Tang Wei is seen in this still cut from “Wonderland” provided by Acemaker Movieworks on June 3, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 3 (Korea Bizwire) — When the Hollywood sci-fi film “Her” was released over a decade ago, its story about a man forming an unlikely relationship with his artificial intelligence assistant seemed so futuristic that few moviegoers took it seriously.
As AI technologies advance at an alarming speed, however, audiences might leave theaters wondering whether they would subscribe to a service that keeps deceased loved ones alive in a virtual form, as depicted in the upcoming movie “Wonderland.” It now seems like a question of when, not if, such technology will become available.
Director Kim Tae-yong’s new sci-fi fantasy depicts a future where people can stay in contact with deceased loved ones through a video call service offered by a company called Wonderland.
The film follows two primary characters: Baili (Tang Wei) and Jung-in (Bae Suzy). The former subscribes to the service for her young daughter, who is left behind after Baili succumbs to a terminal illness, while the latter utilizes the service to connect with her boyfriend Tae-ju (Park Bo-gum), who falls into a coma following an accident.
Through the service, Baili shares her everyday life with her daughter as if she were still alive and well, portraying herself as an archaeologist excavating ancient relics in a remote desert. However, Baili, existing only in the world created by the company, remains unaware of her actual passing.
Meanwhile, Tae-ju is an astronaut in the virtual world, working aboard a spaceship. Sweet and considerate, he calls Jung-in every morning to wake her up, reminds her to take her vitamins and entertains her with amusing tricks that can only be done in space.
Park Bo-gum (L) and Bae Suzy are seen in this still cut from “Wonderland” provided by Acemaker Movieworks on June 3, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Their peaceful lives, however, are suddenly disrupted when Baili’s daughter goes missing, running away to see her mom in person, and Tae-ju miraculously — and unexpectedly — wakes up from his coma, only to learn that Jung-in has been interacting with a virtual representation of him all this time.
“Wonderland,” the first feature film by the director in 13 years, prompts contemplation on the concept of a genuine farewell and explores how technology may alter human interaction and attitudes toward death.
The film’s beautiful visual presentation, including vibrant set designs and music, plays a crucial role in maintaining a tone that isn’t excessively grim. This visual richness offers a refreshing counterbalance to the prevailing pessimism surrounding a future where AI-powered robots are feared to replace humans and pose a threat to humanity.
Jung Yu-mi (L) and Choi Woo-shik are seen in this still cut from “Wonderland” provided by Acemaker Movieworks on June 3, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The individual stories of each character, set in various scenarios, evoke empathy and offer food for thought on the film’s theme.
Actress Tang Wei delivers a poignant performance as the mother, conveying a wide range of emotions — from sorrow and confusion to inner strength — with remarkable depth. Her portrayal resonates on a personal level, as she is herself a mother to a young daughter with director Kim, her husband since 2014.
The on-screen chemistry between Bae and Park is so palpable that they almost come across as a real couple, depicting the various stages of a relationship convincingly.
Jung Yu-mi of “Sleep”(2023) and “Kim Ji-young: Born 1982″ (2019) and “Parasite” (2019) actor Choi Woo-shik also appear in the film as the service’s managers, with their roles being supporting and secondary to the main narrative of the central characters in the film.
The movie is set for release Wednesday.
(Yonhap)
