‘Concrete Utopia’ Review – A Gripping Examination of Human Nature Amid Disaster [TIFF 2023]

In the wake of an unmitigated disaster, how far would you go to survive? Concrete Utopia explores the grim reality of human nature and the driving force behind our actions when confronted by crisis. The post-apocalyptic disaster film, based on Kim Sung-nyung’s “Cheerful Outcast” webtoon, follows a group of survivors in the wake of a catastrophic earthquake that decimates the city of Seoul. There’s only one structure that remains unscathed: the Hwang Gung apartment complex.

Dissecting the complexities of social inequality has been a common theme in recent years. Like Ruben Ostlund’s Triangle of Sadness or Bong Joon-Ho’s Oscar-winning Parasite, Concrete Utopia seeks to deconstruct the concepts of money and power, and ultimately, the commodification of resources when thrust into life-or-death circumstances. 

Concrete Utopia, the South Korean entry for Best International Feature for the 2024 Academy Awards, follows the middle-class residents of the Hwang Gung apartment complex who, post-earthquake, become immeasurably “wealthy” because they live within the walls of what has become the most valuable resource in a world now marred by rubble and ruin. Within the building, residents form their own community, delegating roles – from rationing food supplies to maintenance and medical needs – to keep their miniature society running.

While there are brief flashes of the quake mutilating the city, director Um Tae-Hwa’s true focus lies in the ensuing fallout. More specifically, he examines human instinct, morality, and the decomposition of order. While the Hwang Gung residents can seek to institute rules and assemble a well-functioning community, the small cracks inevitably begin to emerge, unraveling their utopian facade. 

Yeong-tak (Lee Byung-hun) delivers a strong performance as the complex’s elected leader – embodying a similar brute demeanor to his Front Man character in Squid Game. As he moves from the periphery to the spotlight, the film begins to shift away from its satirical look at the film’s NIMBY-istic residents, becoming a sobering descent into cruel savagery. Yeong-tak inspires a grimly familiar tribalistic following among the residents – single-minded in their pursuit to evict any “cockroaches” (a.k.a. non-residents or outsiders) from their building. Within the darkness, however, there are glimpses of generosity. There is potential for a more peaceful existence among survivors, but the question is: who is willing to choose that path?

Concrete Utopia is a layered story that operates outside the confines of the typical disaster-movie drama. It provides a compelling backdrop for a parable about the dark side of humanity. The real calamity isn’t the catastrophe itself, but the choices we make in the name of survival. Um Tae-Hwa, who adapted the screenplay alongside Lee Shin-Ji, unabashedly illuminates the inherently selfish nature of humankind – especially when a sense of hopelessness seeps to the surface. 

The dystopian world creates a bleak, ominous backdrop for the film, punctuated by a muted palette of gray tones. Um Tae-Hwa cleverly pierces through the grimness with pops of black comedy through the film’s first half, providing unexpected moments of levity. In the second half, desperation and tension intensify, and this is where the actors truly shine. Lee Byung Hun gave a flawless portrayal of a power-hungry leader’s descent into madness while Park Bo-young as Myeong-hwa was simply mesmerizing to watch as the sensible and compassionate nurse. Park Seo-joon as Min-seong delivers a very real and relatable performance as a tenant who blindly follows the crowd before awaking from his stupor and forging his own path.  

Concrete Utopia ultimately holds up a mirror to the polarization and us-versus-them mentality that plagues our society today. The film manages to skillfully marry harmony and tension in a way that’ll keep viewers on the edge of their seats until the credits roll. A gripping ride from start to finish, Concrete Utopia is a thought-provoking must-see that cleverly weaves social critique with intriguing storytelling.

Concrete Utopia held its North American Premiere as part of the Gala Presentations section at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. 

Director: Um Tae-hwa

Writers: Um Tae-hwa, Lee Shin-ji

Rated: NR

Runtime: 130m

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxoQEmvDY9g]