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SBS Australia
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Survival is a class act on the dystopian train ride of 'Snowpiercer'
Social injustices exist in the darkest of times, even at the end of the world. Snowpiercer , the story of the perpetually moving train that circles the frozen globe carrying the remnants of humanity, has been seen twice before. The first time was in Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand, and Jean-Marc Rochette's 1980s graphic novel Le Transperceneige , which formed the basis of Bong Joon-ho's 2013 dystopian film Snowpiercer starring Chris Evans. Now it's been adapted again in the TV series Snowpiercer , with another story that highlights the inherent prejudices in a society at the end of its days. Snowpiercer occurs seven years after scientists attempt to reverse global warming by freezing the atmosphere, accidentally causing a new ice age. In the aftermath, the wealthy secure spots on a luxurious 1001-carriage-long train designed by the eccentric Mr Wilford. However, a desperate and chaotic raid sees a handful of stowaways board the train. The constant locomotion of Snowpiercer generates energy, providing those on board with warmth and electricity and sheltering them from the freezing apocalypse outside. But inside, a new kind of dystopia awaits. Snowpiercer's commentary on class is not subtle; the societal structure aboard the train is split literally into classes. First class includes those who invested in the train, second class houses those who paid for a ticket, and third class contains the workers. The stowaways are ushered to the train's tail, a lowly group that doesn't even earn a class designation. All the passengers on Snowpiercer need to do is 'survive, survive, the engine will provide,' but that's easier said than done in a place like the Tail. The 'Tailies' form a close-knit family-like community, who band together to live off the meagre rations those at the front opt to allocate to them. The tail is a rough place to ride out the apocalypse. It bears none of the upper classes' luxury furnishings or fine foods. In the tail, transgressions are dealt with by exposing an offender's limb outside to the deep freeze. Meanwhile, the First Class passengers nitpick over Scandinavian versus American bathing etiquette and lament over brief periods without electricity. Nevertheless, the Tailies feed on daily dreams of revolution, hoping to one day forge forward through the train and claim a life that is more than survival. For the most part, the passengers of Snowpiercer do their best to forget about the Tailies, except, of course, when it serves them. Andre Layton (Daveed Diggs) and Melanie Cavill (Jennifer Connelly). Credit: Tomorrow Studios / CJ Entertainment The opening of the series sees Snowpiercer's Head of Hospitality, Melanie Cavill (Jennifer Connelly - also at SBS On Demand in Blood Diamond and other films ), call on Andre Layton ( Hamilton star Daveed Diggs), an integral member of the Tailies' upcoming revolution, from the back of the train for a job. Layton was a homicide detective before the world froze over, and now, a series of unsolved murders on Snowpiercer have led to his appointment as Train Detective. With no choice in this situation, Layton uses his new role as an opportunity to spy on the other classes and bring much-needed information back to the Tail. But traitors, like Layton's ex-wife Zarah (Sheila Vand), who abandon the tail for the upper classes, are not taken kindly to in the tail. With Zarah now back in his life and the offer of an upper-class life on the table, Layton has to decide which community he truly wants to be a part of. Meanwhile, Melanie is not only dealing with grisly matters like murders, but as Head of Hospitality, she is also in charge of managing relations on the train, which involves balancing the allocation of electricity and dealing with the complaints of the upper class when it's not to their satisfaction. That would be easy enough, if it weren't for a secret Melanie is hiding from the people on Snowpiercer, which could derail the entire community. Living conditions are sharply divided on board the Snowpiercer. Credit: David Bukach / Turner Entertainment The expansion of Snowpiercer into a TV show allows it to expand upon the intricacies of this dystopian society and explore corners of the locomotive's 1001 carriages that were never possible in previous iterations. As the seasons continue, the class divides only get fiercer, and Snowpiercer's passengers threaten to destroy what's left of their society with their darker human impulses. 'Eat the Rich' narratives are a popular topic in Hollywood nowadays. The success of The White Lotus, Saltburn and Triangle of Sadness (available at SBS On Demand ) proves that we love seeing how the other half live, even if it's only through a screen. The only thing we love more is seeing them fall. Bong Joon-ho has been a defining voice in this space. His original Snowpiercer explored social inequality in a futuristic time, while his Oscar-winner Parasite took this satirical approach and infused it with a tragic reality. The director also serves as an executive producer on Snowpiercer's TV adaptation, and his influence is clear. While Snowpiercer strays away from the comedic tone of Bong's work, it remains a sharp examination of class injustice and offers a darker lens on the 'Eat the Rich' tale. All four seasons of Snowpiercer are streaming at SBS On Demand. Snowpiercer is also airing Thursday nights on SBS.
The National
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Guide to Korean Film Festival 2025 in Abu Dhabi and Dubai: Parasite, The Host and live concerts
The Korean Film Festival is returning for its 9th iteration with screenings at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library in Dubai. This year's event is themed around music, showcasing how sound and storytelling can come together to create powerful cinematic experiences. In addition to the film showings, there will also be two special K-Movie OST (original soundtrack) live concerts that feature memorable music from the films being screened at the festival. As part of the event's commitment to cultural exchange and regional collaboration, the programme includes a special screening of six Arab Film Studio titles on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, presented in partnership with the Creative Media Authority. The films set to be shown include Sound of Memories by Gargi Chakrabarti, The First Note by Laith AlRamahi and Laura Saab's I See a Woman. 'The Korean Film Festival has a long and meaningful history in the UAE, consistently showcasing Korean cinema and engaging with local audiences over the years," said Lee Yong-hee, director of the Korean Cultural Centre in the UAE. "This year, we are proud to expand that engagement even further, by introducing a special Arab film showcase and hosting live K-Movie OST concerts for the first time. These additions reflect our commitment to deeper cultural exchange and creating shared experiences through film and music. Parasite (2019) Abu Dhabi: Thursday at 7pm Dubai: June 27 at 4.30pm The opening film is Bong Joon-ho 's historic Oscar-winning Best Picture about a poor family that slowly infiltrates the lives of a wealthy household by posing as unrelated professionals – a tutor, art therapist, chauffeur and housekeeper. Soon, all of them find a way to work within the same household and start living a parasitic life. C'est Si Bon (2015) Abu Dhabi: Friday at 4pm Directed by Kim Hyun-seok, C'est Si Bon is set in the 1960s and inspired by real events. The film centres on the storied music lounge C'est Si Bon in Seoul. It follows two young men who team up to form a duo that would become part of the famous folk group Twin Folio. As they rise in the music scene, they both fall for the same woman, introducing a bittersweet love triangle amid a backdrop of political tension and creative passion. Secret: Untold Melody (2025) Abu Dhabi: Friday at 7pm A police detective haunted by guilt after an affair and a hit-and-run accident is forced to investigate a murder that bears a suspicious connection to his wife. As he uncovers disturbing truths and hidden motives, he must confront his own past sins while grappling with a dangerous web of betrayal and secrecy. It is directed by Seo You-min. My Beautiful Girl, Mari (2002) Abu Dhabi: Saturday at 2pm Dubai: June 28 at 5pm Lee Seong-gang's animated fantasy film follows Nam-woo, a young boy coping with loneliness and the changes of adolescence. When he discovers a magical marble, he's transported to a dreamlike world where he meets a mysterious and ethereal girl named Mari. The film blends imagination with reality to explore themes of growing up. Jaurim, The Wonderland (2024) Abu Dhabi: Saturday at 6pm, followed by a Q&A with the film's director Dubai: June 28 at 7pm Kim Ji-hwan's documentary dives into the 25-year history of the South Korean rock band, Jaurim. Through interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and concert clips, the film captures the band's evolution, creative struggles and enduring connection with fans, while offering a closer look at the cost and joy of artistic pursuit in South Korea's music industry. The director will also host a Q&A session after the film's screening in Abu Dhabi. Dog Days (2024) Abu Dhabi: Sunday at 2pm This ensemble comedy-drama interweaves the stories of several people in Seoul who are brought together by their relationships with dogs. Each character – ranging from a vet to a lonely teenager – experiences growth, healing or change through their bond with a canine companion. The film is an exploration of the quiet ways pets shape human lives. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) Abu Dhabi: Sunday at 4.30pm Dubai: June 29 at 3pm Based on a Korean folktale, Kim Jee-woon's psychological horror centres on two sisters, Su-mi and Su-yeon, who return home after a stay in a psychiatric hospital. Tension builds between them and their stepmother in a house filled with eerie presences and disturbing memories. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes unclear what is real and what is imagined, leading to a revelation about trauma, guilt and grief. The Host (2006) Dubai: June 29 at 5.30pm When a mutated creature emerges from the Han River and begins attacking Seoul, it snatches a young girl named Hyun-seo, prompting her family to spring into action. Her dysfunctional relatives band together in a desperate, chaotic mission to rescue her. K-Movie OST Live Concert Abu Dhabi: Sunday at 7.30pm Dubai: June 27 at 7.30 pm Choi Yeowan Group is a crossover ensemble led by jeongga (traditional Korean vocal music) artist Choi Yeowan. The group brings together five musicians from both traditional and contemporary music scenes, offering a fresh reinterpretation of South Korean film music. Their performances blend famous soundtrack melodies with the unique aesthetics of traditional South Korean music. The ensemble will present reimagined soundtracks from South Korean cinema classics such as Parasite, My Sassy Girl, 200 Pounds Beauty and The Host.
