Bong Joon-ho Returns with 'Mickey17' After 'Parasite' Success

Acclaimed director Bong Joon-ho, who took the world by storm with 'Parasite', is back with his new film 'Mickey17', set to hit theaters in South Korea on February 27, 2025. The North American release will follow a week later on March 7, and the film industry is keenly observing audience reactions in Korea, a key indicator for the global market.

'Mickey17' stars Robert Pattinson as Mickey, a man living a disposable life as an 'Expendable', who is sent on dangerous missions and is printed back to life each time he dies. The film is based on Edward Ashton's novel 'Mickey7', but takes the concept further by adding ten more deaths, making Mickey an even more inhuman expendable.

# Bong Joon-ho's Bold Social Commentary

Mickey flees from debt collectors, escaping Earth and venturing into space. The 'Expendable' role he takes on is a desperate choice for survival. His memories are stored on a drive the size of a brick, and his body is made from recycled space debris, allowing him to be printed anew with each death. In this harsh reality, the notion of resurrection being glorious is brutally shattered, reducing Mickey to a permanent disposable entity devoid of human dignity.

While the film borrows from a creative original concept, Mickey's life feels all too familiar. The characters in 'Parasite' who lived in semi-basements, the tail-end passengers in 'Snowpiercer', and those living in container convenience stores in 'The Host' all share similarities with Mickey. Although the caste system has disappeared, a capitalist class structure still exists, perpetuating a sense of superiority over success. Bong Joon-ho's signature critical message shines through even more explicitly in 'Mickey17'.

# Humor Amidst Uncomfortable Realities

The existence of the 'Expendable' starkly highlights the issues of a system that forgets humanity, while humor serves as a vital element that makes the uncomfortable realities of 'Mickey17' more palatable. Pattinson portrays two distinct personalities: the gaslit, pathetic Mickey17 and the awakened, aggressive Mickey18. His performance provides a continuous source of amusement.

The presence of Mickey's partner, Nasha (Naomi Ackie), is significant as she treats him with love, refusing to see him as a mere expendable. Her affection for the two versions of Mickey is characterized by a joyful and impulsive love rather than mere devotion. This idealistic representation of humanity allows viewers to appreciate the film's darker themes without discomfort.

# Is 'Mickey17' Better or Worse than 'Parasite'?

Having swept awards at the Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Awards, 'Parasite' and director Bong Joon-ho have set a high bar. Whether 'Mickey17' can replicate that success is uncertain, especially given the current state of the South Korean film market, which has faced significant challenges over the past six years.

While it is possible to compare films based on awards or box office performance, Bong Joon-ho has consistently presented works that challenge such rankings. Nevertheless, the fact that his artistic integrity remains intact, even after the accolades, makes the return of Bong Joon-ho in 'Mickey17' a welcome sight.