boston progress radio

There was an interesting story in the New York Times a few months ago, about how this dude brought the musical “Dreamgirls” to Korean stages, recast with all Korean actors. It makes perfect sense really: the story has enough strong characters, and easily identifiable protagonists and antagonists and melodrama and backstabbery to fill a 24-episode Korean soap opera.

But there was an interesting quote from the producer:

Several months ago, when John F. Breglio told fellow New York producers that he was not only remaking “Dreamgirls,” the 1981 Broadway hit musical based loosely on the career of the Supremes, but that he was also going to South Korea to do it, they were puzzled, to say the least.

“Then they really laugh,” he said, when he told them “that it’s in Korean with Korean actors.”

Like, I get that it’s kind of unexpected because it’s such a part of the American lexicon – there have been two popular movie versions, and several versions of the stage show – but the use of the word “laugh” here is interesting. Is the story of “Dreamgirls” inherently American or more than that, African-American? And if so, what’s the reason for producing it in Korea in Korean with Koreans?

Is it being done for a laugh? Is there something inherently funny, or even simply worse, about Asians putting on a show based on an existing American work?

The reason it’s so weird that someone would find it such a shock is that the American entertainment industry rips off Asian ideas all day every day. To make an apples to apples comparison, let’s keep it Korean:

Il Mare (2000) vs. The Lake House (2006)
What a dope concept! It’s a melancholy love story that incorporates meditations on death, emptiness, and…time travel. But more ill is that the lead woman in the original is a cartoon voice actor; in the American version, she’s a doctor. And in the Korean version, the lead actor is dreamy-ass Lee Jung-jae, and in the American version, it’s a piece of wood. Winner: KOREA

My Sassy Girl (2001) vs. My Sassy Girl (2008)
Capitalizing on the success of Il Mare, lead actress Jun Ji-hyun plays the title character in this flick the very next year, showing off her extraordinary comedic timing. This is a slapstick love story that incorporates elements of melodrama and…time travel. (Again?) Her character has gone through a lot of hardship in her life, and her resentment over her inability to control the environment around her leads her to lash out at people close to her, sometimes scary and sometimes hilarious, but always a little sad too. Oh, and then there’s the American remake in which the message is “women are assholes.” I believe the kids call that a “fail.” Winner: KOREA

Old Boy (2003) vs. Old Boy (expected 2010)
The original Old Boy – and original it truly was – is the most disturbing film I think I have seen. Not because of the violence and blood – although there is plenty – but because it dares to show us what lies in the recesses of our souls. Min-sik Choi gives a performance for the ages as a man who has been wicked wronged. The American version is supposed to star Will Smith and be directed by Steven Spielberg. Why do I feel like that’s gonna be an action flick? Ugh. Expected Winner: KOREA

The Host (2006) vs. The Host (hopefully never?)
The original was the highest-grossing film in the history of Korean cinema. And had overt political messages – mixed in with family drama and dark comedy, – oh, and it was a gory monster movie. There have been rumors about remaking it in Hollywood since before its US release, but nothing certain has materialized. But somehow, I imagine the message about how American military occupation of other countries is the root of other more visible problems will probably get lost in the American version, you know, because they’ll need more time for monsters and stuff. Winner: KOREA

Last 5 posts by giles

• Review: I Love Yous Are for White People - October 23rd, 2009
• Youth Media Blog-a-thon: Health Care - October 1st, 2009
• Video: MRSHMLO - Rocky Rivera - September 3rd, 2009
• ...while the old folks dance at your family reunion... - August 17th, 2009
• Two Americans Walk Into North Korea... - August 7th, 2009

Tags: Movie.

2 comments