'Train to Busan' director builds low-budget paradise to test human existence

Paradise Lost, the latest psychological thriller from director Yeon Sang-ho, delves into the complexities of human identity and the emotional toll of loss through an artificial intelligence twist. The film, co-written by Yeon's mother, employs AI technology to explore the double-edged nature of filling a void and to examine emotional boundaries rather than merely warning about AI's potential dangers.

Yeon shared his thoughts with The Korea Times in a Seoul cafe, reflecting on how existential literature, such as Albert Camus' The Stranger, influenced his college years. He explained that the film's protagonist, So-young (played by Kim Hyun-joo), is a mother who has lost her son Sun-woo along with 12 other children on a school bus nine years prior. To cope with her grief, So-young interacts daily with a virtual version of her child through augmented reality.

Despite the film's low budget, Yeon believes that the gap in So-young's understanding of her choices contributes to the story's relevance in today's AI-driven world. The main character's emotional journey is not always emotionally understandable to viewers, but this ambiguity creates a necessary narrative in the current context.