The Screenwriter Details the Countless Surprising Turns of the Latest Science Fiction Movie
Bugonia writer the writer has a hazy memory of what happens in the original Korean movie. This is somewhat unexpected, since he wrote the script for Yorgos Lanthimos’s new reimagining of the 2003 Korean dark sci-fi comedy. Rather than studying the original script for inspiration, the writer behind The Menu viewed the film once, jotted down some thoughts, and began writing.
“I’ve only seen the original the one time,” the screenwriter says. “I couldn't clearly recall the film all that well. My aim wasn't to feel as though I had to be faithfully adapting or remaking or paying tribute to another filmmaker's work. The most respectful approach to those movies was to have them be judged separately.”
While the premise of a emotionally troubled man (Jesse Plemons in the new version) who abducts a business leader he’s certain is an extraterrestrial hiding on Earth is mostly the identical in each movie, the differences are considerable. For one thing, Tracy rewrote the lead role, originally male in Jang Joon-hwan’s original, as a woman. (The director chose his regular partner the actress in the part.) The endings differ slightly as well, in the way they tackle their central question: Is the character an alien in disguise or not?
Tracy feels that answer is a bit irrelevant.
“I never was really concerned with the twist aspect,” he says. “My intention wasn't for the film to just be a toy that performs a single trick, and then once it does that surprise, it's like: Alright, so what's next?”
However, he has a lot to say on the subject. The interview with the screenwriter covered the film’s finale and what it all means, along with the methods he and Lanthimos worked together to execute those surprises.
Warning: Complete details ahead for the conclusion of Bugonia.
Therefore, is the character an alien or not an alien?
In brief: Yes.
Similar to in the original film, the conclusion of Bugonia reveals that Stone’s character, a pharmaceutical executive named her character, is actually alien royalty in disguise. After tricking her kidnapper the unstable man (the actor) into ending his own life using her advanced device, Fuller transports to her Andromedon spaceship.
The reality that this comes as a surprise is a proof to Stone’s acting skills. Throughout the 118-minute film, she maintains suspense through a complex portrayal that may require several rewatches to comprehend entirely.
“She frequently discussed how it was the first time she had to give a performance where she felt she had to be aware of people watching the movie a second time. How those rewatching are going to think,” the writer says. "She knew the second time someone sees this movie, They are aware I am conscious of… you know?”
Tracy pauses, before continuing, “Thus, her performance needed to reflect this awareness in her performance.”
Designing the Andromedons and their vessel
After Stone’s character finally does reveal her real identity, we get a quick look of her ship and fellow aliens before Bugonia concludes. Their ship has a unique design, which the writer reveals was meant to look like a marine animal while steering clear of high-tech visuals.
“[Yorgos] was really fascinated by almost like a jellyfish-type design for the spaceship, something very natural,” he comments.
They should feel strangely kind of tribal or ancient.
The aliens' clothing is equally fascinating as their vessel: rounded robes made from thick, woven cords. Once more, the aim was to go against conventional science fiction.
“For the costumes, instead of being advanced, they [were meant to|aimed to] feel unusually somewhat tribal or primitive, and yet also highly decorative and sophisticated, because it's a very detailed and beautiful design on those unusual woven outfits,” the writer says. He adds that the director “thought of it as being a extremely old society. He disliked the idea of anything being smooth and metallic, or some ultra-modern cosmic vision.”
The end of the Earth (or just humanity)
Maybe the biggest difference between the new film and the original is that in the original Korean movie, the extraterrestrials respond to their leader's kidnapping and mistreatment by blowing up planet Earth. This adaptation takes a somewhat more nuanced approach, with its beings opting to eliminate all human life, while keeping the Earth and its other inhabitants intact.
“My intention to achieve in the screenplay was a depiction of Earth post-human existence,” the writer says.
In the film's conclusion, we see a sequence of scenes of life across the planet. All humans lie dead where they were located moments earlier, but the Earth keeps spinning. How viewers, are meant to make of all this is open to discussion. Does the conclusion of Bugonia optimistic or pessimistic? Is humanity doomed or worth saving? Would the world be improved in our absence?
Tracy isn’t willing to offer a definitive answer either way.
“Certain viewers see it as a extremely dark conclusion, or a sad finale, a despairing outcome,” he states. “Other people see it as being a oddly hopeful or positive ending. In my opinion there are various interpretations to read it.”
Bugonia is in limited theatrical release now, with a broader opening on Oct. 31.