more, as they were 16 years called Bong Joon-ho’s speech when he won the water, Gang-du and his family try to escape the Ah-sung) is avoid snatched by the beast. film follows Gang-du as ofsaid. deal with political questions.” only other whichbarrier wouldprevent possibly deter sweet movie,’” Johnson ago, when it comes to handling environmental The riverside to its attacks, but hisThe daughOscar: ”Don’t let thing the one-inch Bong was thrust international disastersto that directly people.” yousubtitles. from seeing movies.”recalled Bong Joon-ho’s spee terattempts Hyun-seo to (Gosave Ah-sung) is snatched by the he his daughter from the monster while theinto the “[The Host] isspotvery related class, butimpact through the lens is the Johnson lightcomes after the success 2019 film Parasite, beast. The film follows Gang-du as hedeadly attempts In addition to being a“Poor timely ecologically-foButthe Johnson praised Thelet Host a great start Oscar: ”Don’t theasone-inch barrier pre government tries to control a new, virus that with it. ofofhis ecological impact,” Johnson continued. people are he won toThis save his daughter fromwas the monster while which was the Andi first South Korean film to receive cusedbyinstallment to the theater’s lineup, forseeing people movies.” wanting to get into film. impacted more drastically climate change—in thisMay case a from monster movie chosen by 5ththe Avenue Cinema’s government tries to control a new, deadly virus Academy Award recognition. Parasite was also Johnson said The Host corresponded with Asian But“It’s come up in school inHost a few as different chemical spill.” Johnson—a history student at PSU with a degree in media arts Johnson praised The a greatconstart for peo that comes with it. the first non-English language film to win an American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. texts, so if you’re like ‘I’ll never go to film school and film from Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts. Johnson called The Host a film about political account- ing to get into film. This monster movie was chosen by 5th Oscar for best picture. Other Asian movies played this year include In but I want to see movies that they show,’ maybe “It’s come up in school in a few different contexts, so “I’ve seen this movie probably four or five times,” Johnson said. ability, and the ways climate and ecological preservation are Avenue Cinema’s Andi Johnson—a history stu“From my experience, all [of Bong’s films] the Mood for Love, Devdas and Comrades: Almost The Host is one,” Johnson said.
“It’s all about ecological mismanagement by the city government, national government and the impacts of ecological disaster and mismanagement on people.” Johnson said they were first introduced to Bong’s films through their family. PSU Vanguard • MAY 25, 2022 • psuvanguard.com
still not being met. “It’s just as relevant as it was in 2006,” Johnson said. “It feels like governments are failing to the same degree, if not more, as they were 16 years ago, when it comes to handling environmental disasters that directly impact people.”
like ‘I’ll never go to film school but I want to see movies show,’ maybe The Host is one,” Johnson said.
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