PANAJI: South Korean filmmaker Kim Jee-woon says he was highly impressed with Tamil superstar Rajinikanth’s “Robot” and would love to make a film like that with a dash of historical drama thrown in.
Kim has helmed several successful films like “I Saw the Devil”, “The Last Stand” and “The Good, the Bad, the Weird”.
“I have seen ‘Robot’ and was very impressed to see the kind of films made here. I would like to combine the energy of ‘Robot’ and the facts of a historical film (in one movie), it would be a mix of both,” Kim told reporters when asked if he has seen any Indian films.
“If the technical excellence which was there in Robot is used with historical background, it can give us a very entertaining movie,” he added.
Kim said he is heavily inspired by the works of iconic filmmaker Satyajit Ray and also considers films like “Monsoon Wedding” and “Salaam Bombay” as huge influences.
“I am Inspired by Satyajit Ray’s cinema, Pather Panchali, Aparajita, Apur Sansar were in my mind for a long time. I was also inspired by (Mira Nair’s) Monsoon Wedding, Salaam Bombay.
“These movies had huge impact in my filmmaking. I am not sure if Deepa Mehta is still working or not but I met her at a festival and I still have very good memory of meeting her.”
The director’s latest work “The Age of Shadows” is all set to screen at the ongoing 47th edition of international film festival of India (IFFI) today.
The action-thriller is South Korea’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.
“I am delighted that it is Korea’s entry for Oscar but since the final decision is yet to come, I can’t give a firm statement. But I am really very happy,” Kim said.
“Age Of Shadows” stars Song Kang-ho and Gong Yoo. The film brings back Song along with Kim after a long time and the director says it is the ability of the actor to get into any character which he likes.
“I worked with him in a movie about wrestling, ‘The Foul King’. So he had to undergo wrestling training for three months and he did it so well. He trained so well that people in wrestling were looking upto him.
“After getting trained in wrestling he became so powerful that it took me around 8 years to make another film with him,” he quipped. (AGENCIES)
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