Mortality and Morality: A Review of SEOBOK Project Clone
If you’re not already familiar with the K-Cinema program offered by the Korean Cultural Centre Canada, then you should definitely get on board, because it’s through this program that I’ve managed to see a few awesome Korean movies I may never have stumbled upon otherwise - and it’s free! At the top of the list has got to be the most recent film offered: SEOBOK Project Clone. With a phenomenal dystopian-esque premise blended perfectly with sci-fi and fantasy elements, this was more than a movie; it was an entire cinematic experience.
The review below is spoiler-free!
“All men die anyway. Why should you get to live?”
What truly defines a human life? Are we created with a purpose, or are we predestined to fulfill a specific role in the world? Will we conquer our fear of death? Can we ever escape the past, or will it forever haunt us? And what exactly does “forever” mean anyway? These are pretty big questions; to tackle just one could fill an entire movie. SEOBOK Project Clone approaches all these philosophical queries at once, delivering not just an engaging, entertaining, emotional story, but also an unexpectedly deep and introspective look at what makes us human.
Min Gi-heon (Gong Yoo; Squid Game, Train to Busan) is down on his luck, jobless and clearly addicted to an unspecified drug, haunted by strange hallucinations of rising water and drowning. Forced to take on a mysterious mission from the powerful men who have leverage over him, Gi-heon finds himself responsible for protecting a valuable specimen— the result of extensive research and state-of-the-art bioengineering —from falling into the wrong hands. This “specimen” is actually Seo Bok (Park Bo-gum; Love in the Moonlight, Hello Monster), a genetically perfected being who cannot die of natural causes and displays advanced telekinetic abilities. Because he was created using stem cells and did not have a natural birth, his makers disqualify him from being recognized as a human, instead referring to him as the key to immortality. After an attack sends everyone in the laboratory on the run, Gi-heon grapples with Seo Bok’s ethically questionable existence, even though it might mean his own demise. Unwilling partners and mutually irritated at first, the two fugitives learn to appreciate each other and work together, evading both Korean and American mercenaries sent after them with only one order: to kill on sight. In a world where the line between life and death is drawn so thin… in a world where humans may stare down their fear of death and look beyond into a hypothetical forever… in a world where certain values are attributed to different forms of life… Gi-heon tries desperately to make up for the sins of his past by protecting the precious experiment who will represent humanity’s salvation - or total destruction.
“Emperor Qin sent off his servant to search for the elixir of immortality 2500 years ago. That servant represents humanity’s desire to overcome death. Seobok was named after him. Seobok is an undying being.”
SEOBOK Project Clone achieves so much in its modest 114 minute runtime. The unsettling effect of being thrust into this grim, dark, potentially-near-future setting grips you immediately; creepy music rolls in and out of the earliest scenes but never overplays its hand, layered over panning shots of uncomfortably sterile medical labs and the cold, grey concrete of a harbor. These opening shots also happen to cleverly foreshadow Gi-heon’s recurring nightmares of drowning by consistently including the body of water after each cut back to the outdoors.
Much of the movie lives in the space of contrast. Seobok seems unquestionably powerful and lives in a highly controlled clean space, while Gi-heon comes across as weak (at first), his dirty clothes and disheveled appearance an impression of his fractured, chaotic life. Shadows, harsh fluorescent lights, reflections in windows, dim bulbs, highbeams, sunrises, and the blackness of night are played off the story’s important beats to construct expertly-filmed scenes with a perfect mix of dramatic close-ups and wide establishing shots. Using an interesting combination of blue light and subtle focus adjustments to create a dreamlike quality, director Lee Yong-ju places the audience right into a mirror of his protagonist’s dilemma: yes, it all looks like a beautiful future from where we’re standing, so why can’t we shake the feeling that something is wrong?
“Humans are the only species that are aware of their own inevitable mortality, and are afraid of it. That very fear of knowing that life someday will end is what makes them pursue a meaning in life. However, if life does not end, people will lose that human element. And what will be left will be nothing but greed and desire. Immortality will produce unsatisfiable desires and continuous conflicts. Paradoxically, death is the fundamental element holding life together. In other words… If people become immortal, mankind will lead itself to extinction.”
Bo-gum totally knocks it out of the Park (get it?) as the titular Seo Bok, demonstrating his acting versatility once again in a role that begins as cold, unfeeling, and irreverent, but slowly evolves to show a full spectrum of emotion as the character runs up against a variety of situations he’s never faced before. From his intense facial expressions to his “living doll” body language, the famous-for-scene-stealing actor delivers a performance so convincing it would be easy to forget Park Bo-gum is under that awkward haircut. And although a handsome face does not necessarily a good actor make, if someone can manage to look attractive even when they’re vomiting blood, they’re probably worth keeping an eye on in the future.
While the title character does indeed make a lasting impression, this should not at all undercut the talent, passion, and acting skill of the more seasoned Gong Yoo, who brings Min Gi-heon to life in a way that is both heart-wrenching and relatable. As his character is tormented by morally vacant decisions past and present, Gong Yoo portrays the very epitome of a man slowly coming undone, but who also desperately wants to set things right. Gi-heun— somewhat an audience surrogate —expresses for us the confusion and agony of grappling with philosophical questions that feel impossible to answer. An absolute gem of the silver screen, it would be well deserved if this compelling actor saw even more job offers pouring in after this role.
“It scares me to think of dying. However… living forever is scary too.”
If you’re looking for a movie that will leave you thinking long after the credits are done, then you need to add SEOBOK Project Clone to your watchlist. With a story and characters who keep you guessing from beginning to end, plus a nearly flawless merger of the sci-fi, drama, fantasy, and action genres, this Korean hit has certainly earned its acclaim and high approval ratings. Even those who may typically edge away from subtitled movies should give SEOBOK Project Clone a chance. You won’t regret it.
SEOBOK Project Clone is produced and distributed by CJ Entertainment.
Available to watch ($) on Viki, YouTube, Google Play, and Apple TV.